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The Hindu
25-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Teachers' unions slam KSHEC vice-chairperson Rajan Gurukkal's remarks on the administrative deadlock at Kerala University
Three major Left-leaning teachers' organisations have strongly criticised Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) vice-chairperson Rajan Gurukkal for making 'distorted interpretations' that allegedly justify and empower 'authoritarian tendencies' by the Vice-Chancellor (V-C) in-charge of Kerala University, Mohanan Kunnummal. Prof. Gurukkal, during a recent interview with The Hindu, had emphasised the role of the Vice-Chancellor as the sole executive and academic head of the university. He also faulted the Syndicate for the existing administrative impasse that has affected the institution's functioning. In their joint statement, All Kerala Private College Teachers' Association (AKPCTA), the Association of Kerala Government College Teachers (AKGCT) and the Federation of University Teachers' Associations (FUTA) accused Prof. Gurukkal of undermining the democratic ethos enshrined in the Kerala University Act by seemingly endorsing a top-down administrative model in university governance. 'Kerala's universities are not centres of autocracy, but democratic institutions rooted in the renaissance legacy of social justice and collective decision-making,' the statement read. The organisations also took umbrage at Prof. Gurukkal's perceived silence on the alleged misuse of powers by a temporary V-C who has been purportedly acting in violation of university statutes. According to the unions, the V-C's recent actions of bypassing the Syndicate and other statutory bodies and issuing unilateral orders violate not only the letter, but the spirit of the University Act. Clause 10(13), which allows the V-C to act independently only under extraordinary circumstances, is being misused, they claim. The joint statement accuses the V-C of showing intolerance towards student democratic bodies and pursuing an administrative agenda that aligns with right-wing interests. It warns that such actions, if unopposed, will lead to the erosion of academic freedom and institutional integrity. The unions also refuted Prof. Gurukkal's assertion that the V-C's approval is needed to implement Syndicate decisions. 'Chapter 6, Clause 2 of the Kerala University Statute allows the Syndicate to convene even in the V-C's absence. The V-C can chair the Syndicate and cast a vote if necessary, but they do not have veto power. The notion that Syndicate decisions require the V-C's approval is a serious legal violation. The High Court has ruled that such power is not granted under the University Act.'
The Hindu
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala University owes its crisis to Syndicate's ignorance of the Act and Statutes: Rajan Gurukkal
Kerala State Higher Education Council vice-chairperson Rajan Gurukkal has strongly criticised the Kerala University Syndicate, holding it responsible for the prevailing administrative deadlock that has disrupted the university's functioning. The Syndicate's 'ignorance of the Act and the Statutes,' he said, has created the ongoing crisis. Prof. Gurukkal stated that the Syndicate, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor (V-C), is the executive body of any university, and without the Vice-Chancellor, the Syndicate has no legal or functional existence. 'However, many mistakenly see the Syndicate and the Vice-Chancellor as separate entities. This statutory ignorance is the root-cause of the crisis in Kerala University. In fact, the Syndicate members have no individual authority outside their collective role. At the same time, the Vice-Chancellor is the sole chief executive and academic head of the university,' he asserted. He added that the unanimous decisions adopted by the Syndicate are legally void, unless the meetings are presided over by the Vice-Chancellor. Besides, in cases of insubordination, Registrars must be aware that their statutory powers ultimately depend on the Vice-Chancellor's discretion. False convention According to him, Kerala University has long upheld the false convention of treating Syndicate members as individual authorities. Under this 'illusion,' members have enjoyed undue privileges, such as private offices, considering themselves to be like 'Ministers' in a university 'Cabinet,' despite having no individual portfolios or administrative powers. 'Members may serve on standing committees related to academics, administration, examinations and other areas, but these are meant to aid Syndicate decision-making faster and do not confer executive authority. Such roles require small meeting rooms, not personal offices. Legally, they are entitled solely to temporary accommodation, whether on campus or elsewhere at the university's expense,' Prof. Gurukkal said. The academic also suggested that Syndicate members, who are often nominated from various constituencies, may be academically outdated or politically backed individuals, lacking the expertise or vision needed for university growth. Many are unfamiliar with even the basic University Act and Statutes. 'But when members aligned with the ruling party form a caucus, they may promote narrow agendas. Interestingly, real politicians like MLAs or MPs who serve on the Syndicates rarely engage in such behaviour.'
