NALANDA UNIVERSITY STUDENT HANDBOOK 2015-16 Rajgir Office: Nalanda University Rajgir, Dist: Nalanda Pin - 803116, Bihar, India Telephone: + 91- 611- 2255330 Fax: +91 6112 255766
Delhi Office: 53, Lodi Estate, Council for Social Development Building, 2nd Floor, New Delhi - 110003 Telephone: + 91- 11- 24622330
i CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 Note from Dean (Academic Planning) 1 Graduate Student Responsibilities 2 GETTING STARTED 3 Identification Card 3 Nalanda University E-mail Account 3 ACADEMIC CALENDAR 5 THE INTERIM CAMPUS AND FACILITIES 8 Access to Campus 8 On-Campus Shuttle 9 The University Library 9 Cafeteria 10 Rajgir Office: Nalanda University Laboratory 11 Rajgir, Dist: Nalanda Writing Centre 11 Pin - 803116, Bihar, India Telephone: + 91- 611- 2255330 Medical Facilities 11 Fax: +91 6112 255766 Special Medical requirements 13 Sports and Games 13 Delhi Office: 53, Lodi Estate, Campus Dining Facilities 13 Council for Social Development Building, Residence Hall 14 2nd Floor, International Convention Centre 14 New Delhi - 110003 Telephone: + 91- 11- 24622330 Weekend Shuttle Service to Patna 14
ii UNIVERSITY FEES AND SCHOLARSHIP 15 Tuition and other Fee 15 Boarding and Lodging 16 Scholarships 16 PROPOSED PERMANENT UNIVERSITY CAMPUS 18 Features of a Net Zero Campus Design 19 CAMPUS SAFETY AND SECURITY GUIDELINES 20 Safety Rules and Regulations 20 Safety checklist 21 UNIVERSITY POLICIES 23 Attendance Policy 23 Leave of absence 23 Disciplinary Measures 24 Press policy 25 THE GRADUATE SCHOOLS AT NALANDA UNIVERSITY 26 Faculty at School of Ecology and Environment Studies 26 Faculty at School of Historical Studies 30 Collaborations of School of Ecology and Environment Studies 35 Collaborations of School of Historical Studies 35 Structure of the Masters Programme 35 Internships and Field Trips 36
iii ACADEMIC POLICIES, RULES AND REGULATIONS 37 Course requirements 37 Faculty Advisor 37 Faculty Consultation Hour 37 Registering for courses 38 Auditing a course 38 Adding or Deleting a course 39 Changing a credit course to an audit course 39 Withdrawing from a course 39 Credit requirements 39 Academic integrity 40 Removal of name from a programme 42 EXAMINATION POLICY, RULES AND REGULATION 44 Eligibility for appearing for exams 44 Examination questions 44 Assessment and Evaluation 45 Review of result 45 Modification of results 46 Moderation 47 Evaluation and Grading System 48 ABOUT RAJGIR 56 EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS 59
iv INTRODUCTION
Note from Dean (Academic Planning)
Let me take this opportunity to welcome all incoming and returning students to Nalanda University.
This Student Handbook 2015-16 will serve as your guide to Nalanda University and its graduate programmes of study. The handbook is your reference tool for various concerns that you may have, ranging from course registration to degree completion. In many cases, it is the quickest path to an answer. If, after consulting the handbook, you still have questions or unresolved issues, please contact your graduate adviser.
We are delighted to have you on-board for this exciting journey.
Dean (Academics)
Nalanda University
1 Graduate Student Responsibilities By taking admission in Nalanda University, all graduate students are understood to have accepted their responsibility to adhere to all the policies and procedures that govern their education at the University.
The Graduate Student Handbook sets out minimum requirements of the Graduate Programmes at Nalanda University and lists (in a detailed manner) procedures that must be followed. All students are required to follow the guidelines laid down by the University.
All students must also abide by the standards of conduct established at the University. This will ensure that the students, faculty and administration work together to create a community that is founded upon mutual respect for all members, honesty in all endeavours and responsible conduct at all times.
2 GETTING STARTED
Identification Card The University provides all students with an Identification Card. This card has a student number which will be used for all administrative and financial purposes. The card enables students to access the University library and use other facilities such as the University shuttles etc.
Nalanda University E-mail Account Email is Nalanda University’s medium for all official communication with students. The University expects all students to read official e-mails on a timely basis. All students will be given a Nalanda University e-mail account upon arrival on campus. The account should be activated and passwords must be reset immediately.
