Assessment Report of
Institutional Accreditation of
UNIVERSITY OF MYSORE, KARNATAKA
Sri. Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV the benevolent ruler of the Princely State of Mysore envisioned the establishment of the ‘best type of University suited for Mysore’ and his Dewan, Sir M. Visveswaraya gave shape to his vision and ushered into existence the University of Mysore in July 1916. Maintaining the tradition of being the first in many progressive and thoughtful plans of action striving for excellence, through introspection and self-evaluation, this university volunteered to be assessed by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bangalore. A five-member Peer Team constituted by NAAC with Professor K. Aludiapillai as Chairman and Professor R.Ramamurthy, Professor H.S.Soch and Professor C.Thangamuthu as members, visited the University from 20th to 24th December 1999. They visited all the departments of studies and interacted with faculty and students. The Peer Team had extensive discussions with the Vice-Chancellor, members of the various authorities of the university, supporting staff, alumni and other stakeholders.
The nucleus of this university can be traced to the Maharaja’s College, Mysore established in 1833 and the Central College, Bangalore established in 1858 which were affiliated to the University of Madras. There was a felt need to establish a separate university to cater for the needs of the Princely State of Mysore which had an area of nearly 30,000 square miles and a population of over six million. The passing of the bill by the Mysore Legislative Council in June 1916 set the stage for starting the University of Mysore on 27th July 1916.
There is ‘nothing comparable to knowledge’ says the motto found on the emblem of the university summarising the vision, moral fabric and idealism of the founders. The mission of the university was spelt out in the Mysore University Regulation as provision for teaching and research in the conventional domains of Arts, Humanities, Pure and Applied Sciences, professional and para professional disciplines including physical and moral training.
The territorial jurisdiction of the university, which originally covered all the nine districts of southern Karnataka State, is now restricted to four districts viz., Mysore, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar. The medical and dental colleges in these districts have come under the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (1996) and the engineering colleges under the Sir M. Visveswaraya Technological University (1998). Bangalore University (1964), Mangalore University (1980), Kuvempu University (1987) and the Karnataka State Open University (1996) have been carved out of the composite University of Mysore.
The University has its main campus in Mysore and two Post-Graduate centres – one in Mandya and another in Hassan. In the main campus at Mysore, there are 37 Departments, 8 training/research centres and 19 other units offering support to the academic and administrative activities of the university. With 343 faculty members and 903 non-teaching staff, facilities for post-graduate education have been made available to 2334 students in 1999-2000. During the same year over 300 students are pursuing research in various disciplines.
As an affiliating university, the University of Mysore has 122 Colleges attached to it. The bulk of the institutions affiliated belong to faculties of arts, science, commerce and management (89) there are also colleges of caw (7), education (12) and engineering (7). The other affiliated colleges cater for disciplines such as hotel management (2), food science and technology (2), sericulture (1), speech and hearing (1) and physical education (1). During 1997-98, the student enrolment in these colleges was 46,554. Through the College Development Council close liaison is maintained with the colleges and support provided to them.
In addition to the above, university departments and affiliated colleges, the university maintains five constituent colleges the oldest of them being the Maharaja’s College established in 1837. Later the Yuvaraja’s College was established in 1928 to offer B.Sc courses. In 1965 the University Evening College and the University College of Fine Arts for Women were founded and in 1972 the University College of Physical Education was started. All these constituent colleges offer under-graduate programmes in arts, science, commerce, management, fine arts, and physical education. The Master’s Degree course in music and in physical education are also offered in the College of Fine Arts and the College of Physical Education respectively.
Stalwarts in various disciplines have served this university with distinction. Over the years the university has produced eminent scholars, doctors, administrators, captains of industry and outstanding sports persons. Quality and excellence have been the driving force in the functioning of the university right from the inception. This is evidenced by the institution of endowments, chairs (14), gold medals (313), scholarships and prizes (161) to stimulate students. Promoting the study of the mother tongue of the citizens of the state has been a definite and wholesome policy of the university right from its inception and Kannada has been given the rightful place not only as a language of study but also as a medium of instruction.
Against the background of the broad academic scenario stated above, the university has been contributing its mite to the cause of higher education during the past eighty-three years. It has been vigorously pursuing a policy of taking education to the masses having in view the two watchwords “equity” and “access”. The functioning of the university has been discussed criterionwise in the paragraphs below.
