I am an academic, says PU VC on his political leaning

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 26

“I am the Vice-Chancellor. I am Panjab University (PU). I am an academic,” said the PU VC, Prof Raj Kumar, when asked about his political leaning and perception on the campus that he is from the BJP-RSS.

Prof Kumar evaded a reply on who would become the next Registrar and the Dean, College Development Council. He was addressing his first press conference after taking over as the VC. The term of the current Registrar is ending on September 30.

On observing Surgical Strike Day on September 29, Prof Kumar said they would do whatever they had been asked to do. He clarified that there were no gag orders on teachers and the chairpersons concerned could directly interact with the media.

On e-rickshaws, the Controller of Examinations, Prof Parvinder Singh, who is also holding the charge of Registrar, said the policy would be looked into and it would be in line with the Chandigarh Administration policy.

“I have to take support and help of all persons in the PU. I strongly believe in research and innovation,” said Prof Kumar about his vision. He said he would visit each department and interact with the teaching, non-teaching staff and students and solve their issues. The PU has prepared a proposal for a Technology Enabling Centre at a cost of Rs 5 crore. Besides the construction of a hostel under RUSA, the PU has also prepared a proposal for extension of a boys’ hostel and a girls’ hostel.

Prof Kumar said five villages around Chandigarh would be adopted for the Skill Development Programme. 

An Australia Research Centre at the Panjjab University would envisage collaborative research in certain focused areas of strength by having joint PhD and faculty exchange programmes.

Prof Kumar said the possibility of student exchange, faculty exchange, joint research projects, joint research centres and a joint Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme (with one year at University Business School (Panjab University) and the second year at Curtin Business School (CU) was being explored. In addition, the possibility of a joint research centre for small business and entrepreneurship development and agribusiness was also being explored.