Students are required to use this account for all official university related correspondence. All University notices and other correspondence from the University Office will be sent to this e-mail account. All communication from students to University administration should be conducted via the University email account allotted to them.
It is the responsibility of the students to regularly check their email account. Students must be aware that the University will send e-bills for fees and any other charges to their University email account. Failure to view a billing statement or inability to access the email account will not exempt students from late fees penalties.
3 In following the email route for all communications and billing, the University is showing its commitment to a sustainable environment. Besides reducing paper consumption, e-billing and e-notices ensure that all students have 24X7 access to important notices.
Change in Address Students are required to inform the Registrar’s Office in case of any changes in their home addresses as well as the phone numbers of their parents/guardian.
4 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
The academic year is divided into two semesters each of twenty weeks duration. The first semester starts in the first week of August and ends in the third week of December. The second semester starts in the first week of January and ends in the third week of May.
Note: Only teaching weeks have been shown numerically in the “Instructional Period”.
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7 THE INTERIM CAMPUS AND FACILITIES
Until the University constructs its main campus, we function from an alternate campus in Rajgir, which has been made available to the University by the Bihar State Government to facilitate in commencing the operations immediately. This 4.5 acres campus is surrounded by lush greenery and consists of a large building in the front, which serves as an academic hub – housing all the academic offices, classrooms and the library. The campus also has faculty housing and an administration centre. The cafeteria and SEES laboratory are all located here. All the administrative offices including the finance and engineering wings are also situated within the Interim Campus.
Students are expected to respect the privacy of the residential quarters and not access the housing zone on the Interim Campus.
The Interim Campus is at a distance of three kilometers from the Tathagat Residence Hall.
Access to Campus The Campus is open from 08:00 a.m. to 09:30 p.m. 7 days a week. Individuals who wish to enter the University campus should have a valid identity proof and legitimate purpose for their visit or be an invited guest of a student, staff, faculty member or University.
The entrance of the interim campus will remain closed from 9:30 p.m. until 8 a.m. the following morning for visitors.
8 However, faculty, staff and students with valid IDs will be permitted to enter the campus.
On-Campus Shuttle A shuttle service is provided to all Nalanda University community members from the Interim Campus to the Residence Halls daily from 8:40 a.m. till 9:15 p.m.
All students have the permission to bring bicycles if they wish to cycle from the Residence Halls to the Interim Campus and also to generally move around Rajgir. The University Library The Nalanda University Library is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Monday to Sunday). It is a fully air-conditioned library with Wi-Fi connectivity. It is fully automated with KOHA ILM software and also has locker facilities for the students. Though at a nascent stage, it is evolving at a great pace and is envisioned to become the hub of student activity in future.
Library facilities are intended to help students in their academics and research work. (The facilities are primarily for the use of those holding University IDs.)
Currently the library has over 6000 print books, 170 e-books and 16 lecture CDs/DVDs. Other facilities include:
9 1) Bibliographic database: Bibliography of Asian Studies
2) E-journals: Science Direct, Oxford University Press, Taylor & Francis, Sage Publication, JSTOR, Nature, Cambridge University Press
3) Interlibrary Loan/Institutional Membership: Center for Research Libraries, Chicago and DELNET, New Delhi
4) OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue): Can be searched by anyone, anywhere in the world, with no restrictions
5) Reprography Service: Photocopy, Printing and Scanning
Research and Reference Service: Providing a requested article, recommending the most appropriate resources to consult, providing guidance on the use of information products, assist students and faculty in their respective projects and research.
All visitors to the Nalanda University Library must comply with rules and regulations of the University Library that are specified in the Library Rule Book.
Cafeteria Students can grab a quick bite between classes at the University cafeteria situated in the main building. It provides healthy and sumptuous food. The cafeteria is open on weekdays between 9 am to 7 pm.
10 Laboratory The University is in the process of setting up a well- equipped laboratory for its students in the School of Ecology and Environment Studies to help them perform their research work with ease.
Writing Centre The Writing Center provides services to students which help them in presenting their ideas, work and research effectively. Students (from either of the Schools) can access individual support from trained writing professionals who will assist them in producing academically correct written work which is an important part of the curriculum. The professionals will also help the students enhance and develop writing skills for their careers ahead. All services of the University Writing Centre are free of cost.
Medical Facilities The University takes measures to keep its students safe and tries to make available the best medical assistance it can. While the University has a well-supplied medical room, students also have the facility of seeing a visiting doctor at the Campus for their medical needs. The University doctor visits the Tathagat Residence Hall every Tuesday from 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm. This is a free of charge service.
