Latest news with #MumbaiUniversity
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘Access denied': Mumbai University can't see its digital infra as five staffers ‘protect' passwords; cyber audit hits a wall
MUMBAI: Five employees from Mumbai University's Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) have been holding on to the access of the university's digital infrastructure, including the IT systems, email systems, software, and servers, among other things, for a while. As a public entity, control of the university's entire infrastructure - physical or digital - is, by law, with the registrar. The university has written to these employees multiple times to seek handover of the access, but to no avail. A university representative said the employees, who had moved the industrial court against the university over unfair labour practices, have been claiming they have access to the digital infrastructure as network and system administrators of the university and have been carrying out their work as per norms and have withheld the passwords due to the confidentiality involved. The Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, mentions that the university's registrar is 'the custodian of records, the common seal and any such other property of the university as the management council may commit to his charge'. Moreover, the act also bestows on the university's management council the right 'to control and arrange for administration of assets and properties of university'. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai "There were reports of cyber attacks that were reported by a govt agency, following which the university had to carry out a probe. But as the administration did not have any access credentials, they could not carry out any audit or even implement preventive measures for cyber security," said a university source, adding the employees also have control over office-suite products used by the university. The employees, however, claimed that they have access controls by virtue of being the system and network administrators and that they are working in the varsity's best interest, said the source. They also said they filed a complaint with BKC police station after the university informed them about the cyber attacks and have extended help when required, the source added. The industrial court, in the matter filed by the four employees seeking permanency in employment along with all consequential benefits and arrears of salary, had ruled in an interim order on Nov 25, 2022 that prima facie the university 'had engaged in unfair labour practice'. The court also directed the university to not terminate services of the complainants without following due process of law till final disposal of complaint and also restrained it from appointing new employees through a private agency or directly in place of the complainants, apart from restraining it from changing existing service conditions of the complainants. While a senior university official said 'whenever necessary, the university takes and will take necessary action', messages and calls made to four of the employees went unanswered. One employee refused to disclose information but told TOI they are doing work as per the court's directive.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
MU's chemistry dept gets first prize in sci, to receive 15L grant
Mumbai: Mumbai University's chemistry department was awarded the first prize in the science category under UDRF and will be given a grant of Rs 15 lakh, followed by the National Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology with a grant of Rs 7 lakh. Prizes under 7 categories were announced on MU's 169th foundation day on Friday. UDRF awards were launched by MU and adopted by state govt. In management, sub-campuses, model colleges and institutions, the first prize was awarded to Alkesh Dinesh Modi Institute of Finance and Management Education with a grant of Rs 10 lakh and the second to Garware Business and Development Institute with Rs 5 lakh. In interdisciplinary studies, geography department got first prize with Rs 10 lakh and department of music second with Rs 5 lakh. tnn
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘Access denied': Univ can't see its digital infra as five staffers ‘protect' passwords
MUMBAI: Five employees from Mumbai University's Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) have been holding on to the access of the university's digital infrastructure, including the IT systems, email systems, software, and servers, among other things, for a while. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As a public entity, control of the university's entire infrastructure physical or digital is, by law, with the registrar. The university has written to these employees multiple times to seek handover of the access, but to no avail. A university representative said the employees, who had moved the industrial court against the university over unfair labour practices, have been claiming they have access to the digital infrastructure as network and system administrators of the university and have been carrying out their work as per norms and have withheld the passwords due to the confidentiality involved. The Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, mentions that the university's registrar is 'the custodian of records, the common seal and any such other property of the university as the management council may commit to his charge'. Moreover, the act also bestows on the university's management council the right 'to control and arrange for administration of assets and properties of the university'. 'There were reports of cyber attacks that were reported by a govt agency, following which the university had to carry out a probe. But as the administration did not have any access credentials, they could not carry out any audit or even implement preventive measures for cyber security,' said a university source, adding the employees also have control over officesuite products used by the university. The employees, however, claimed that they have access controls by virtue of being the system and network administrators and that they are working in the varsity's best interest, said the source. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now They also said they filed a complaint with BKC police station after the university informed them about the cyber attacks and have extended help when required, the source added. The industrial court, in the matter filed by the four employees seeking permanency in employment along with all consequential benefits and arrears of salary, had ruled in an interim order on Nov 25, 2022 that prima facie the university 'had engaged in unfair labour practice'. The court also directed the university to not terminate services of the complainants without following due process of law till final disposal of complaint and also restrained it from appointing new employees through a private agency or directly in place of the complainants, apart from restraining it from changing existing service conditions of the complainants. While a senior university official said 'whenever necessary, the university takes and will take necessary action', messages and calls made to four of the employees went unanswered. One employee refused to disclose information but told TOI they are doing work as per the court's directive.
