JOIN USThe government’s decision to bifurcate Bangalore University has been welcomed by the stakeholders, who have been eagerly waiting to see administrative reforms in the varsity.
The proposal has been in the pipeline for the past couple of years and was approved by the Karnataka State Higher Education Council in 2011.
Prof Siddappa, who was the vice-chancellor of the Bangalore University between 1999 and 2002, told Deccan Herald that the bifurcation was necessary.
“During my tenure, there were 500 colleges affiliated to BU. It has now increased further, making administration a challenge,” he said. Even at that time, decentralisation was sought with demands for universities in Kolar and Tumkur. While Tumkur University was established later, Kolar got a post-graduation centre. He has congratulated the government for its decision to bifurcate BU.
Academic Council member Karan Kumar also saw this as a good move in improving administration of the university. “Now again, it depends on how the affiliation process will be taken forward. The government should implement it with strict regulations for affiliation,” he said.
Syndicate member Narayana Swamy felt that the government should reconsider the proposed location of the campus for the new university.
“Hoskote is not the centre point for the North zone. It will pose inconvenience for students from Gauribidanur and surrounding places. Instead, a better place to establish the campus will be Devanahalli,” he said. Both the members said that the bifurcation would help in bettering the situation, only if the government appoints credible heads for the varsities after a thorough selection procedure.
Meanwhile, the State government on Tuesday appointed Prof K R Venugopal, principal of University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, as the special officer for the proposed university which will be carved out of the Bangalore University. To be called the DVG Jnanavahini University, it will have 300 colleges under its purview.