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- The Hindu
Why teaching digital etiquette is urgent amid rising WhatsApp harassment
Last year, a week after the orientation at one of Hyderabad's reputed law colleges, Athai, a student from Nagaland, became part of her class's informal WhatsApp group—created by students without the involvement of faculty. Unlike the official group, where only class-related subjects and assignments were discussed, this one was more casual, with students introducing themselves and sharing their hobbies. But things took a grim turn when Athai did not respond to the advances of a classmate. He began mocking her, using a derogatory term for people from the northeast, and soon influenced others to join in. Within a day, the group was flooded with comments about her hairstyle, appearance, and more. Athai exited the group, and within two days, she dropped out of the college altogether. 'I chose to return and study in Nagaland, where I'm not seen as an outsider,' said Athai, recalling the incident, which occurred a year ago. What stood out was how none of her classmates intervened. Two of them admitted to The Hindu that they knew the trolling was wrong, but didn't know how to react. That hesitation, that silence, speaks to a deeper gap: the absence of digital etiquette. Digital etiquette in Indian colleges Digital etiquette, in this context, is about knowing how to behave online—what's acceptable, what crosses the line, and when to speak up. Students step into college with complete control over their mobile phones, but little to no understanding of how to use them responsibly in shared digital spaces. Colleges in India often go all out during orientation week—celebrating institutional rankings, showcasing alumni success, and highlighting placement records. Yet, in all this grandeur, there's little effort to initiate students into the basics of digital etiquette. Digital etiquette or 'netiquette,' is the code of respectful and appropriate behaviour within the digital learning environment. In the educational context, it includes good practices, from maintaining academic integrity by not plagiarizing content to exhibiting respect toward instructors and peers in online communications, as per Lincoln Learning Solutions, a non-profit education provider that partners with schools and educators to deliver digital curriculum. In light of the University Grants Commission's recent directive asking colleges to monitor informal WhatsApp groups that harass juniors, the need to teach digital etiquette becomes even more urgent. 'When there is such an instruction, there will be some control—even if not complete control,' said Rajan Gurukkal, Vice-Chairman of the Kerala State Higher Education Council. 'In just a couple of years, we'll have 'screen-age' students entering colleges—young people who are already deeply accustomed to digital media. Unlike their previous generations who developed sensibility through reading and writing, screen-age students are adept with digital tools. That's precisely why it's important to teach digital etiquette early,' Mr. Rajan said. While the need for monitoring informal WhatsApp groups risks pushing into sensitive territory of invading the right to privacy, it is a direct response to the UGC's acknowledgement of rising ragging complaints online. Dr. Saumya Sisodia, political science professor at GB University, Noida, said, 'We've never done a session or made a PowerPoint on digital etiquette but while teaching about digital governance, I teach them the art and science of using social media.' She added that the faculty members try to stay present in informal WhatsApp groups to keep an eye on conversations, but acknowledged the limitations of this approach. 'How can we monitor the informal whatsapp groups? It interferes with an individual's fundamental right and their right to privacy,' Prof. Sisodia said, stressing that the problem is more behavioral than structural and the mobile phone merely becomes a tool for such issues to surface because it offers ease and anonymity. If colleges choose to monitor WhatsApp groups to curb ragging, they must do so without violating students' privacy. 'At a time when the latest version of Gemini says that it can access WhatsApp messages, it is not impossible to monitor whatsapp groups with Artificial Intelligence tools. But, college administration should present a clear case, inform students, seek permission from WhatsApp and then monitor the groups,' said Jayaprakash Gandhi, career consultant and education analyst. Way forward Digital etiquette should ideally begin in schools, so that by the time they enter college, students are ethically aware, say experts. In the online world, there is a possibility of creating anonymous accounts and it is easy to troll, cyberbully and rag. That's why teenagers and young adults become a little more uninhibited, said Dr. Geetanjali Jha, Digital Parenting expert and Cyberpsychology researcher, iMature EdTech, a platform in India dedicated to educating students, parents, schools and colleges on Digital Citizenship and Internet Maturity (DCIM). Acknowledging that parental controls and blanket bans by teachers have little to no lasting impact on mobile usage among school and college students, Dr. Geetanjali Jha said the real solution lies in awareness and guidance. 