Supplementary exam is to be held in May, 2012
Calcutta University has decided to introduce courses
integrating the bachelors and masters degrees from the next academic year. With
this decision, CU will turn a new leaf in history. Students opting for the integrated
courses can study in the university for five years and earn a master's degree along
with graduation. Admission to these courses will, however, be restricted only to
meritorious students who will have to qualify for the course through an entrance
examination. Both the University Grants Commission (UGC) and ministry of human resources
and development are encouraging such integrated courses across the country. Several
other universities are thinking of introducing them since it is the need of the
hour. “We too want to join the league”, said vice-chancellor of CU, Suranjan Das.
He added: Sometimes the bachelors and masters syllabi over lap.
More over, there
is a difference in the quality of students from various colleges pursuing postgraduate
courses. I have requested the heads of departments to ascertain their infrastructure
and let me know if they can start the integrated course. Initially, only a few seats
will be offered. In this way, we can get bright students to enroll for the courses
right after higher secondary examinations. There will, however, be no seat crunch
in the regular postgraduate courses. The VC also said that “Bangladeshi Prime Minister,
Sheikh Hasina” will not be able to make it to the Calcutta University convocation.
We have received a letter that conveys that “she will not be able to make it due
to her busy schedule. She has accepted our invitation. We will hold a special convocation
and confer her “Doctor of Letter” (D.Lit) as and when she decides to come to the
city at her convenience.
The university has already received the new act. The senate
and syndicate will soon be formed in accordance with it. The names of D.Lit and
D.Sc recipients will now be decided by the syndicate and then approved by the chancellor,
Das said. The vice-chancellor of Oxford University will visit Calcutta University
on March 24th. “Andrew Hamilton will visit CU and we will discuss projects which
the two universities can undertake jointly. We may also sign a memorandum of understanding”,
Das added. In the field of research, too, CU and Oxford University are set to attain
new highs. The British Council has given a grant of more than 12,000 and the two
universities will jointly take up a research project on the means and methods to
increase collaboration between higher education institutes and industry.
Welcome
Trust of Britain has also sanctioned 
70 lakh grant for the history department.
A joint research on the history of medicine will soon commence. “The UGC has also
decided to set up a centre of excellence in CU on Electro Physiology and Neuro Imaging
Studies. The university will receive a grant of 6.15 crore from UGC”, Das said.
Apart from these, CU has already received three more grants. From 2013, a supplementary
exam will be held every January to enable CU undergraduate students clear the papers
they fail in. This has been done as it was noticed that Part III students suffer
under the existing system. Some cannot take admissions in postgraduate courses as
Part III results are declared much ahead and admissions take place. But, they can
only clear the back papers of Part II much later. The problem will now be solved.
This year, however, the supplementary exam is to be held in May.
Courtesy: Times of India
