Anna University-Coimbatore

COIMBATORE,May 20: Anna University-Coimbatore will introduce new courses in nuclear engineering, materials technology and atmospheric science, said Vice Chancellor K. Karunakaran.

Talking to reporters here on Wednesday after assuming charge as the second Vice-Chancellor, he said the aforementioned programmes would be at the undergraduate level. The university would also introduce new postgraduate courses in nanotechnology, information systems management and space technology.

He said his focus would be on infrastructure and research. “I've classified my vision and mission in those three areas. And the first priority is to build a new campus.”

“With the help of the State Government I would like to have about 300 acres for the university, preferably from the land under Bharathiar University's control. Or, take over the departments of Government College of Technology, Coimbatore.”

In doing so he said he would talk to the Bharathiar University Vice-Chancellor and others concerned. Or if the second option was to be pursued would work with the faculty there.

“I want to take everybody into confidence and work as a team. I would like to listen more and prefer the bottom-up approach to top-down model.” Mr. Karunakaran also promised to build a modern lecture hall complex with state-of-the-art facilities, sports complex, hostel for boys and girls, residential quarters for faculty, hostel for NRI students and a health centre with 24-hour medical assistance.

On the academic front, he promised to maintain faculty-student ratio at 1:12, improve examination and evaluation systems by appointing professors of eminence, and utilise the expertise of scientists and professors in frontier areas of technology.

As for research, he planned to sign agreements with universities of excellence in India and abroad to facilitate exchange of students, faculty, share course credits at postgraduate level and provide incentives for faculty and research scholars coming out with high quality research papers and patents that could be commercialised.

Mr. Karunakaran also said that he proposed to work hard to make at least 50 per cent students turn entrepreneurs, work with industries here to set up scholarships to help poor students study engineering and implement e-governance.

He comes with over three decades of teaching experience. Prior to his appointment as Vice-Chancellor he was the director of Centre for Water Resources, Anna University, Chennai. He holds a doctorate in civil engineering.


source:hindu