Section 2: Criterionwise Analysis
As a university established in the first quarter of this century in the then Princely State of Mysore, with the motto ‘Nahi Jnanena Sadrisham’ (Nothing is comparable to knowledge), its purpose, among others, was spelt out in the Mysore University Regulation 1916 as –
- making provisions for imparting education
- literary, artistic, scientific, agricultural, commercial and professional
- furthering original research of promoting the state of literature, art, philosophy, history, medicine, science and other branches of useful knowledge and
- imparting physical and moral training
The special needs of Mysore State were very much in focus right from the initial years of the establishment of the university. Encouragement of Kannada literature, study of Sanskrit and other South Indian languages spoken in Mysore were specially mentioned in the first convocation address of the Chancellor of the university, His Highness the Maharaja of Mysore.
Starting with B.A., B.Sc., B.Com., and B.T. courses in 1916, under the faculties of arts, and science the university added the engineering faculty in 1917, the medical faculty in 1924 the M.A. programme in 1918 and the M.Sc., programme in 1919 in its constituent colleges. The Academic Council was constituted in 1933 to facilitate academic organisation.
The university undertook the publication of handbooks with a view to promoting the role of the regional language in acquiring knowledge. These books were based on extension lectures and demonstrations. Further, an English-Kannada dictionary was compiled.
Autonomy conferred on the university by the Act of 1956 appears to have been a landmark in its history since it facilitated the introduction of Kannada as a medium of instruction at the pre-university level benefiting rural students. The Act also facilitated the introduction of degree courses in colleges and also the expansion of post-graduate programmes.
The celebration of the Golden Jubilee in 1966-67, the Diamond Jubilee in 1976-77 launching a national programme on rural reconstruction involving students and faculty in rural development and the Platinum Jubilee in 1991-92 provided a spurt to academic activities including organisation of national, international and annual conferences in various disciplines. We hope that the research activity continues to find favour with teachers and research scholars.
The University’s concern to take special care of the interests of the disadvantaged sections of the society was overtly expressed through the Karnataka State Universities Act 1976 by reserving seats for purposes of admission. This has decisively given impetus to these sections of society to come forward to receive education.
A look at the present offering of post-graduate courses indicates the career oriented and innovative approach of the university. As many as thirty-seven courses are job oriented and nine of an interdisciplinary nature. The responsive approach of the university to societal needs is very much in evidence. Moreover, there is a wide range of course options available to students.
While the Peer Team highly commends the steps taken to initiate, review and offer new programmes in tune with the dictates of time over the past forty years, it would wish the university to consider the feasibility of introducing the choice based credit system to enable students majoring in specific disciplines take up soft courses of their choice. It is also desirable to develop a suitable mechanism to obtain feedback from students and peers about the curricular matters. Computer literacy having become an indispensable requirement to students in the post-graduate courses, it is proposed that a compulsory crash course in computer literacy may be made available to all students taking up the post graduate programme.
Notwithstanding the multiplicity of institutions in the affiliating system, the university can attempt a co-ordinated corporate exercise to arrive at a rationale and consensus to redefine the goal of the university and to set its prioritized objectives based on the kind of education it stands committed to. Such a curricular exercise may give the university its distinctive stamp and functions.
Criterion II: Teaching-learning and Evaluation
The university conducts an entrance test for admission to the post-graduate. courses and admissions are based on merit subject to the governmental rules relating to reservation for the disadvantaged sections of the community. Courses for improving proficiency in English and remedial courses to slow learners from the disadvantaged sections are conducted.
Audiovisual equipment is available in most of the departments. Both the traditional and modern methods of teaching are being used by teachers and the Peer Team further observed that there was some strong urge among teachers and students to lay greater emphasis on modern techniques and tools of teaching. The co-curricular activities are encouraged and students given opportunities to be exposed to problems and perceptions of society. Even closer student–teacher interaction may be promoted in every department to enable the students to acquire communication skills and leadership qualities.
Some of the departments have already switched over to newer methods of evaluation. Other teachers during interaction have also expressed their readiness to follow suit. It is heartening to note that some of the recently introduced career oriented courses have been semesterised with provision for continuous internal assessment.
During the past two years, 110 faculty members have been recruited. Six Awards have been instituted for teachers , as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations. Eleven faculty members have received awards such as FASc, Young Scientists Award etc. More than 100 teachers attend refresher courses annually. An equal number is engaged as resource persons for refresher courses.
