Separation pangs appear to have hit Bangalore University (BU) even before it is formally split into three by the government. Stung by the loss of the iconic Central College campus, BU has initiated the process of shifting departments from the campus to its Jnana Bharathi (JB) campus. And not all faculty members are taking kindly to it.
Sources in certain departments on the Central College campus told The Hindu , on the condition of anonymity, that they were not happy with the move as it was premature. Some departments have been functioning out of the campus since the 1850s, they said.
Admissions divided too
The impact of this has spilled over to admissions too. BU’s call for applications to its postgraduate courses mentions that admissions to some departments, based out of the Central College campus, will be offered on the JB campus too.
Some faculty members of these departments say this will weaken the existing departments by dividing the number of students as well as teachers.
Some officials are accusing BU of trying to ascertain its rights on existing resources by taking it all away for itself, before they could be shared with the new varsity.
Precautionary measure
However, BU Registrar (Administration) K.K. Seethamma said the university was simply preparing for the trifurcation. “The academic year will begin soon,” she said, explaining why the departments were being moved out even before an official communication from the government.
“We have to start all these departments in BU. Every one has been given an option to choose which university they want to stay with. Even the various centres are being shifted. Only Foreign Languages Department cannot be shifted to the JB campus as the classes are conducted in the evening and students cannot travel to the JB campus,” Prof. Seethamma said.
UVCE firm on autonomy
Nearing its centenary in 2017, the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) is firm on gaining autonomy, irrespective of whether Bangalore University (BU) takes it forward or not. Having sought “financial, administrative and academic autonomy” from BU this year, UVCE expected BU to forward its request to the University Grants Commission. However, unsure if this has been done, it is now preparing to re-apply for autonomy with the new Bengaluru Central University.
What about staff crunch?
While the teaching staff members are already divided on choosing between the two universities – Bangalore University and Bengaluru Central University – many are asking how resources will be divided when there are already many vacancies in both teaching and non-teaching posts. “How are they going to distribute these resources if there are several vacancies in the existing university?” asked an official.
Sources are betting on three factors as far as choice of university is concerned. BU is playing the pension card for existing staff members and they are being told that if they choose to go to the new varsity they will not get the pension from their mother university. And, if young teachers opt to go to the new varsity, they stand a better chance to get a higher posting, in particular as heads of departments. The third factor is the quality of students and research, which are touted to be better under the new Bengaluru Central University.
