Latest news with #AUT
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
AUT alleges ICCs at Periyar University in Salem not composed as per PoSH Act and UGC regulations
The Associations of University Teachers (AUT), Tamil Nadu, alleged that the Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs) in Periyar University were not constituted as per the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (prevention, prohibition, and redressal) Act (PoSH Act) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations. The AUT also claimed ICC was used as a tool to target unpreferred teachers. ICC, a committee mandated by the PoSH Act, should be established within an organisation to address and resolve complaints of sexual harassment in the workplace. Its prime goal is to ensure a safe and respectful working environment, especially for women. The UGC issued guidelines for the composition and constitution of an ICC committee in a university in 2015. As per the guidelines, a presiding officer should be a woman faculty member, not below the rank of professor. Persons in senior administrative positions such as Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Dean, syndicate member, and head of the departments (HoD) shall not be members of ICCs to ensure the autonomy of their functioning. The AUT alleges these rules are violated brazenly and ICCs are used as a tool to victimise not-so-preferred teachers and employees. The AUT general secretary, K. Raja, said that the first ICC committee at Periyar University was constituted only in July 2018 with T. Poongodi Vijayakumar as the presiding officer. She was the HoD when she assumed the role and was also a syndicate member between 2019 and 2022. As per the rule, this is a serious violation. The second and third ICCs (April 21 and 24, 2022) were headed by T. Periasamy. This was also a violation, as the ICC presiding officer should be female. The fourth committee was headed by R. Parimalavalli (April 28, 2022), an associate professor, which again, is a violation, as a presiding officer should not be below the rank of professor. From July 2022 to May 2025, Ms. Poongodi, once again headed the fifth, sixth, and seventh ICCs as the presiding officer. Except for three months, she has been in the position for the past seven years, while UGC says no one can be a member of the ICC beyond three years. ICC has also not provided the details of complaints received in the last seven years. As per available records, ICC punished two faculty members: K. Premkumar, the then general secretary of the Periyar University Teachers Association (PUTA), and another professor. Mr. Premkumar was suspended and later removed from service. While another professor was awarded a demotion, he got a stay from the court for the issue. Mr. Premkumar is an unpreferred teacher, as he allegedly raised his voice against the Periyar University administration's wrongdoing as PUTA's general secretary. If the ICC is constituted against the UGC regulations and PoSH Act, then how will the reports submitted by these committees be valid? Mr. Raja questioned. Demanding that action taken based on these ICC reports should be revoked, Mr. Raja said the incumbent administration should pay due attention to the conscious violations in the composition and constitution of the ICCs and sensitise the committee by appropriating mandated amendments in accordance with the rules in vogue at the ensuing meeting of the Syndicate, Mr. Raja added. The member of the Periyar University Vice-Chancellor in-charge Committee, R. Subramani, was not available for a comment.
Scoop
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Bûche Au Poivre Is Vegan Cheese Supreme Winner
Press Release – The Vegan Society Aotearoa New Zealand The five judges had over 80 entries covering 12 different categories to apply their tasting palates to. Trying the huge varieties and covering all the different styles of dairy cheese is a tough chore, even for turophile Franco Sessa. The Supreme Winner of the fifth annual Vegan Society Vegan Cheese Awards is a delicious take on a goat cheese classic, chevre log rolled in pepper. The creamy nuanced plant-based cheese wowed the judges with its lovely tangy flavour, off set nicely with the heat of cracked pepper. Smooth and lovely mouth feel and very attractive on the plate. The five judges had over 80 entries covering 12 different categories to apply their tasting palates to. Trying the huge varieties and covering all the different styles of dairy cheese is a tough chore, even for turophile Franco Sessa. With 24 years experience in the New Zealand specialty cheese industry, Franco was keen to see what a plant-based cheese has to offer. His work spans from large corporates to small artisan cheese boutiques, managing cheese making, procurement, supply chain, sales, marketing, export and executive management. Tracy Berno is a Professor in Food Studies at AUT. She has worked in food for over 30 years in roles ranging from academic to presenting cooking classes and demonstrations to catering. Her judging experience was paired with Aaron Pucci, who has clocked up 25 years in the food and beverage manufacturing industry. His trusted palate has earned him numerous seats on judging panels for awards in New Zealand and Australia over 20 years. The almighty and formidable vegan pie maker Jason Hay of Richoux Patisserie is also a veteran Vegan Pie Awards judge and joined the judging panel to find new cheeses for his pies! Vegan comedian Tom Sainsbury helped Jason and Franco conclude which cheeses were the best and deliver the news of these winners and runners up: Supreme Winner High Culture Cheese Bûche au Poivre Feta Winner Nudairy; Feta Block Great presentation of colour and body with smooth texture, firm and creamy at the same time. A very clean lactic finish which resembles Danish feta Runner up Epic Foods: Feta Rosemary & Garlic Smooth and creamy with a well-balanced savoury flavour profile, and a finish of zesty citrus. Cheese Soft Winner High