Few takers for up gradation of ANU as Central varsity

VIJAYAWADA: Even as vice-chancellors of the three prominent universities, including the Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU), are strongly pitching in for the status of Central University, the faculty of ANU and academicians in the region are not game for the proposal.

Instead, they are demanding that a new Central University be established in the state as it would usher in a new academic environment with national exposure and modern facilities to the students.

Many of these academicians, who are against the idea of upgrading the existing state university, say that the local students will suffer due to the upgrade as there will be only 15 per cent reservation in the Central universities unlike the state university where it is 85 per cent.

'In my opinion, the proposal is not at all a good one. It is learnt that some of the staff of the university have made this proposal as they thought the university would overcome the funds problem and also the retirement age of the staff will be increased to 65,' said a senior professor of the ANU on condition of anonymity.

Another professor said that the idea of upgrading Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU) or Andhra University or SV University is a silly one as these universities do not even come close to the standards of the Central University.

'Only two state universities have been upgraded as Central universities in the country so far. I am surprised to learn that the ANU was trying for the CU status,' a senior faculty member added.

A retired professor from Andhra Loyola College, Vijayawada, MC Das said, 'It is important and perhaps imperative to have a Central University and equally important to retain the existing autonomous state universities. There are two reasons for this.

Firstly, there will be competition among the universities. Secondly, if all state universities attain CU status, the state will not be in a position to have control over the institutions.'

K Sandhya, professor in English, Maris Stella College, said it was better to have a new Central University than to convert an existing university into one as the students of the state can experience the culture that exists in a Central University.

Director of ELT Centre at the Gudlavalleru Engineering College Ramanujam Parthsarath said the students would benefit if a Central University was newly established rather than upgrading a state university as they will be exposed to new methods and culture. 'Also, there will be more scope for infrastructure development at a Central University,' he added.