NU General Physician:
Dr. Dharmender Singh, NU General Physician - 9431253583
11 Rajgir Doctors for emergency calls:
Dr.Umesh Chandra, Sub Divisional Hospital- 9973466781, 9470003525, 06112-255327
Dr. R C Prasad, Veerayatan- 9835225550
All admitted students are also covered under Group Medical Coverage and Group Personal Accident Policy. The terms of Policy are listed below:
1) Sum insured is on individual basis for GMC/GPA - 100,000/300,000.
2) Corporate buffer of 500,000 is additionally provided.
3) Pre-existing disease is covered from day 1
4) 1st year/2nd year exclusions are waived off from day 1
5) Room rent entitlement is single AC Room & there is no limit on ICU Rent
6) OPD expenses are covered up to 15,000 per student per year. OPD expenses covers everything except cosmetic treatment
7) Ambulance Charges are covered up to 10,000 per incidence.
12 8) Death + Disability is covered under GPA
9) Medical Expenses are covered on fixed basis on OPD/IPD basis for sum up to 25,000
10) Loss of belonging is covered up to 25,000
11) Adventure sports included, cost of clothes covered, cost of external devices covered.
Special Medical Requirements Students with special medical needs must inform the Admissions Office of any condition that requires the University to be aware of their special requirements or any necessary treatments.
Moreover, students who are on regular medication for any condition are advised to carry a prescription of their medication and also carry a supply of the same.
Sports and Games The University has made arrangements for recreation, sports and games at the Tathagat Residence Hall Campus.
Campus Dining Facilities The dining area in the Residence Hall ensures a balanced meal for its students, keeping in mind their varied cultural backgrounds and food habits. For more details about the menu, timings and rules kindly refer to the Mess Management Handbook.
13 Residence Hall The University’s students and a few administrative staff and faculty stay at the Tathagat Residence Hall. The facilities at the Residence Hall and the rules and regulations are specified in the Residence Hall Handbook.
International Convention Centre In addition to the University’s own facilities, the University also uses the International Convention Centre – an impressive facility with auditoria of various sizes, seminar rooms, an art gallery, film theatre and a cafeteria. This facility is adjacent to the University Residence Hall.
Weekend Shuttle Service to Patna Students can comfortably travel to and fro from Campus to Patna with our Shuttle Service that runs every weekend. The service is made available to students, faculty and University employees on a first-come, first-served basis.
14 UNIVERSITY FEES AND SCHOLARSHIP
University’s Fees can be paid through cheque, bank draft, online through credit/debit cards or Net Banking.
The fees must be paid by the first week of every semester. The last dates for fees payment will be communicated to the students by the Finance Department. Non-payment of fees by the due date can attract penalties like late fees, being debarred from exams and even expulsion. Tuition and other Fee Fees Details INR USD Tuition Fees 28,000 per 470 per semester semester Admission Fees (to be paid 6,000 (one 100 (one at the time of confirming time) time) the admission) Security Deposit 6,000 (one 100 (one (Refundable) time) time)
15 Boarding and Lodging
Per Semester Per Semester Residence (INR) (USD) Details Residence Meal Residence Meal Charges Plan Charges Plan Air Conditioned 30,000 500 (Single) Air Conditioned 22,500 334 (Twin sharing) 22500 375 Non AC 20,000 334 (Single) Non AC 12,500 210 (Twin sharing)
Rooms are limited and will be allotted on first come, first served basis. There is no guarantee that a student will always get a room of his/her choice.
Note: • USD 1 ≈ INR 60 • Meal charges may vary as per actual cost incurred.
Scholarships The University awards Scholarships to outstanding students in need of financial aid every year. This could be part or full waiver of tuition fees. The extent of fees waiver depends on the merit and need of students. The application for scholarships can be entertained only at the
16 time of admissions and on the submission of supporting documents like Income tax returns etc.
However, admitted students who have been granted the Scholarship must note that the Scholarship is granted for the first year only. The continuation of financial aid in subsequent years will depend on the academic performance of the student and conduct of the student with regard to attendance and discipline. The student must secure a CGPA of more than 8.0 in the first year to continue availing the Scholarship in the subsequent years. Poor academic performance may result in down-gradation or suspension of the Scholarship. Lack of required attendance, any acts of indiscipline or misconduct could also result in suspension of the Scholarship.
