‘Protect universities from political, bureaucratic meddling’

A noted scientist has stressed the need for protecting universities from political and bureaucratic meddling.

Delivering the 33rd convocation address at Mangalore University on Wednesday, Goverdhan Mehta, National Research Professor, School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, said that there is a need to safeguard the autonomy of universities and protect them from any political and bureaucratic meddling.

He urged the Chancellor of the University and Karnataka Governor, who chaired the convocation, to be the protector and promoter of quality in higher education institutions in the State.

Although providing and ensuring quality education is the primary responsibility of universities, the breakneck speed of expansion phase during the past decade has severely compromised their ability to maintain and enhance quality, he said.

Endemic shortage of faculty and learning resources, mindless proliferation of courses, dwindling infrastructure, inadequate budgetary support, indifferent leadership and governance deficit in general had a crippling effect on quality education, he said.

COMMENT NOW