Skill development courses on cards: MANUU VC
A professor in Persian & Central Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, Prof. Hasan earlier served as the Dean, School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, JNU.
Hyderabad: Armed with more than 34 years of teaching experience, Professor Syed Ainul Hasan has assumed charge as the fifth vice-chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) this July. A professor in Persian & Central Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, Prof. Hasan earlier served as the Dean, School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, JNU.
Challenges ahead:
It was after one-and-a-half year of the Covid-19 pandemic that I joined the university. Firm initiatives have already been taken. I am all for decentralisation of power. We have formed various committees including for campus development and also a Covid-19 Task Force. We are streamlining everything.
Shopping complex:
Tenders have been invited for a shopping complex on the campus. All basic requirements besides cafeteria, food corner, laundry, tailoring, vegetables and fruits will be made available in the complex from next week and students need not go outside the campus.
New courses:
Teaching foreign languages is also important. So, immediately, new courses in Russian, French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and Pashto are in the pipeline. To start with, a certificate course will be offered through a new School of Foreign Languages. Apart from these, a master programme in legal studies is being planned in collaboration with other institutions to be offered on the campus. Diploma and undergraduate programmes in nursing are also in the offing.
On the basis of recommendations of the National Educational Policy 2021, the university will soon have a separate department for skill development. The syllabus for various skill development courses is being designed and will be soon introduced.
Offline classes:
Online classes are still continuing. It will take another month to start physical or offline classes. Some students have already been permitted into the hostels. When physical classes start, we will ensure that Covid-19 safety protocols are in place.
Before returning for offline classes, we are asking students to take at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and the second dose will be arranged on campus. The university has made arrangements to screen students for symptoms and they have to remain in isolation for three days after returning to the campus.
Karimnagar campus:
Using limited resources, we have to establish campuses. We are exploring possibilities for resources. We have written to the Union government seeking permission and once approval from the University Grants Commission is received, the groundwork will commence.