Major decisions taken during GNDU syndicate meeting
Gurpreet Kaur/ royalpatiala.in/ Amritsar
The meeting of the Syndicate of Guru Nanak Dev University held today in the Syndicate Room of the University. Prof. Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Vice-Chancellor presided over the meeting while Prof. K.S Kahlon, Registrar presented the agenda. Prof. S.S. Behl, Dean Academic Affairs and members of Syndicate were present to discuss various issues. Prof. Sandhu welcomed new members Dr. Dharambir Agnihotri, MLA and Sh. Surinder Singh Choudhary, MLA and discussed various issues and suggestions. Prof. VedParkash, former Chairman UGC and Rahul Bhandari, Secretary, Higher Education ensured the online participation in the meeting.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sandhu informed the members about the activities of the University during lockdown period. He said that during this prevailing situation of Covid-19, the University is committed to provide education through various online portals to the students of the University. The activities included during this period were; online teaching, webinars by various departments of University, online literary collaborations and training workshops by Life Long Learning Deptt., Campus sanitization & cleaning, made in-house sanitizer, making of Masks & Distribution, Developing quarantine centres at University Health Centre, students hostels converted to Covid Care Centers, distribution of Ration and other essential things to campus residents and other needy by taking all essential precautions as per Govt. guidelines, Special care for international students studying at the Campus, online administrative measures including psychological Tele-counseling, maintaining the sanctity of academic expectations and integrity of examination process, starting of online admissions etc. During this period university received top ranking in CWUR, Nature Index 2020, NIRF- 2020 ranking, he added.
Vice Chancellor said that in today’s scenario online education is very important due to current Covid-19 panademic situation and University Grants Commission is also promoting it. UGC has given the new eligibility critera for online education, in which Category – I & II University or University with NIRF ranking in Top 100, in overall category are eligible. Under Category-I University, the Guru Nanak Dev University is finalizing its process of Online Studies. The Directorate of Online Studies of the University would also start functioning soon. Dr. Sandhu also told that the University is getting repeated requests from Punjabi community and the alumni (settled or residing in abroad) to start some Online courses especially in the field of Punjabi language and culture.
Prof. Sandhu said that GNDU is going to be the first Paperless Working University shortly. Teaching, research and administrative structure of Centre for Interfaith Studies has also been approved by the syndicate. Regarding design of the building of the Centre, a meeting will be held shortly with Capt. Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister of Punjab.
Appointment of various Heads of the Departments and Deans of various Faculties were also approved by the syndicate. As many as 13 Ph.D degrees were approved in this meeting. The recommendations to change the nomenclature of the course of M.Sc. (Sports Physiology) to M.Sc. (Exercise and Sports Physiology) of MYAS-GNDU Department of Sports Sciences and Medicine; eligibility criteria, Mode of Admission and Ordinances of B.Tech. (Electronics & Computer Engineering) Lateral Entry, B.Tech. (Mechanical Engineering) Lateral Entry and M.Tech. Dual Degree Programme (Mechatronics Engineering) Lateral Entry from session 2020-21; change the nomenclature of B.Sc. Agriculture (Hons.) (CBEGS.) to B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture (CBEGS) from the session 2019-20 was also accorded approval by the syndicate.
Due to COVID-19, the hostels were vacated to create Covid – 19 centre. Minimum charges from the hostel residents have been waived off. On the basis of requests received from contractors of various canteens/shops and vehicle stands in the University campus, regional campuses, constituent colleges and University colleges to waive off the rent due to closing of canteens/shops/stands & suffering from financial loss during present scenario of Covid-19, was also approved by the Syndicate.
Prof. Sandhu said that the conduct of examinations of exit classes of the University will be held as per the decision to be taken by UGC.
Prof. Sandhu thanked the syndics and exhorted all to play a pro-active role in the further progress of the University. The members of the Syndicate congratulated the Vice-Chancellor and others for the overall development of the University.
June,22,2020