17 PROPOSED PERMANENT UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
The site for Nalanda University is located in the Nalanda District of Bihar (with headquarters at Bihar Sharif) and fronts the State Highway 71. The site is on the south-west outskirts of Rajgir town. Rajgir is also the administrative sub-division of Nalanda District. It is approximately 12 kms from the historical site of the ancient Nalanda University and about 110 kms by road from Patna, the capital of the state of Bihar.
The total area of the campus is 455 acres and oriented roughly east-west along the highway. Beyond the railway tracks, the ancient Rajgir Hills form the backdrop on the south. The terrain of the site is reasonably flat with a few seasonal water bodies.
The proposed university campus, while being modern and state-of-the-art has committed to follow the path of sustainability. Sustainability and environmental sensitivity will be emphasised at all levels. It will exemplify rational approaches to construction of a new campus. The continuous existence of old Nalanda University for almost 800 years is itself an example in sustainability. As an integral part of the approach to which the University is committed, the development will consciously ‘walk’ the path of Net Zero or Near Zero Environmental Impact. The ultimate aim is to achieve a campus that is Net Zero Energy, Net Zero Emission, Net Zero Waste and Net Zero Water.
18 On completion this campus will be the world’s largest Net Zero campus. The Nalanda pioneers, as we like to refer to our incoming graduate students, have the chance to participate in and experience the initial construction of the campus and its sustainability goals.
Features of a Net Zero Campus Design Design buildings that are frugal in energy use; are day lit, comfortable and well ventilated using the least amount of conventional energy.
• The right methods for both construction and use of facilities to minimise the effect of carbon emissions
• Net Zero Waste will ensure recycling of all waste.
• Use of recycled waste products will be encouraged.
• Net Zero Water approach aims at reducing portable water demand through climate appropriate landscape design, water efficient fixtures and extensive recycling of waste water.
The University campus is envisaged to be fully residential with housing facilities for all the students, faculty and non-teaching staff and will be developed in phases. When fully developed, it will cater tentatively to about 2500 students, 500 teachers and non-academic staff of different grades. The total population of the campus is expected to be around 7,000.
19 CAMPUS SAFETY AND SECURITY GUIDELINES
The University is committed to providing a campus environment that is conducive to the pursuit of each student’s academic goals. Your co-operation will ensure that the campus remains safe. If you have any further questions regarding safety, please contact the Reception.
Safety Rules and Regulations 1) In case of sickness or injury, no matter how minor, report at once to the Reception. In no case should any one treat their own or someone else’s injuries.
2) In case of injury resulting in possible fracture to legs, back, or neck, or any accident resulting in the loss of consciousness, or a severe head injury, the affected person must not be moved until medical attention has been given by authorised personnel.
3) Observe “No Smoking” regulations.
4) Do not block access to fire extinguishers.
5) Do not tamper with electric controls or switches.
6) Do not engage in practices that are inconsistent with common safety rules.
20 7) Report any safety concerns to the Reception immediately.
8) If you hear the fire alarm, evacuate the building immediately.
Safety checklist It is the responsibility of every member of NU family to be on the lookout for possible hazards. If you spot any hazardous situation, report it to the Reception immediately.
Following is an indicative list of the hazards that should be reported:
1) Slippery floors and walkways 2) Missing (or inoperative) entrance and exit signs and lighting 3) Poorly lighted stairs 4) Loose handrails or guard rails 5) Open, loose or broken windows 6) Dangerously piled supplies or equipment 7) Unlocked doors and gates 8) Electrical equipment left operating 9) Open doors on electrical panels 10) Leaks of steam, water, oil, other liquids
21 11) Blocked aisles and fire doors 12) Blocked fire extinguishers, hose sprinkler heads 13) Overheating of any equipment 14) Evidence of smoking in non-smoking areas 15) Roof leaks 16) Directional or warning signs not in place 17) Safety devices not operating properly 18) Guards missing from their station
22 UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Attendance Policy The Masters Programmes currently run by the University are residential and full-time. Hence enrolled students have to be present on campus for the entire duration of the programme unless they have a written permission from the Dean of the concerned School (in case of field work, site visits or unavoidable circumstances). However, the period of leave will be treated as “absence” when calculating the attendance for a course.
The attendance requirement for all courses will be decided by the course instructor. However, each candidate must have at least 75% attendance to be able to sit for the final examinations. Students who do not have the minimum required attendance will either be barred from appearing in the final examination, asked to repeat the course or drop a grade, whichever is deemed fit by the Board of Studies.
