Latest news with #CollegiateEducation
New Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu govt forms three-member committee to oversee Periyar University operations
COIMBATORE: The state government has constituted a three-member administrative committee to oversee the operations of Periyar University in Salem, following the retirement of Vice-Chancellor Prof Jegannathan. The decision was made after a special meeting of the university's syndicate committee, held in response to the leadership vacuum created by the end of Prof Jegannathan's extended term on May 19. The newly-formed committee is headed by E Sundaravalli, director of Collegiate Education, who will function as the in-charge vice-chancellor. Prof Subramani, director of the Kalaignar Research Centre, and Dr Jayanthi, principal of Shakti Kailash Women's College, are part of the panel. It may be noted that Prof Jegannathan had appointed Dr T Periasamy, head of the Tamil department as the in-charge V-C, without consulting the university syndicate a few days ago.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu varsities told to focus on faculty development and placement improvement
Tamil Nadu universities will receive ₹200 crore to develop plans to improve the performance of permanent faculty in government colleges, Higher Education Secretary C. Samayamoorthy told the Registrars of universities at a recent review meeting here. Registrars must ensure that permanent faculty in government colleges participate in development programmes under 'Naan Mudhalvan' scheme, he told the university officials. The Registrars must device plans to improve the performance of the government college teachers and the teachers' incentive will depend on their performance, the secretary said. The Director of Collegiate Education must ensure that all faculty attend the development programme. The instruction came during a review meeting of placements under 'Naan Mudhalvan' scheme with university Registrars earlier this month. Some universities had shown poor placement under the scheme. He said the officials should identify employment sectors in regions surrounding the universities and its affiliated colleges. Colleges must be instructed to train students in those sectors and improve placement. Mr. Samayamoorthy said university officials could hold video conferences with college placement officers and conduct meetings with controllers of examination. The onus is on Registrars to ensure that students are given proper guidance on employment, internships, higher studies and research. The university officials have been urged to identify students with arrears in fifth and sixth semesters and enable them clear their arrears in the subsequent attempt so that they get placed. Mr. Samayamoorthy mooted the idea of filling 30% of faculty posts in universities with retired and emeritus professors. The agenda would be placed before the Syndicates for its approval, he said. Universities have been advised to acquire the software that Anna University uses to provide affiliation to colleges and for Ph.D registration. It is proposed to create a common online portal for Ph.D registration and a centralised entrance examination will be conducted for Ph. D courses. Universities have been instructed to ensure that all Ph. D theses are translated into Tamil. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Collegiate Education instructed Registrars to use funds available in Chief Minister's Research Fund (CMRF) instead from the universities. Institutions must share the prospective list of research projects as well, the commissioner said. Fee increase All State universities except Anna University, will publish end-semester results by June 15 and the academic year will open for colleges on July 1. The decision was made at a meeting of State University Registrars held earlier this month. Universities have been permitted to revise fees by less than 20% and increase the fee for arrear examinations. Each department will fix a target to generate revenue. Universities have been encouraged to create merchandise, such as mugs, t-shirts, and caps, featuring their logo and the name of their founder or leader after whom the university is named.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Stick to HC restriction on re-employment of college teachers after 60, RTI activist urges Higher Education Department
A Coimbatore-based RTI activist has made a representation to the Commissioner of Collegiate Education, urging a clear directive specifying the High Court's restriction on re-employment of college teachers beyond the age of 60. Referring to the Madras High Court verdict on October 4, 2024, in a case concerning the extension of service granted by the management of an aided college in Coimbatore to the principal who had reached the age of superannuation on June 5, N R Ravisankar - formerly Associate Professor and Head, Department of Mathematics, CBM College, Coimbatore - said that retirement should not be deferred merely because it falls shortly after the academic year begins. The judgment read, 'Just because a person retires a few days after the academic year commences, the services should not be extended by taking advantage of the Government Order. The objective behind the Government Order has to be appreciated, and the extension of service must take place by considering the letter and spirit behind it.' The judgment said that the retirement of the seventh respondent (the principal), which occurred at the beginning of the academic year, cannot be construed as falling in the middle of the academic year, and accordingly, the Government Order should not have been applied in the case. The third respondent (Director of Collegiate Education) has completely lost sight of this and has mechanically granted extension, the judgement said. The sixth respondent (college management) was directed to complete the process of appointing a new principal within six months from the date of judgement. The amendment in Government Order 92 of the HRM Department states, 'Every government servant in the superior as well as basic service shall retire on the afternoon of the last day of attainment of the age of sixty years.' Interpreting the judgment differently and permitting re-employment beyond the age of 60 would amount to 'disobedience to law', causing loss to the exchequer and warranting unnecessary legal wrangles, Prof. Ravishankar said in his representation, copies of which were forwarded to the Regional Joint Directors of Collegiate Education at Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchi, Tirunelveli and Vellore. This was the right time for the issuance of necessary proceedings, for any further delay would complicate matters, and lead colleges to seek re-employment at their convenience, ignoring the intent of the High Court directive.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Career guidance programmes in Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari and Tenkasi districts
The career guidance programmes for benefiting the students who have passed Plus Two and for those who are applying for higher studies was held in Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari districts on Wednesday in which academicians and experts from various fields addressed the participants and their parents. Inaugurating the event at SCAD Engineering College, Cheranmahadevi, District Collector R. Sukumar appealed to the participants to pursue their dream and passion in a college or university to become a graduate at least, with the guidance and help of the government. On becoming graduates, they should either land in a dream job with a lucrative package or start their own business venture to provide jobs for others also. Or, they should continue their postgraduate and doctoral studies either in India or abroad if their academic thirst still remained unquenched. 'Since the government and the banks are ready to support deserving candidates, the students should concentrate only on their studies to scale greater heights. Hence, your academic journey should continue,' Dr. Sukumar said. As many as 18 stalls had been put up by the educational institutions, banks and the counsellors to clarify the doubts of the students, who were also given career guidance handbook, detailing the educational programmes being offered by various government and leading private colleges and the universities across the country. Chief Educational Officer Sivakumar, Dean, Anna University Regional Office Shenbaga Vinayagamurthy, Joint Director of Collegiate Education Ravindran and others participated in the programme. Students from Cheranmahadevi, Ambasamudram and Paappaakudi areas participated in this event as similar programmes were organised at Maria Engineering College, Valliyoor on May 16, Sarah Tucker College, Palayamkottai on May 20, and KMP Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Maanur on May 22. Kanniyakumari District Collector R. Alagumeena, who inaugurated the career guidance event at Pon Jesley Arts and Science College in Nagercoil, said the 655 Plus Two students, who had failed in one or two subjects, should take the supplementary examination, to be conducted shortly. Hence, these students should make use of this opportunity with the guidance of their teachers to pass in these subjects, so that their academic journey would not get affected during the upcoming academic year. 'After close scrutiny of the students' performance and their family background, we have handpicked 1,080 participants for this event and hence have made arrangements for their spot admission in government and the government approved institutions for pursuing their higher studies,' Ms. Alagumeena said. In the career guidance programme organised at the ICE Government Boys' Higher Secondary School, Tenkasi, District Collector A.K. Kamal Kishore participated.
