BCU and BU now fight over UVCE control

In the latest round of sparring between Bangalore University (BU) and Bangalore Central University (BCU) over properties at the Central College campus, top officials of both the universities are fighting for the authority of the premier University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE).

Though UVCE is situated in the BCU campus, the administration is still under BU. However, a few officials in BCU want the college to come under their administration. “During trifurcation, it was clearly mentioned that the properties on the premises of Central College should be handed over to BCU administration. But BU is yet to obey these orders. This has also become one of the properties that we are struggling to save,” a senior BCU official told DH.

BCU intends to take up renovation of the century-old building and introduce new courses. UVCE is one of the few technical institutions in the country that has the status of a university. It offers BE, BArch, ME, MArch in various disciples of engineering. On the other hand, there is also a proposal to bring UVCE under Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) by granting it autonomous status.

Confirming the development, Venugopal K R, BU Vice Chancellor and former principal of UVCE said, “Its high time UVCE got autonomous status. None of us (BU and BCU) can claim ownership of the college that offers technical courses. There is a separate university to look after the colleges that offer technical courses. Hence, it better the college that offers technical courses be separate from the varsity that offers general courses. Since UVCE is under BU, we will submit a proposal to VTU to grant it autonomous status.”