Annual Report 2012 Mahatma Gandhi University (Established by Kerala State Legislature by Notification No. 3431/Leg C1/85/Law dated 17th April 1985, Formerly, Gandhiji University, upto January 27, 1988) Priyadarsini Hills P.O., Kottayam - 686 560 Registrar : 91-481-2731007 PRO : 91-481-2732650, 9847412145 Exchange : 91-481-2731050 to 2731068 Enquiry : 91-481-2731020, 2731050 - Extn.1300, 1378, 1274 Information Centre : Ernakulam : 0484-2353470, Thiruvalla : 0469 - 2731732 Kattappana: 0486-8273070, Thodupuzha : 0486 -2221275 North Parur : 0484-2444643, Adimali : 0486-4225030 , Vaikom : 04829-217744 Fax: 91-481-2731002, 2731009, 2731011, 2731239, 2732000 Website: www.mgu.ac.in E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVER5SITY Mahatma Gandhi University caters to the development of higher education of Central Kerala. Higher learning in the Revenue Districts of Kottayam, Ernakulam, and Idukki, Kozhencherry, Mallappally, Thiruvalla and Ranni Taluks of the Pathanamthitta District and Kuttanad Taluk of the Alappuzha District comes under the aegis of this University Chancellor HON’BLE GOVERNOR OF KERALA Pro-Chancellor Sri. P. K. ABDU RABB Hon’ble Minister for Education Vice- Chancellor Prof(Dr) RAJAN GURUKKAL P M Pro- Vice- Chancellor Dr. RAJAN VARUGHESE Registrar Sri. M. R. UNNI Controller of Examinations Dr. THOMAS JOHN MAMPRA Finance Officer Sri. ABRAHAM J. PUTHUMANA Printed and Published by Sri. M. R Unni Registrar Edited by Sri. Sreekumar.G Public Relations Officer Statistical Data Collection Smt. Cicy Mathew, Statistical Assistant Compiled by Information and Public Relations Department This Annual Report for 2012 of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam is prepared in compliance with Section 51 of the Mahatma Gandhi University Act, 1985 The annual report gives an overall view of the University for the year 2012 Our Motto “Vidyayaamruthamasnuthe” VISION “Mahatma Gandhi University envisions to excel in the field of higher education and cater to the scholastic and developmental needs of the individual, through continuous creation of critical knowledge base for the society’s sustained and inclusive growth’’. MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY Mahatma Gandhi University, one of the four affiliating Universities in Kerala, is the premier educational institution that strives to fulfill the higher educational needs of the people of Central Kerala. Set on the sprawling 110-acre Priyadarsini Hills Campus at Athirampuzha, 13 kms off Kottayam, the University also has ten satellite campuses in parts of Kottayam and the neighbouring districts. T he University was established on 2nd October 1983 and has jurisdiction over the revenue districts of Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki and parts of Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha. It is a niversity that conducts a range of programmes at the undergraduate, postgraduate, M Phil and doctoral levels through its 18 University Departments, 6 Inter University Centres, 8 Inter School Centres,36 Self- Financing Departments, 82 Aided Affiliated Colleges (of which 8 are Colleges with Potential for Excellence), 202 Unaided Affiliated Colleges and 273 Recognized Research Institutes.It imparts education in the interdisciplinary as wellas conventional disciplines of science, social science and humanities besides in the professional disciplines of Engineering, Technology, Legal studies, Pedagogy, Pharmacy and Nursing. The University has also made its educational presence felt outside the territorial jurisdiction through a chain of Off-campus Centres under the School of Distance education. From its inception, Mahatma Gandhi University has made immense strides in the fields of interdisciplinary teaching and research in the areas of pure and applied sciences, social sciences and humanities. The teaching programmes conducted under the Credit and Semester System (CSS) in the statutory departments of teaching and research, organized as interdisciplinary Schools, are marked by their innovative curricula and their learner-oriented approaches. CSS is a student-friendly system that fosters interactive acquisition of knowledge in a multi-disciplinary context. The students are made familiar with the latest developments in their subjects of study. The University has always promoted the healthy practice of designing and revising its curricula and syllabi through discussions and deliberations carried out in a democratic way among the members of the academic community. The faculty of the University comprise outstanding scholars, many of whom have made original contributions in their respective fields of specialization. The faculty and research scholars of several departments have gained widespread recognition for the commendable quality