Abolish sex-based segregation, remove 'nepotism': UCG panel's recommendation for AMU
The recommendations of a UGC-appointed panel regarding changes needed in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) have been made public: among its many suggestions are abolishing separate colleges for males and females, removing "nepotistic" quotas and changing the way its VC is appointed. Earlier, the panel had proposed AMU should drop the word "Muslim" from its name. Nine other universities were also audited. Here's more.
'AMU's past feudal culture and present obscurantist attitude'
The UGC panel noted that AMU is still caught in its "past feudal culture and present obscurantist attitude". The 142-year-old university needs wide-ranging reforms to ensure students can "broaden their mental horizon" and achieve upward social mobility with "blinkers off".
Hiking fees, abolishing segregation of the sexes could help
For now, AMU could hike fees, use standard national-level entrance tests for admissions, and amalgamate three off-campus centres with other universities, the panel said. It should focus more on vocational courses. Sex-based segregation needs to be stopped "especially when…activities in the real world are gender-neutral". Many of its departments could be merged. Eg, the Sunni and Shia departments could become one for comparative religion.
The need for a merit-based admission system
The panel noted AMU has a tendency to promote their own students from school to post-doctoral levels and then absorb them as faculty. AMU's present admission system, with focus on employees' kin rather than on merit, "smacks of nepotism", it added. The panel has suggested employing quotas like other state institutions and mandating five-year breaks for Masters/PhD students before they can teach in AMU.
Changes recommended in the appointment process
The audit committee has suggested that AMU's VC selection policy should be amended: unlike other central universities where government-appointed panels screen candidates, AMU's executive council does the job instead. The panel has batted for a search-cum-selection committee, not an election, while choosing VCs/directors.
The other universities being audited
In April, the University Grants Commission had set up five panels to examine 10 central universities over alleged irregularities. Apart from AMU and BHU, "academic, research, financial and infrastructure audit" was ordered for Pondicherry University; Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (Uttarakhand); Allahabad University; MG Hindi Vishwavidyalaya (Maharashtra); Hari Singh Gour University (MP); Tripura University; and Central University in Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Jammu.