Leave of absence Students can apply for leave of absence, in written to the Dean of the concerned School, who can grant the leave in special circumstances. These circumstances would include those that are beyond their control, such as meeting with an accident, becoming a victim of crime, acute illness or serious on-going medical condition, on-going life threatening illness of a close family member or partner,
23 bereavement of a close family member or partner, acute or on-going serious personal or emotional circumstances, or domestic upheaval like fire, burglary or eviction etc.
However, in the case of any leave of absence initiated by the student, the charges for the Residence Hall will remain non-refundable.
Disciplinary Measures The University expects its students to uphold a certain code of conduct and maintain decorum in the campus and Residence Hall during their period of stay. The following actions will constitute a violation of the code of conduct:
1) Academic dishonesty of any kind, be it plagiarism or helping someone else in performing an act of dishonesty 2) Furnishing false information for any official purpose 3) Disorderly conduct including use of abusive language, indulgence in vandalism, disruption of classes, administration or research activities 4) Alcohol or drug related misconduct 5) Theft, damage or disregard of University property 6) Possession of weapons of any kind 7) Failure to comply with the University Computer Policy
24 8) Failure to maintain required attendance and take prior permission for leave of absence
9) Gambling
10) Failure to abide by the University rules and regulations at all times
A student who fails to adhere to any of the above mentioned disciplinary requirements will have to face disciplinary action. In such cases, depending on the severity of the issue the University’s Disciplinary Committee may debar the student from accessing any University services, prevent participation in research related activities for a specific period of time or expel and remove the student’s name from University’s rolls.
Press policy The University has a Public Relations and Communications team that handles all kinds of correspondences with the press including both electronic and print media. The team works regularly to create a positive image of the University in public opinion and the press. The University takes pride in students whose work is recognized or has given media attention. However, students are advised not to correspond with any members of media without getting the Communications team involved. The Communications team will ensure that any research performed on the University and the students who perform it get maximum media attention.
25 THE GRADUATE SCHOOLS AT NALANDA UNIVERSITY
The University is offering Masters degree in the following two schools in the Academic Year 2015-2016:
• School of Ecology and Environment Studies
• School of Historical Studies
Faculty at School of Ecology and Environment Studies S. Niggol Seo: Professor ([email protected])
Niggol Seo is a natural resource economist who specializes in the study of global warming. Born in South Korea, he studied at Seoul National University, University of California Berkeley, and received a PhD degree from Yale University with a dissertation on micro-behavioural economics of global warming.
Since 2003, he has worked with the World Bank on various climate change projects in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. He has written more than 40 journal articles and two books on climate change economics. In 2011, he received an Outstanding Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy Article Award for developing the economics of adaptation to global warming from the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association in the US.
26 Somnath Bandyopadhyay: Associate Professor ([email protected])
Somnath Bandyopadhyay holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences (from JNU, New Delhi), and has been trained professionally on environmental economics and policy analysis (at Harvard, USA) and making markets work for the poor (at Springfield, UK).
Dr.Bandyopadhyay’s work combines policy with practice, natural sciences with social sciences and environment with poverty. He has used government policies and programmes, community institutions and market-based approaches to address complex issues. His current focus is on interdisciplinary research related to water.
He has done pioneering work in environment policies (conceptualised and managed the first State Environment Action Program for Gujarat), livelihood enhancement (introduced savings groups as a model for financial inclusion in India) and social development programs (experimented with multi-input area development in Bihar) over the past two decades. He spent over eight years each with the Gujarat Ecology Commission and the Aga Khan Foundation in various senior positions.
He was associated with National Ganga River Basin Authority, the Safe Water Network and the Centre for Civil Society, and is on the Board of several non-profit agencies.
27 Prabhakar Sharma: Assistant Professor ([email protected])
Prabhakar Sharma graduated with a technical degree in Agriculture and Aquaculture Engineering from Rajendra Agricultural University and Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur then earned another Masters’ in Water Resources Engineering and Management from University of Stuttgart, Germany. He pursued his doctoral degree in Biological Systems Engineering from Washington State University, Pullman, USA.
Dr. Sharma had worked at Ålborg University, Denmark and the University of Western Ontario, Canada before he joined Uppsala University (Sweden) where he investigated nano-size contaminants as well as gaseous CO2 transport from subsurface systems. His research focuses on both agricultural and industrial contamination in water, combining laboratories and field research with advanced computer modeling approach and produced more than twenty peer-reviewed research articles.
At Nalanda University, Dr. Sharma extends his scientific and technical experience to teach foundation, core and elective courses pertaining to hydrology, groundwater modeling, energy technologies, and environmental pollution.