Culture Bûche au Poivre Lovely tangy flavour, off set nicely with the heat of cracked pepper. Smooth and lovely mouth feel and very attractive on the plate. Runner up Savour: Cumin Great presentation of an excellent base cheese, carrying wonderful cumin and nigella notes. Flavoured Cheese Board Cheese Winner High Culture: Bûche a la Truffe Good balance of flavours. Well crafted and very more-ish on the cheese board. So delicious. Runner up Sonntag: Cumin Good consistency and well-crafted. Flavours are well-balanced and lingering. Cheese Spread Winner Savour: Mint A very light smooth texture with a fantastic mouth feel, the mint giving it a refreshing edge. Quite different but it works! Runner up One Love Planet: Chilli Creama Creamy and fresh with a good level of chilli. Perfect in your salad baguette! Brie, Camembert and Blue Style Winner One Love Planet: Bohemian Blue Beautifully presented with flowers. Nice tangy bite and smooth consistency, looking great on a cheese board! Runner up Let Them Eat Vegan: Plant-based Creamy Camembert Wedge Beautiful colour with a nice melt in the mouth feel. Innovation Category Winner Nudairy: Feta Block Nicely crafted cheese with a good balance of complex flavours. Firm to the knife and smooth to the palate. Runner up Let Them Eat Vegan: Smoked Gouda Spread Smooth, creamy and indulgent. A delight to scoop up with crudites. Mozzarella Winner Angel Food: Mozzarella Stretchy and gooey – very tasty mozzarella. Great for pizza and toasties. Runner up Zenzo: Mozzarella A very delicious mozzarella. Commercial Cheddar and Flavoured Winner Epic Foods: Cumin Gouda Nicely balanced attractive cheese with good texture and flavour of the cumin coming through. The cumin provides a great crunchy texture. Runner up Epic Foods: Peri Peri Chilli Cheese Attractive cheese with a spicy, chilli hit. Great on a toasted sandwich. Commercial Cheddar Winner Nudairy: Cheddar Great creamy texture with well-balanced savoury and fruity flavours. Dense smooth and slightly pasty giving a good palate feel. Runner up Epic: Cheddar Original Good appearance and mild aroma, smooth and creamy with a pleasant lingering taste. Texture elastic Cream Cheese Flavoured Winner One Love Planet: Chevie Black Pepper & Dill Great appearance with well distributed speckles of flavours. Very nice to spread. Good mouth melt with a clean mouth feel. Beautiful. No runner up Cream Cheese Plain Winner Angel Food: Cream Cheese Lives up to its name and is very close in flavour to dairy cream cheese with great texture. Runner up Nudairy: Dairy Free Mascarpone Very close to the winner: well-presented with great ivory colour. Artisan Cheese Winner One Love Planet: Karmasan Tangy umami, rich cheese with texture that's perfect for crumbling over pasta or Caesar salad. Runner up One Love Planet: Smoked Goudi
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Association of University Teachers protests delay in CAS promotions, dues
COIMBATORE: The Association of University Teachers (AUT) held a protest in front of the regional joint director of collegiate education in Coimbatore on Monday demanding the implementation of the career advancement scheme (CAS) and the disbursal of pending dues for teachers in govt-aided colleges. AUT zone VII representatives later submitted a petition to regional joint director N Shenbagalakshmi. They highlighted that more than 5,000 teachers in 162 aided colleges had been denied CAS promotions, pay and arrears for over four years. This severely impacted the career growth of faculty members, despite the issuance of the govt order (GO) No 5 in 2021, which covers both govt and aided college teachers. AUT zone VII secretary K Saravanakumar called the unequal implementation of the GO a betrayal and criticised the govt for ignoring the concerns of aided college teachers. He said several senior faculty members were unable to apply for key academic posts due to the delay in promotions. The association alleged that the joint director's office was refusing to accept CAS proposals, citing internal orders to restrict funds to salaries alone. AUT further raised concerns over the non-payment of incentive allowances for teachers holding MPhil and PhD degrees, which they say is discouraging research activity in the state. AUT plans to intensify protests, with a state-level demonstration scheduled in Chennai on August 7.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Material change for the construction industry
With insolvency and job losses for construction businesses soaring , the government has announced it will make it easier for firms to purchase and use international materials for builds here in New Zealand. Professor John Tookey from AUT joins Emile Donovan to look at whether this move will bring down the high cost of construction. Photo: 123RF
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
AUT writes to CM on withdrawal of SLP in SC
Trichy: The Association of University Teachers (AUT) has written to chief minister M K Stalin over the demand for withdrawal of the special leave petition (SLP) filed in the Supreme Court, which they say unfairly blocks the promotion and monetary benefits due to aided college teachers under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS). In a statement, general secretary of AUT, K Raja, said that while teachers in govt colleges have received CAS benefits as per GO No. 5 dated Jan 11, 2021, their counterparts in aided colleges have been denied the same. "Thousands of teachers are pushed to the corner over the denial of CAS benefits, leading to frustration," said Raja. The petition said that despite court orders in favour of teachers from Urumu Dhanalakshmi College in Trichy, including directions to release monetary benefits, the higher education department moved the apex court. Citing selective implementation of CAS benefits in certain regions like Coimbatore and Thanjavur, the AUT called the SLP "anti-teacher" and urged the state to uphold parity and fairness by immediately withdrawing it.