Linkages with a variety of institutions/agencies such as I.I.Sc., CFTRI, DFRL, ISRO, DAE, DRDO, BARC, NAL, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, Saginaw Valley State University (USA), Connecticut College, Smithsonian Institution, USA and Polytechnic in Spain have been established apart from connections with reputed laboratories and universities in various states and countries.
In the context of the debate going on all over the country about the accountability of the persons involved in the higher education system, the university might wish to evolve suitable mechanisms to assess the performance of each member of the system with reference to parameters that the members may themselves evolve for facilitating self improvement, growth and scaling further heights of academic excellence.
The university might introduce standard teacher performance appraisals on the model of some American universities. Orientation to teachers in university departments and colleges in learner-centered pedagogy and in advanced areas of knowledge such as Information Technology may help the university to update its academic performances.
Teaching, Research and Extension are inseparable components of functioning of any centre of higher learning. The quality of teaching always acquires meaningful increment through participation in research activity. Extension today is realised as a measure of success of an institution as the knowledge of the student and teaching community becomes available to the society at large.
The founders of the University of Mysore have been men of vision and conscience keepers of the society. Original research in literature, art, philosophy, history, medicine, science and other branches of useful knowledge was conceived as an area of activity even at the incorporation of the university in 1916.
The university presents a holistic picture of a judicious blend of arts, humanities and science. Nearly 80% of the three hundred strong faculties are actively engaged in research. Generation of funds to the extent of Rs.11 crores for operation of current research activity is a healthy sign. The output of research papers published in the faculty at the international and national levels during 1998-99 has been substantial viz., 550. A record of 642 Ph.D. degrees, 28 books, 3 patents and 52 awards for academic excellence during the 1994-99 speaks well of the research output.
The Peer Team is favorably impressed by the publication record of the faculty, which is a benchmark for research and extension. This is definitely a result of the proactive approach of the university administration to promote research and extension. Dissemination of information to the public at large through handbooks, periodicals, etc., has been undertaken by Prasaranga – the publication unit of the university right from the forties. It is a matter of pride that over 1500 titles have been published by the unit for the benefit of scholars and the public. Many teachers have published books, papers and handouts in Kannada for the benefit of the society.
Most departments are engaged in extension activity of one kind or the other receiving financial inputs from the university, state and central government authorities.
The university operates a university-industry interaction cell which co-ordinates the linkages between the academic community and industrial and business houses for mutual benefit. Periodical meetings, guest lectures, short-term research projects to suit the needs of industry are the notable features of the cell’s activities. Even though the concept of generating internal resources to reduce dependence on government sources is a recent one, the university has already initiated action in this direction. The departments and centres are encouraged and given freedom to offer consultancy services to various segments of the society like the industry, banking and farming on ‘ continual basis’ as well as on ‘ as and when required’ basis. The money so generated is shared between the university and the unit on 20 : 80 ratio.
A large number of sponsored projects from national and international agencies have been obtained by the departments of geology, applied botany and biotechnology, botany, psychology, women studies, the Institute of Kannada Studies and economics. The operation of national facilities in the department of zoology, geology and physics is noteworthy. Several arts and science departments have been recognised by the UGC for SAP, COSIST and COSIP programmes. Several society related extension activities in rural and tribal areas particularly relating to women empowerment, health, hygiene, energy and environment have been undertaken by the departments of food science and nutrition, women’s studies, sociology, social work, education and development studies. Multi disciplinary programmes of pollution monitoring are being done by geology and botany departments. The activity of ‘Plant Clinic’ by the botany, hydrogeology consultancy by the department of geology deserve special mention. Psychology and business administration departments help in the recruitment process of several industries. The Peer Team expresses its appreciation. The adoption of a village by NSS to ensure 100% literacy.
The Peer Team felt that it is desirable to have some common interactive programmes with the participation of archaeology, anthropology, history, sociology, development studies and geography to make the survey programmes more meaningful.
A programme to map living and non-living resources in selected areas might be launched jointly by geology, botany, geography and zoology departments. This would save lot of inputs from the point of view of logistics and expertise. The law department could offer facilities of legal aid clinic and conduct intellectual properties rights awareness camps.
Criterion IV: Infrastructure and Learning Resources
For sheer architectural beauty, sculpture and design, the University of Mysore can have no peers but only pride. Some of the Princely mansions have become abodes of learning and research.
