By TCN News,
Aligarh: Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah, who completed one year in office on May 17, 2013, talked to the media persons to highlight his future plans and his vision for the University.
He said that we have not been static and tried to make changes for improvement of AMU, so obviously there were resistance to changes, but he expressed his confidence that efforts for students, teachers and non-teaching community will bear fruits soon.
Lt. Gen. Shah reiterated his mission is to “take the University to number one position among the institutions of higher studies in the country and restoring its past glory by bringing excellence in academics and research and reviving its traditional values.”
AMU VC Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah addressing the media persons.
In recent past there have been allegations of favoritism and regionalism in appointments. AMU VC said, “Let my actions speak for themselves,” adding, “I have no political or regional affiliation and would like to liberate AMU from narrow vested interests.”
Sharing his experiences about a year in office Lt. Gen. Shah said, “My first year was spent on stabilizing AMU, restoring discipline, ensuring unhindered academic activity, holding examinations on time, achieving maximum campus placements and improving the living conditions of my students. I have not been fully successful and I will spell out the efforts we are making.”
On the minority status of the university, he added, “We have not spared any effort to regain the “Minority Status” of AMU. The case is subjudice before the Supreme Court. We are ready with our case and Insha Allah our legal team will win.”
He highlighted how he encouraged modifying syllabi to cater for the requirement of industry.”
He also elaborated on the ambitious plan of setting up a new Faculty of International Studies with multiple Centres and various choices of programmes. “The ambit of Faculty of International Studies (FIS) will encompass International Relations, Geo-Strategy, Security, key Foreign Languages and high quality research work,” he said.
The basic courses will be BA (Hons.), MA, PG Diploma(s) and M.Phil./PhD programmes. The Faculty of International Studies will have eight major departments of studies including the Department of Foreign Languages specially focusing on the teaching of Chinese, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish.
Media persons at AMU
He also announced that MHRD has sanctioned about 213 Crores for AMU Centre including 105 Crore for Malappuram Centre in Kerala and 108 Crores for Murshidabad Centre in West Bengal for their further development.
There is plan of starting school level education at the two centres.
AMU also plans to establish a Central Museum in the University for Advanced Research and studies in Museology and conserving the artefacts scattered in different locations.
Further to make unvieristy stay for comforting hostel and mess facilities are being upgraded.
Lt. Gen. Shah also declared about understanding amongst Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia and Jamia Hamdard in principle to jointly provide students an opportunity to study at each other’s campuses. Under this arrangement, 15 AMU students will be trained in the Jamia Millia Islamia’s Mass Communication Research Centre. Jamia Hamdard will provide training to AMU students for Civil Services and AMU will train the students of all the three universities for National Defence Academy and other defence services.
He also stressed upon the need to “to improve self confidence and need to improve communication skills” of the AMU students.