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Campus Talk: Mumbai University's novel ‘Communicative Marathi' course gains traction amid renewed language politics
As Marathi regains centre stage in Maharashtra's politics, Mumbai University's novel course on 'Communicative Marathi' has come under the spotlight for its growing popularity among people from diverse backgrounds, ranging from bank and government employees to lawyers, corporate professionals working with the government, and even foreigners. Mumbai University has been offering this course for nearly a decade. It comprises six levels and covers a wide range of communicative Marathi skills through fun and systematic training in speaking, reading, writing, and listening (understanding), along with structured practice in grammar, vocabulary, and, most importantly, communication. Currently, three levels are offered by the university, and students are required to begin with Level 1 and progress sequentially. This is the first time any university in the state has developed such a comprehensive course on Communicative Marathi, including a structured curriculum for each level. Marathi learning textbooks, workbooks, and audiovisual materials have been developed across all six levels to support students enrolled in the course. There are also dedicated learning resources designed for specific target groups, such as rickshaw and taxi drivers, nurses, bank employees and government employees. Notably, all the learning material for this course has been developed by the Department of German at Mumbai University, which also conducts the classes. The department has applied the well-established pedagogy used in teaching the German language to teach Marathi, using a more scientific and structured approach to language acquisition. The Head of the Department, Prof. Vibha Surana, shared that the course began with her personal desire to learn Marathi as a non-Marathi-speaking resident of Mumbai. 'Since I was already teaching German, I decided to apply those principles to learning Marathi for communication. Today, we have dedicated teachers running the course, which has moved online since the pandemic,' she said. Classes are mostly held on weekends, considering that many of the students are working professionals pursuing Communicative Marathi for specific needs. For instance, a lawyer from Mumbai, who did not wish to be named, said, 'While English is sufficient for higher courts, Marathi is essential in lower courts. It ensures seamless access.' For Shilpa from Avyukta Training, a corporate training firm, the primary motivation to learn Communicative Marathi is to build a stronger rapport with state government officials. 'We have lost some government projects to other Marathi-speaking agencies simply because we couldn't establish that connection in the local language. Government employees who primarily speak Marathi tend to trust those who also speak their language,' she explained. This is also the reason why Keagan Miller, a music teacher from the USA, is taking the Communicative Marathi course: to better connect with his wife's family and culture. 'My wife is Maharashtrian from Mumbai's Dombivli. I'm glad this course is available, especially in an online format, which makes it accessible to many,' he said. With official recognition from Mumbai University, the course has become a credible resource for individuals from Mumbai, across India, and abroad to learn Communicative Marathi. The course offers academic credits upon completion of each level, and students from any other course can take it to earn those credits. Admissions are currently open for Level 1, which has an intake capacity of 30 students per batch. Details are available on the university's official website –
United News of India
06-07-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Engineering Progress—Prasad Boraskar's Enduring Legacy in Embedded Systems and Firmware Innovation
In the intricate world of embedded systems and firmware engineering, the bar for technical achievement is set exceptionally high. This domain, which serves as the foundation for advancements in augmented reality, smart security devices, and connected consumer electronics, demands not only advanced academic training but also a rare capacity for innovation and leadership. The professionals who excel here are those whose expertise spans system architecture, design verification, and the automation of complex hardware-software interactions—a profile that is exemplified by Prasad Boraskar. With over 17 years of experience across some of the world's most influential technology companies, Boraskar has built a reputation as a senior embedded systems and firmware engineer whose work consistently drives industry progress. His academic credentials—a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Telecommunications from Mumbai University—provide a solid foundation for his technical achievements. Throughout his career, Boraskar has focused on the design and verification of firmware for AR devices, security cameras, and embedded platforms, demonstrating a unique ability to bridge theoretical research with practical application. At Meta, Boraskar led verification efforts for AR wearables, developing tools such as the Sensor Synchronization Fixture and the Streaming Data Analyzer. These innovations have reduced manual testing, accelerated product timelines, and set new benchmarks for efficiency and accuracy in the verification of sensor-driven systems. By standardizing timing measurements between sensors and devices, Boraskar's tools have improved data accuracy and enabled teams to deliver higher quality products in less time. The widespread adoption of these methodologies by leading technology firms underscores their originality and significance within the field. Boraskar's impact extends to his work at Apple, where he built an end-to-end firmware update system for Systems on Chip (SoCs), enhancing update reliability and device security for millions of users. His contributions to wireless video transmission and video quality optimization at Netgear have helped improve home security systems that are now widely used in the United States. These achievements reflect a consistent pattern of innovation, where Boraskar's expertise supports robust product development and drives the evolution of the tech industry. The significance of Boraskar's contributions is amplified by the context in which they occur. As embedded systems become increasingly central to the functionality of modern devices, the need for secure, scalable, and efficient solutions grows ever more critical. Boraskar's work in system architecture, firmware design verification, and automation addresses these needs directly, ensuring that products meet the highest standards of reliability and performance. His ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage complex projects, and deliver solutions that align with strategic business objectives further distinguishes him as a leader in his field.