Supplementing the munificent gift of palaces of distinctive and exquisite architectural features, the Crawford Hall adds to the glory of the campus. The engineering division with adequate technical staff headed by an Executive Engineer and a team of engineers take care of the maintenance of buildings. The horticulture department of the university maintains the plants and the gardens.
The University Science Instrumentation Center (USIC), expected to maintain expensive instruments, is manned by only one person. More hands may be appointed to enhance the efficiency of the Centre.
The university has a well-stocked library with 6,50,000 volumes. The Library Advisory Committee monitors the functioning of the library and allocates funds to the departments for purchase of books, journals, etc. Links with the British Council Library and the USIS Library have been there for a long time. With the assistance of the UGC, INFLIBNET connectivity has been established and computer, multi-media, internet and e-mail facilities are available. Book Bank facility is available to needy students. Annually about 2000 books are added and CD-ROMs are stocked for use by scholars. Operation of departmental libraries for ready access to the students and research scholars is appreciable.
Adequate space is available for every department/centre/facility to house lecture halls, laboratories as research needs.
The Computer Centre has developed software for administration in areas like budget, accounts and examinations. The central computer facility is accessible to faculty and researchers. Internet connectivity to all departments is underway. The efforts of the Oriental Research Institute to store the rare manuscripts in the computers is commendable.
The university press, one of the biggest and best organised units acts as an effective centralised facility for stationery supplies and it undertakes the printing works of the university. A massive and grandiose Senate Hall complex is nearing completion. The university has proposal to make use of the ground floor for conducting a large number of IT-based short-term courses.
Two health centres with doctors, nurses and supporting staff and equipment are available. Clinical testing with X-ray facilities is also available.
The department of physical education is headed by a Director in the rank of Professor. A cricket stadium with a capacity of 10,000 in the gallery, a swimming pool, a multipurpose gymnasium, 30 separate grounds/courts for volley ball, foot ball, basket ball, tennis, ball badminton, kho–kho, kabaddi, hockey, hand ball and athletic activities are available.
A central workshop with required lathe, machines and tools is available. The Bank of Mysore branch, canteen, shopping complex, co-operative society, post office and the Higginbotham Book store are available in the campus. The university may think of a centre for development of hobbies. More access to Internet and e-mail appears to be a felt need of among students.
Fourteen hostels accommodating nearly 1800 students function in the campus. Exclusive hostels – 3 in Mysore and one at Chamarajanagar are available for SC/ST students. A large number of staff quarters are available in the campus for teaching and support staff.
Criterion V: Student Support and Progression
The percentage of passes at the Postgraduate level is 91.3. About 50% of the students get placement after clearing MBA, MCA courses.
Though no formal counselling programme is available, students discuss their problems with the faculty and get their assistance and advice even before choosing the courses of study.
State and central governments offer various types of scholarships to SC/ST and backward class candidates and many research scholars also get financial assistance. In all 1162 students got financial assistance in 1998-99.
It is heartening to note that the university has earmarked an annual budget of about Rs.1 crore towards giving University Research Fellowships to SC/ST scholars pursuing Ph.D. programmes. This is a special gesture on the part of the University of Mysore for ensuring social equity in higher education. Besides this, the university also conducts coaching programmes for SC/ST students, through its SC/ST cell.
The EDPs through Karnataka State Financial Corporation helps development of entrepreneurship among students.
An Alumni Association functions in the University.
Know-Your-Campus lecture series keeps persons in the campus informed of the work and achievements of various departments.
Various types of incentives ranging from reservation in admission to fellowships are provided to sports persons. Students have acquitted themselves creditably in swimming, basket ball, table tennis, body building and cross country competitions
To encourage sports, two seats have been earmarked in every department, for the students who have distinguished themselves in sports. Students from rural areas, in particular, first generation learners, have limited opportunities to interact with well-informed intelligentia. Creating in them awareness about the emerging opportunities for employment including self–employment through the career guidance cell will be very useful. The Alumni Association can help graduating students in finding placement to some extent.
Involvement of the Alumni in growth and development of the university is to be encouraged in a big way particularly in the context of dwindling resources coming from the governments in the State and at the Center. They may also assist in establishing linkages of various types.
Academic career and psychological counseling facilities might help both adolescents and others who seek suitable careers. The university might work to assess the impact of the education offered on alumni through their leadership and achievements.
