Monday, June 21, 2010
Chennai: With the state government appointing a vicechancellor for a new Anna University of Technology (AUT) in Chennai, the existing 32-yearold Anna University is set to revert as a unitary-type university, a status which it had enjoyed until nine years ago. Evidently such a transition has its pros and cons.

“The reversion as a unitary university will make a positive difference. Professors will be able to dedicate more time towards developing their departments and concentrate on industrial consultancy and research. It gives us a sense of relief,” acknowledged a senior professor. “But the larger issue is funding. As a unitary university, we used to struggle to foot the monthly salary bills of Rs 20 crore. The government takes its own time to reimburse the salary bill forcing us to make internal financial adjustments. Whereas, in an affiliating university huge money comes from affiliation and examination fee,” observed a former administrator.

For the time being the monetary commitment can be handled since the existing second, third and final year students of the affiliated colleges will continue to be a part of the present Anna University. “The crisis will begin two years later when the university will be hard-pressed to raise enough money through research and industrial consultancy for meeting contingent recurring expenditure,” he added.

A section of senior professors who had donned administrative responsibilities over the past nine years are understandably upset.

“Losing control of the affiliated colleges is an emotional moment. In December 2001, when we were given control of over 220 self-financing engineering colleges across Tamil Nadu, it was challenging. The regional universities like University of Madras were handling the affiliation process although they did not have a true understanding of technical knowledge of the subject, emerging areas and courses. We assumed responsibility, set high standards in technical education and created a model for others to follow. Today, we are being asked to leave what we had nurtured,” said a professor.

From 1978 to December 2001, the Anna University had functioned as a premier institution with the College of Engineering, A C College of Technology and School of Architecture and Planning in Guindy and the Madras Institute of Technology in Chromepet as its departments.

Since late 2001, the university has enjoyed powers to affiliate engineering colleges. On a recommendation from eminent academicians M Anandakrishnan and V C Kulandaisamy, both former vice chancellors of the university, the government last year agreed to restore its unitary status.

The new AUT will now take up the responsibility of dealing with over 150 affiliated colleges in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and other parts of north Tamil Nadu.