of their research publications. The research journals published by some of the Schools have garnered international recognition. The University’s adoption of interdisciplinary as the basic conceptual plan for the organization of individual departments is prompted by the understanding that interdisciplinary knowledge is path-breaking, far reaching and non-linear in its effect, compared to what conventional forms of knowledge are capable of doing within the confines of discrete disciplines. Appreciating the trend of several non-conventional areas of knowledge emerging across physical, natural and social sciences, the University has chosen to organize its academic departments as interdisciplinary schools where multiple disciplines co-exist and interact with one another. The organizational practice of creating institutions of interdisciplinary knowledge itself has been a great learning experience for the academics in Mahatma Gandhi University. The University has initiated the constitution of Centres of convergence around integrated knowledge areas. Knowledge generated beyond disciplines and across interfaces is strikingly fresh, regenerative and convergent. At present Mahatma Gandhi University offers research programmes in forty disciplines through its own Schools as well as through its approved research centres. The University has close collaboration for academic, research and extension programmes with a number of national agencies and institutions including the UGC, FIST, DRS, ISRO, COSIT, DIT, DST (Nano Mission), CSIR, DAAD, STEC, ICMR,BA R C, MOEF, ICCR, ICHR, IED, IIFT, Institute of Chinese Studies and the Sahitya Akademi. The University is also involved in active collaboration with research institutions of international reputation such as the Max Planck Institute of Technology, Ger many, Br own University, USA, University of Nantes, France California Institute of Technology, USA, University of To r onto, Canada, Catholic University, Belgium, Heidelberg University, Germany, and the Institute of Political Studies, Rennes, France, Trent University, Canada, IPF Dresden, Ger many, University of Paris and Unive rsity of Strasbour g. Some of the members of the faculty have proved to be frontrunners in the development of indigenous technologies and are holders of as many as twenty patents, including four from the US. A considerable percentage of the alumni of the University are comfortably placed in the country and abroad as academics, scientists and professionals. The recent development in the inter disciplinary initiatives of the University is the establishment of fourteen interface centres of teaching and innovative research, of which five are Inter- University Centres exemplifying institutions of convergence, an emerging academic feature of importance. Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Inter University Centre for Bio Medical Research, Inter University Centre for Disability Studies, Inter University Centre for Social Science Research and Extension, Inter University Centre for Studies in Science of Music and Instrumentation Center are conceived to consolidate the strengths in various Universities in the pecified area. Institute for Intensive Research in Basic Sciences, Centre for Nano Science and Nano Technology, Centre for English Language and Communication Skills,Centre for International Co-peration, Institute for Contemporary Chinese Studies, Dr. K N Raj Centre for Planning and Center-State Relations,Advanced Molecular Materials Research Centre and Center for High Performance Computing envisage advanced studies independently. Introduction of a series of merit cum means scholarships has been the yet another new initiative by way of social preparations. ASPIRE,INSPIRE, THANMA and ACQUIRE are the main scholarships implemented in the University. The University is doing the state wide coordination of both THANMA and ACQUIRE. ASPIRE is a scholarship scheme for students who aspire to carry out short term research programmes in science, social sciences, humanities and fine arts. The scholarship is to provide opportunities for potential students to pursue short term studies at postgraduate or research level in Institutions of Higher Learning, in areas of their interest. THANMA is the scholarship for nurturing literary talent and ACQUIRE for attracting brilliant students to the faculty of Social Sciences. INSPIRE is the flagship programme of Government of In order to provide opportunities for the students to get deeper insight into their subjects of study Erudite Scholar-in-Residence programme was also initiated in which several Nobel Laureates and other academics of comparable eminence are invited for direct interaction with them. Mahatma Gandhi University’s academic growth during the past has been phenomenal