Criterion VI: Organisation and Management
The Vice-chancellor is the chief executive of the university. His powers have been clearly defined in the Karnataka State Universities Act 1976. He is specially empowered to take action in emergencies and get them approved by the appropriate authority at the earliest opportunity. There is a provision enabling the Chancellor to decide on action taken in emergencies by the Vice-Chancellor but not approved by the Authority later.
Any person aggrieved by such action, which the Chancellor had eventually approved can appeal to the Chancellor within a time limit and the decision of the Chancellor on the appeal is final.
The authorities of the university include the Senate, Syndicate, Academic Council, Finance Committee, and Boards of Studies, Faculties, Departmental Council and the Committee of the Academic Council. The functions and powers of these authorities and their composition have been clearly spelt out.
Officials of the university include the Registrar, Registrar (Evaluation), Finance Officer, Deans, Director of Student Welfare and the Librarian. The Vice-Chancellor is assisted by a number of Committees set up for specific purposes. These Committees and other Authorities of the University meet as often as needed and assist the smooth functioning of the system.
Recruitment of staff is regulated by laws of the university. The Academic Staff College provides training for the teaching and non-teaching staff. Particularly all clerical staff have been trained in the use of computers and office automation.
The internal audit is undertaken by government auditors and objections raised are generally settled with appropriate clarification. While stepping into the new millennium the University of Mysore could enhance orchard and plantation development using sandal/teak/cashew/coconut/mango/energy plantations. Special support is available from Institute of Wood Science and Technology, KTRF, state and central ministries of environment and forests. These orchards and plantations serve dual purposes - fund generation and resource center for research in the departments of applied botany, biotechnology, seed technology, disease management etc.
The steps initiated by the University of Mysore to promote interactions between academic and various segments of the society should be further strengthened both from the point of view of income generation and social service.
It is noted that the university has introduced self-financing courses in some disciplines and this has started generating income for development of the disciplines/departments concerned. The Alumni Association might also be in a position to raise/provide funds for augmenting the infrastructure in the emerging areas particularly in the context of technological changes which require upgradation of facilities/equipment.
The Peer Team is happy to note that the state government has been generously financing the university on Non-Plan and Plan schemes over the years and this is one definite proof of the faith and confidence reposed in the university as an agency for development of human resources. This healthy trend should continue.
Many welfare measures have been extended to staff. To name a few – leave travel/home travel concession, residential quarters, health enters, Co-operative Credit Society, sabbatical leave, study leave, encashment of leave, grant of loan for purchase of vehicle, building house etc.
To redress the grievances of employees periodical meetings are conducted and issues sorted out. A special cell looks into grievances of SC/ST employees and students. The Malpractice’s and Lapses Enquiry Committee looks into grievances of students relating to examinations.
There is a thinking that better developed departments/institutes with a record of proven academic accomplishments would be encouraged to apply for separate accreditation and then those of the accredited departments would also be granted autonomy.
The university has infused an element of academic freedom coupled with accountability, particularly in the context of execution of research projects. The principal investigators corroborated said they enjoyed adequate freedom and that they were not handicapped by procedural difficulties and delays. This encouraging atmosphere of supporting administration to the academics deserve commendation.
The affiliation mechanism and procedures have been well established and a cross section of the Principals with whom the Peer Team interacted expressed neither difficulty nor delay in the processing of their applications for course affiliations. After the university’s grant of affiliation, the state government considers the same for grant purposes.
The constitution of several non-statutory bodies and committees, involving the academics in decision making at various levels, freedom and encouragement of resource generation by the faculties, encouragement of interactive and inter-disciplinary programmes of studies and research and in all, a fairly good responsiveness of the administration to the requirements of the academics seem to be several other brighter aspects of the organisation and management. The Peer Team feels that many decisions on academic/discipline related issues including syllabus revisions be brought more under ordinances/regulations than under the statutes so that the decisions could be arrived at and implemented expeditiously in tune with the changing demands of the society.
The university may try to decetralise powers of the Academic Council and other statutory bodies in order to enable colleges change curricula according to local needs. This may be done by extending autonomy to colleges.
Criterion VII: Healthy Practices
Making higher education financially self-reliant is encouraged now. Taking note of the shape of things to come the University has introduced self-financing courses. Most courses started during this decade are career oriented and need based.
Linkages with universities and institutions in India and abroad indicate the eagerness to take advantage of the expertise and advanced technical knowledge available in various areas.
The Prasaranga makes available to the masses most research findings through publications in Kannada. Equally commendable is the secular and humanistic approach in all areas of academic activity: admissions, courses and research reflect it.
