Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010
Aim is to expand base in southern districts, says Vice-Chancellor

• Will be a spot admission centre for Directorate of Distance Education
• It will function on holidays for convenience of students

Madurai: A regional centre of the University of Madras will soon be opened in Madurai with the aim of reaching out to students in southern districts.

The regional centre, which will be ready by March, will be a spot admission centre for the university's Directorate of Distance Education, and the ensuing June 2010 batch admissions for distance education programmes will be done here. G. Thiruvasagam, Vice-Chancellor, told The Hindu on Monday that a suitable place was being identified in Madurai for setting up the centre.

"On-the-spot admissions, distribution of study materials and contact classes will be undertaken at this centre. Our university is keen to expand its base in southern districts," he said.

The office of regional centre would function on holidays also for the convenience of students who had enrolled for various courses and subject experts would be roped in to conduct classes for distance education students.

The Vice-Chancellor indicated that at least 30 admission-cum-study centres would be opened shortly with primary focus on the southern districts.

Currently, the distance education wing had 1.6 lakh students on its rolls and the varsity's target was to touch two lakh during the academic year 2010-11, Dr. Thiruvasagam said.

The university is offering 120 courses under distance education mode and scholarships are available to select categories of students, including the physically challenged.

Private institutions which had adequate infrastructure facilities can apply to the University of Madras for becoming study centres, he said.