Universities to now have a common academic calendar

Vinod Tawde says will form four-member panel to review academic timetables every three months; Maharashtra Universities Act to be amended. 

Universities across the state will now have a common academic calendar. Higher and Technical Education Minister Vinod Tawde, who met vice-chancellors of all state universities here Monday, said he would form a committee of four members to work out a common academic calendar to avoid confusion and disparity in admission season of different universities in state.

This would however also mean that exams, admissions and various other academic events in all state universities and their affiliated colleges will be scheduled at the same time.

Tawde took a review of the academic timetable of all state universities and instructed the V-Cs to keep uniformity in the timetable. “Dates of admission, first day of college, examination timetable and various programmes organised by the university should be announced on the very first day of college. Also, all universities should keep similarity in timetable for uniformity. We found that when results of one university is not announced, the other university begins its admission process. This leads to students not being able to take admission in other universities,” Tawde said.

The higher education department will form a four-member committee, which will review the timetable every three months. The government has also decided to amend the Maharashtra Universities Act 1994. The proposed amendment will also affect senate elections.

Meanwhile, Mumbai University is already in the process of conducting its senate elections. “The amended Act will be tabled in the winter session. Meanwhile, we have asked MU authorities to defer the upcoming senate elections to avoid any chaos once the process of formation of university senate is finalised,” said Tawde.

If the senate elections are deferred, it means the term of current senate will be extended by one year. Universities have also been asked to appoint a nodal officer to look after work between university and state government departments. According to Tawde, there is no need for a V-C to come to Mantralaya and wait for hours to meet officials. “Why should a Vice-Chancellor come to Mantralaya when an official can be appointed to look into these issues. V-Cs should rather concentrate on academic work,” he said.

Source | Indian Express | 8 July 2015