Assisting students in their preparation for various types of competitive examinations and arranging special lectures to make them entrepreneurs, leaders and team workers are some of the useful activities which deserve mention.
Disseminating information about the activities of various departments in the campus to all students and staff is yet another notable activity.
“Friday talk” programme introduced by the department of Library and Information Sciences in which experts interact with the faculty to suggest innovations in curriculum is appreciable.
The University of Mysore has been actively pursuing the policy of resource mobilization in accordance with the policies of HRD, GOI and UGC guidelines raising substantial revenue from various sources.
Section 3: Overall Analysis
All the world over, the Universities have established themselves as durable institutions. This is mainly because they have adapted themselves to the changing needs of the times.
The University of Mysore, which has completed eight decades and more, is an illustrious example of an institution serving the community in the field of education and contributing to the improving of the quality of life of the people. Over the years this has become the Mother University willingly sharing with daughter universities the responsibility of providing education relevant to the needs of the community. Taking into account the societal needs, scores of career-oriented courses have been started in recent years and innovative partly and fully self-financing courses have been introduced. The buzzword of modern technology viz., Information Technology is given the rightful place in all disciplines.
Even as the world is entering into the next millennium and each institution is planning to do something innovative and specialises in select areas the University of Mysore which has been contemplating and executing many innovations might wish to move further in the following areas:
· Grant of financial, administrative and academic autonomy to Faculties
· Grant of autonomy to a large number of affiliated colleges.
· Introduction of choice based credit system facilitating the cafeteria approach enabling students take up courses across disciplines, according to need.
· Encouragement continuous/formative internal assessment in the place of terminal summative assessment.
· Establishment of innovative and transparent mechanisms in evaluation of performance, keeping the subjective element to the minimum.
· Finding of ways and means by which the affiliating system can be modified if not totally given up and each college be made accountable for the quality of education imparted.
· Involvement of alumni in the growth and development of the university even more closely by encouraging them to take up specific projects.
· Selection a few thrust areas for special attention and building them up as recognised centres of excellence.
· Marketing prestigious courses of the university abroad through the Karnataka State Open University formed out of the erstwhile Institute of Correspondence Education of this University.
· Establishment of even closer links with industry and making them share their experience as users of the products of the university in areas wherein proven expertise is available here.
· Creating a mechanism of counseling for the benefits of all aspiring post-graduate students to select appropriate courses of study.
During discussion with the Vice-Chancellor, the Peer Team took note of some significant initiatives that have been made in the following areas:
Ø Fifteen affiliated colleges have already been identified by the university for applying for accreditation; these colleges would also be taken up for consideration of autonomy and the statutes governing autonomy have already been approved by the Syndicate.
Ø The constituent College of Fine Arts for Women is to be developed into a Composite College catering for Women’s Higher Education in many vocational disciplines, in addition to Fine Arts.
Ø The university has been selected by the State Government for giving special thrust in the areas of Information Technology and management science.
Ø Making use of linkages with several leading Information Technology Companies, through MOUs, the University has taken up the conduct of off campus courses in Information Technology.
Ø The university will recognise Study Centres in the Middle East for offering programmes in Information Technology and management science, as part of the programmes of resource generation.
Ø Launching of programmes in yoga and meditation is contemplated.
Ø The UGC Visiting Committee, while considering IX Plan proposal of the university, has recommended that the University of Mysore be recognised as one of the National Centres of Excellence.
The university of Mysore has the potential to reach peaks of excellence. The tradition of the university in laying emphasis on its social obligation will certainly help it to focus on local issues and find practical solutions for them. As the motto of the university proclaims ‘there is nothing comparable to knowledge’. knowledge is power. The third millennium will be vastly different from the earlier two since knowledge – workers will dominate all walks of life. In this context, the university has rightly chosen to give the prime of place to Information Technology and management systems. As creators, disseminators and synergists of knowledge, the university will have even a more challenging role to play. With the band of committed faculty, supporting staff led by the dynamic and visionary Vice-Chancellor the university can play the role effectively. The Vice-Chancellor and his team of officers who have assisted in the preparation of the Self study, self analysis and departmental input reports have done a good job to facilitate the process of assessment and accreditation by the NAAC. The Peer Team appreciates this extraordinary teamwork and wishes to go on record that this model is worthy of emulation. May the university have a glorious future celebrating its Centenary in 2016 and many more milestones in later years.
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