R-U HAPPY?

A team from the University with Potential for Excellence, a UGC project, visited the Centre of Converging Technology, University of Rajasthan, and observed the researches on Nanotechnology, on the first day of their three-day visit.

Various departments of the university have prepared a presentation on the usage of the grant received from the government body. 

As many as nine groups gave their presentations of focus area on Nanotech on Monday.

The team of five is visiting the university for a mid-term review of the Rs 25 crore grant provided by the University Grants Commission of India. This grant is a part of the Rs 50 crore grant approved by the body.

The team includes former UGC vice chairman, H Devraj, joint secretary of UGC, Dr Uma Bali, along with three experts, namely, VK Jain, expert of Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Science, S Manocha, expert of Physics, and SS Narayana from Bio Technology.

“The purpose of the visit is to assess the quality of working and ways of spending the money by the university. We wanted to know the progress, and we are here to guide them in case of any problems. It is one of the pioneer universities of the state. I can recognise only this university from the state,” Devraj said.

This grant was provided by the body for technological updation of all the departments of the university.

Ashok Nagawat, dean of Faculty of Science, also informed that the university is aiming for the Rs 75 crore grant after this is completely utilised.

AREAS TO BE ASSESSED

• Focused Area- convergence of sciences
   
• Holistic development of Ecology and Economy of Rajasthan
   
• Holistic development of comparative language, literature, and philosophy
   
• Effective governance
   
• Automation
   
• Radio Frequency Identification system
   
• Construction of Central Library

AIMING WORLD CLASS

The university aims to work towards rising up to the ranking of at least top 50 universities of the country. It is currently ranked at the 79th position, hence, did not figure in the list of universities eligible for ‘20 world class government universities’ to be established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development very soon. However lack of teachers is still a criteria not focused on by the administration as the eligibility requires the univ to have three thousand teachers, while it currently runs with 500 only, Nagawat informed.

MONEY MATTERS

• University has received Rs 25 crore as a part of a INR 50 crore grant passed by the UGC..
   
• Out of the 25 crore, about Rs 23 crore has been utilised by the institution.
   
• Rs 12 crore was marked for construction of the central library, while, Rs 8 crore was used to purchase equipment for several departments.
   
• An expenditure of additional Rs five crore has been booked but has not been registered as the bills await approval.
   
• Remaining Rs 25 crore will be released by UGC after the mid-term review.