'At the school level, students are already using mobiles—probably switching them off and hiding them during class and using them during breaks or after school to update parents about their safety. By the time they reach college, it's not just mobile phones—they use smart rings and smartwatches too, making it even easier to scroll during lectures without being noticed,' she said. The best thing is to teach the students 'Cyber Sanskar' or Internet Maturity - a 21st-century life skill,' said Geetanjali Jha. iMature EdTech designed The Digital Citizenship and Internet Maturity Club (DCIM) Toolkit, a free of cost, self-paced school curriculum designed with activities and training for healthy Internet behaviour, for both students and staff. It helps build awareness through practical, scenario-based learning, making Internet Maturity a lived, everyday skill. It is already being implemented in several schools, including BITS Pilani (School), Bhavan's Bharati School in Bhopal, and New Era School in Jhansi. 'They need to learn responsible and mature internet behavior,' said Ms. Jha. 'Teenagers are naturally rebellious, so we don't preach—we explain with empathy and real-world examples that show the magnitude of the problem. For instance, many foreign universities conduct background checks. If you've abused someone on Facebook, it can reflect poorly on your Online Reputation and hurt future prospects,' she said. Parents play a crucial role in shaping digital etiquette, said Ms. Jha. But the approach matters. 'Parents shouldn't act like the internet is their child's enemy. They need to be conversant, easy, and relaxed while guiding children in their internet behaviour,' she said. She has developed a program to guide parents (and all adults who look after children), so that they can become Digital Leaders for their children.
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
KSHEC's push for internationalisation shows gains
The Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) has seen remarkable progress with its 'Study in Kerala' initiative, aimed at positioning the State as a prominent destination for higher education. Council vice-chairperson Rajan Gurukkal said that the ongoing internationalisation efforts have already begun to show encouraging results. Universities have been witnessing a notable increase in the number of foreign students seeking admission for various academic programmes. This growing trend of internationalisation has also led to the establishment of academic tie-ups between Kerala's higher education institutions and prestigious foreign universities. A significant milestone was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between KSHEC and the University of Michigan-Flint. This agreement opens the door to student exchange programmes and short-term academic visits, Prof. Gurukkal pointed out, adding that discussions are under way with several other international universities for similar partnerships. He also stated that experts like Sapna Thwaite and Zachariah Mathew from University of Michigan-Flint, and Matthew A. Witenstein from University of Dayton, participated in a recent quality enhancement workshop organised to meet globally benchmark standards. 'KSHEC has been instrumental in guiding colleges and universities in the State to explore similar international partnerships. The council's dedicated unit for internationalisation, led by Eldho Mathew, is working closely with national and international bodies to promote Kerala's educational offerings to the global audience. One such example is the council's collaboration with the 'Study in India' programme, a national forum for internationalisation of higher education. Currently, 29 colleges and seven universities from Kerala are part of the forum, Prof. Gurukkal pointed out. The council is also building ties with international organisations like the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which will bring in expert knowledge to further enhance Kerala's education system. Council member secretary Rajan Varughese said the ongoing efforts will be bolstered with the release of KSHEC's new mobile and web application called Scholar Connect. The app will link scholars from Kerala who live abroad with higher education institutions in the State. These scholars, acting as ambassadors, will play a pivotal role in bringing in short-term international students and long-term academic collaborations.
