The University of Calicut has proposed to focus more on knowledge production in the coming academic year.
According to sources, the budget for 2022-23, presented by M.M. Narayanan, Chairperson, Syndicate standing committee on finance, at the Senate meeting held on Saturday, also sought to introduce professional training for graduates and those who dropped out of their studies. The expected revenue, including from previous year’s balance, is ₹814.15 crore and expenditure is ₹603.62 crore. The expected surplus is ₹210.53 crore.
Mr. Narayanan said that the university’s knowledge and material resources would be utilised for launching the above-mentioned short-term job-oriented courses. They will be launched in association with departments such as psychology, linguistics, and commerce using the facilities at the Teachers’ Learning Centre.
A sum of ₹5.35 crore has been set aside for the renovation of university departments and improvement of the museum and manuscripts repository, ₹2 crore for the Institute of Tribal Studies and Research at Chethalayam in Wayanad, ₹1.5 crore each for knowledge network and developing content in multi-media and the construction of the silver jubilee block, and ₹1 crore for the construction of the Knowledge Centre. The Malabar Research Centre will get ₹2 crore and sports hostel ₹3 crore under the non-plan fund.
Senate members belonging to the United Democratic Front, however, pointed out that though the budget claimed to focus on knowledge production, it fell short of allocating enough funds for research and students’ welfare. Mr. Narayanan later promised to allocate more money for the students’ amenities centre and research projects.
Later, all members expressed their disagreement with the latest guidelines for research guideship. They pointed out that the condition that teachers should have presented three research papers in two years was not practical. Later, the issue was left to the next meeting of the academic council for urgent discussion.
The Senate also discussed for the second time the proposal to rotate the posts of heads of departments in affiliated aided colleges. The budget was declared passed after the debate.