28 Aviram Sharma: Assistant Professor ([email protected])
Aviram Sharma earned his Ph.D. from the Centre for Studies in Science Policy, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India. He holds an M. Phil. in Science Policy from JNU and M.A in Environmental Studies from the University of Delhi.
He was a visiting research scholar at Centre for Research in Economic Sociology and Innovation (CRESI), Department of Sociology, University of Essex, United Kingdom during June-July 2011. He was part of the research titled Bottled Water Consumption and Markets: An International Comparison headed by Prof. Mark Harvey under the aegis of Sustainable Practices Research Group, United Kingdom (2010-2012). He also worked in different capacities with the STEPS Centre (Social, Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability), University of Sussex and Jawaharlal Nehru University during October 2014-July 2015.
His research primarily employs an inter-disciplinary approach, and lies on the interface of science and technology studies, public understanding of science, environmental studies, and institutional theories.
29 Faculty at School of Historical Studies
Aditya Malik: Professor and Dean ([email protected])
Aditya Malik was trained in philosophy, archaeology, history, social anthropology and religious studies at St. Stephen’s College (Delhi), Deccan College (Pune) and the South Asia Institute of the University of Heidelberg (Germany) from where he received his Ph.D. and Habilitation (Professorial degree). He has been a Senior Fellow of the German Research Council (Heidelberg); Visiting Faculty, Institute for Advanced Study, Hebrew University (Jerusalem); Visiting Professor, Cluster Innovative Centre, University of Delhi; Fellow, Max-Weber-Centre for Advanced Social Science Research (Erfurt/Germany); Deputy Director, New Zealand South Asia Centre (NZSAC); Associate Director, New Zealand India Research Institute (NZIRI); and Head of Religious Studies at the University of Canterbury. His research interests and publications, including sole authored books, edited volumes, articles and book chapters, are on pilgrimage, oral traditions, ritual embodiment and performance, religion, law and justice, and medieval and contemporary historiography in South Asia.
30 Pankaj Mohan: Professor ([email protected])
Pankaj Mohan studied languages, history and cultures of East Asia, initially at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and subsequently at Peking University, Beijing, Seoul National University, Seoul where he completed advanced- level courses in Korean and Japanese languages and an M.A. course in Korean history. He received his Ph.D. degree in East Asian history from the Australian National University, Canberra. He has been lecturer and coordinator of Korean Studies Program at the University of Copenhagen (1999- 2003), lecturer in Korean studies and Asian history (1997- 1998, 2002-2009) and Head of Asian Studies Program at the University of Sydney and Professor and Dean of the Faculty of International Korean Studies, the Academy of Korean Studies, South Korea (2009-2013). His teaching and research interests include history of Buddhist culture in East Asia, pan-Asian and inter-Asian connections and intellectual and cultural history of Korea.
Abhishek Amar: Associate Professor ([email protected])
Abhishek S. Amar specializes in the archaeological history of South Asian religions especially Buddhism and Hinduism. After completing his Ph.D. in History from SOAS, University of London, he received a fellowship from Kate Hamburger Kolleg at Ruhr University, Germany in 2009 to conduct research on inter-religious interactions in the early medieval India. Amar has co-edited Cross-Disciplinary Perspective on a Contested Buddhist Site: Bodhgaya
31 Jataka (2012) and also published articles in leading scholarly journals and edited collections. He is currently working on his monograph, Contextualizing Bodhgaya, which examines the issues of expansion, sustenance and religious transformation of Buddhism at the site of Buddha’s enlightenment. His current research and teaching focuses on themes of inter-religious dynamics, syncretism and religious transformation, religion and water management, colonialism and reconfigurations of sacred centers in the Buddhist and Hindu traditions.
Murari Jha: Assistant Professor ([email protected])
Murari Jha was trained at Leiden University, the Netherlands (2006–2013) and also at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (1999–2006). He worked as a postdoctoral fellow at History Department, National University of Singapore (2013–2014). His current research on the Ganga River focuses on the dynamics of interconnections between the regional economy of the Ganga plain (Bihar region) and the Maritime Global Economy during 1500– 1800 CE. He is interested in learning more about the institutions of the Mughal Empire, the functioning of the early modern agricultural and commercial economy, the riverine economies and societies along the Bay of Bengal littoral, the social world of the South Asian merchant communities, activities of the European Companies in South and Southeast Asia, and Indian Ocean networks and world history.
