Clipping autonomy will hurt the growth of Sambalpur University Institute of Information Technology (SUIIT)
January 17, 2012 at 8:32 pm sanjibkarmee 2 comments
See the following TOI report. Some people are proposing to bring Sambalpur University Institute of Information Technology (SUIIT) under Sambalpur University Such a move will hamper the growth of the institute because it will lose its decision making and administrative power to Sambalpur University. All of us know that Sambalpur University administration is too slow because it is already overloaded with work of many affiliated degree colleges.
The govt. is taking steps to make some colleges autonomous; thus reducing the work load of Sambalpur University to some extent. Sambalpur University should cut down such unnecessary work load and devote it-self completely towards opening more undergraduate, PG and integrated PhD courses.
To hold or not to hold SUIIT hand
BHUBANESWAR: Proposals are gaining ground to bring Sambalpur University Institute of Information Technology (SUIIT) under varsity statutes. A large section of the university fraternity, however, is strongly opposing any move to dilute the autonomy of SUIIT.
The two-year-old self-sustaining institute, considered the biggest success story ever for the varsity, enjoys complete financial, administrative and academic autonomy as of now. “We are not against autonomy of SUIIT. But since it is a constituent of the varsity, it should be within the framework of university statute and University Grants Commission (UGC) rules, as enjoyed by other autonomous departments of the varsity,” said professor B K Tripathy, a member of the varsity Syndicate, a representative body of educationists in the varsity. “We have requested the vice-chancellor that the matter should be discussed in the next Syndicate meeting,” he said.
A brainchild of former vice-chancellor Arun Pujari, the institute was established in 2010 as an autonomous constituent of SU. It imparts MCA, B.Tech, M.Tech and M.Sc in computer science, M.Sc in electronics and M.Sc in bioinformatics in a self-financing mode. Some of these courses were pulled out from different existing departments of the varsity and brought under SUIIT. The state government had given an initial budget of Rs 10 crore in 2009-10 for the institute.Directorate of Distance and Continuing Education (DDCE) of the varsity gave another Rs 5 crore for construction of its buildings.
Those lobbying to bring it under the varsity statute say there are other departments in the varsity, which are also running self-financing courses. So, why should SUIIT be given so much special privilege? “The idea is to bring transparency in SUIIT functioning and strengthen it further,” said professor Antaryami Panda, a Syndicate member and director of Academic Staff College.
Currently, a governing board and an executive council under the vice-chancellor takes decisions on the functioning of the institute. Though the VC nominates two Syndicate members to the board, neither the Syndicate nor the Senate (the apex decision making body of the varsity) has direct say in its affairs. SUIIT appoints its own faculty on contract and arranges visiting faculty from internally generated funds.
Members of the varsity fraternity said since the model of the institute is on the lines of International Institute of Information Technology, Bhubaneswar, it should be left to grow on its own. “The university should do hand holding for initial few years and gradually give it more autonomy. That will help the institute to grow. Bringing it under the varsity may kill the institute,” said Bhabani Hota, president of All India University Employees’ Confederation.
The University Employees Association has strongly opposed any attempt to curtail the SUIIT autonomy. “Some vested interests are trying to ruin SUIIT. We will agitate against any such attempt. It has brought glory for the university,” said Mahendra Mishra, president of the association. SUIIT, which offers B.Tech in IT and computer science, should expand and open B.Tech in civil, electrical and mechanical disciplines, he added.
Entry filed under: Higher Education Zone, Region watch, Sambalpur, Sambalpur University, Sambalpur University Institute of Information Technology, Sambalpur-Rairakhol-Kuchinda, Universities.
Kosal Discussion and Development Forum 
1.
Bhabani Hota | January 20, 2012 at 12:26 pm
The Members of the Syndicate who are now bent upon curtailing the autonomy of the SUIIT are the same Member who were party to the decision to create the SUIIT in the present form. They must make it public as to why they are now changing their opinion.
Further, the State Government, over the years have changed the character of the University from an autonomous institution to that of a extended arm of the Education Department of the State. These people those who are vested with the responsibility of running the University should fight for more functional autonomy for the University. Instead of doing that now they want to curtail the autonomy of the SUIIT.
2.
sanjibkarmee | January 20, 2012 at 12:51 pm
I completely agree with Hota babu. I guess there is group-ism in Sambalpur University. Some people are opposing the autonomy of SUIIT just for the sake of opposing. People fight for autonomy of an Institute; here a group wants to clip the autonomy of an Institute. The students and Profs of SU should appeal to the present VC to preserve the autonomy of SUIIT. Instead of opposing the autonomy of SUIIT, they should propose establishment of more autonomous institutes viz. Institute of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Institute of Medical Sciences and Nursing, Institute of Journalism and Mass Communication etc etc. to the VC and state government.
Autonomous institutes are always better look at IITs and IIMs.