32 Sraman Mukherjee: Assistant Professor ([email protected])
Sraman Mukherjee completed his Ph.D. from the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta and the University of Calcutta. Trained as a historian of colonial and early post-colonial South Asia, his work explores the politics of heritage with a special focus on modern biographies of sites, objects, monuments, and disciplinary and institutional histories of archaeology and museums. His current research looks at transnational geographies of heritage and histories of inter-Asian interactions. His study focuses on lives of Buddhist corporeal relics circulating across different institutional, political, and cultural locations across South and mainland Southeast Asia and Europe during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
Kashshaf Ghani: Assistant Professor ([email protected])
Kashshaf Ghani received his Ph.D. in History from the University of Calcutta. His dissertation explored Sufi rituals and devotional practices in South Asia across Sufi orders, connecting it to areas beyond South Asia. His fields of interest include Sufism, Islam in South Asia and Muslim societies with a focus on pre-modern India (1000-1800). He has held research positions at the Asiatic Society,
33 Kolkata; the University of Sorbonne-Nouvelle, Paris, and at the Zentrum Moderner Orient, Berlin. His current research interests include early colonial South Asia where he explores Indo-Persian cultures, along with transcultural and transregional connections between Muslim communities in South Asia and the Middle-East.
Samuel Wright: Assistant Professor ([email protected])
Samuel Wright received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago (2014). His research and teaching interests include intellectual history and philological practices in early modern India (15th to 18th centuries), Sanskrit and Bangla palaeography and epigraphy, and the literary history of premodern Bengal. His current work examines connections between the thought-worlds of Sanskrit intellectuals and their socio-political contexts in sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, India.
34 Collaborations of School of Ecology and Environment Studies • School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University (U.S.A.)
• Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (U.S.A.)
• Borlaug Institute of South Asia (BISA, India)
Collaborations of School of Historical Studies • Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (Singapore)
• Chulalongkorn University (Thailand)
• Peking University (China)
• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI, India)
• European Consortium for Asian Field Study (ECAF, France)
• International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS, Netherlands)
Structure of the Masters Programme All Masters Students are required to obtain at least 48 credits spread over 4 semesters, with a summer internship during the vacation between the first and second year. The curriculum comprises a mix of core and elective courses.
35 While the details may vary with each School, the general structure of the Masters degree in the first two semesters consists of compulsory interdisciplinary courses which provide a wide range of knowledge covering core concepts. There may be elective courses alongside the core courses. The focus in the last two semesters is on an individual’s dissertation, complemented with a few electives in the third semester. The third and fourth semesters focus on depth of knowledge and ability to conduct independent research.
Internships and Field Trips Both the Schools of the University periodically organise field trips and provide internship opportunities for students to aid experiential learning apart from everyday classroom lectures. The internships give students the necessary work experience to help improve their prospects after the course. Likewise, given the historical and ecological richness of the location of the University, the fieldtrips give opportunities for exploration, cultural exchange and enhanced on-ground understanding to students. The field trips are done under the supervision of either the University faculty or the visiting distinguished professors.
36 ACADEMIC POLICIES, RULES AND REGULATIONS
Course requirements For each programme or degree, a list of approved courses that meet University and School requirements will be specified. All students must enroll in a specified number of courses during all semesters in a programme except when granted leave of absence by the Dean of the School. The minimum academic requirements like lower limit of credits necessary for registration to any course in each semester and grade point average for each course of study will be specified for each programme at the start of the semester and at the time of registration.
Faculty Advisor A Faculty Advisor will be assigned for each student to guide and help the student choose the right course. These Advisors will help students assess their interests and abilities, the number of credits required and past performance to ensure that they pick the right course.
Faculty Consultation Hour The University also provides on-campus guidance to its students for any academic help. They can consult concerned teachers without having to make an appointment during the faculty consultation hours. They may however be required to take prior appointments if they want consultation at other times. Students are advised to check with their
37 course instructors for each course whether attendance at the consultation hour is mandatory or voluntary.
Registering for courses To attend any course, students must register for courses of their choice being offered in their programme of study at the beginning of the semester. Students are responsible for ensuring that they have registered for the required number of courses so as to meet the minimum requirement of credits prescribed for their programme.
In-absentia registration can be allowed only with the permission of the Dean of the concerned School in extra- ordinary cases.
Late registration can be allowed only with the permission of the Dean of the concerned School up till two weeks of the commencement of the classes of the concerned course. However, late fees will be charged and the registration will be accepted only on the payment of the fees.
Any change (addition/deletion/audit and withdrawal) in registering for a course will only be allowed with the written permission of the Dean of the concerned School.
Students cannot register for a course on any particular topic if they haven’t cleared a foundation course prescribed as a pre-requisite for that topic.
Auditing a course Students may opt for more elective courses than the minimum number prescribed in the programme, provided
38 that it does not adversely affect their academic performance in the degree programme for which they are registered. The credits that they obtain in these additional or audit courses will not be included in the calculation of Semester Grade Point Average or Cumulative Grade Point Average.
Adding or Deleting a Course Students may add or delete a course during the first week of the semester by obtaining a written permission from the Dean of the respective School.
Changing a credit course to an audit course Students can change a credit course to an audit course within three weeks from the commencement of a semester by obtaining a written permission from the Dean of the respective School.
Withdrawing from a course Students can opt to withdraw from a course within three weeks of the commencement of a semester by submitting a written application to the Dean.
Credit requirements Each course in a semester is assigned a certain number of credits depending on the number of lectures, tutorials and laboratory contact hours. The University offers mandatory (Core) and optional (Elective) courses and these courses carry three credits each. Some courses may be awarded two or four credits depending upon contact hours per week per course. The internship or project or dissertation
39 credits will be decided by the Board of Studies of the concerned School.
A course which has three contact hours per week will be ideally awarded three credits. However, the Board of Studies of a School can allot less or more credits to a particular course.
It is expected that students will try to acquire 12 credits in each semester. The concerned School’s Dean may allow a student to take additional credits if the student is required to repeat a course. Students have to acquire 48 credits to obtain a degree.
Academic integrity The University believes in academic integrity. The work and research that each student produces is his/her responsibility. The University expects its students to perform on the basis of their individual effort and hard work. The incorporation of unfair means in academic work will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against students who indulge in the same.
Violations of the University’s Academic Integrity include:
1) Plagiarism - use of published or unpublished data/ideas/ verbatim statements of another individual without giving him/her credit
40 - not adhering to prescribed guidelines for citation while citing sources - not seeking permission for the use of another individual’s work in cases where it is needed 2) Fabrication - claiming somebody else’s work as your own - inventing false data to support your research - paraphrasing work from another source without giving it credit - incorporation of works such as drawings/paintings/ scriptures without prior permission(wherever necessary) or giving credits - not giving appropriate credit to another individual who has partnered in the research or contributed to the work in any way 3) Cheating/Use of unfair means - using unfair means during examinations or any other student evaluation process such as copying from another student’s answer book or textbooks/notes etc. - accessing question papers or leaking them through bribing or stealing
41 The instances that will be considered as violation of the University’s Academic Integrity are not limited to the above points. The Board of Studies/authorities may exercise their judgment in identifying such cases. All students are requested to consult their professors if they require further clarification or have any doubts about plagiarism. The students found to be dishonestly producing their research work will be expelled from the University or subject to any other action deemed fit by the Board.
Removal of name from a programme The name of a student will automatically be removed from a programme if:
1) the candidate is found to have registered for any other full-time programme at Nalanda University or any other University
2) the student has a Cumulative Grade Point Average below 4.0
3) the student has exhausted the total maximum number of years for the Masters programme without fulfilling the minimum essential requirements for the degree
42 The Academic Council may, however, in some exceptional circumstances (circumstances beyond control -meeting with an accident, becoming a victim of crime, acute illness or serious on-going medical condition, on-going life threatening illness of a close family member or partner, bereavement of a close family member or partner, acute or on-going serious personal or emotional circumstances, or domestic upheaval like fire, burglary eviction etc at the time of the assessment) and on the recommendation of the Board of Studies of a School, as well as on the merits of each individual case, consider relaxation of any of the provisions for reasons which must be recorded in writing.
43 EXAMINATION POLICY, RULES AND REGULATION
Examinations will be conducted under the direction of the Dean of the Schools. The schedule of mid-semester and end-semester exams will be announced by the University’s Academic Office at the beginning of each semester.
Eligibility for appearing for exams A student will be eligible to appear in the Semester Examination, only if she/he has attended a minimum of 75% of the total classes held in the semester.
No student will be permitted to submit the required written papers, dissertations, projects etc. or sit for final semester evaluations unless she/he has furnished a Clearance Certificate from the University along with receipts for all dues including examination fees, if any.
Examination questions The question papers for mid-semester and end-semester examinations, quizzes and practical examinations for the evaluation of students enrolled for various credit courses will be prepared by the faculty teaching the respective courses from within the syllabus announced in the beginning of each semester. However, questions may also be asked from any topic taught in the class that may not have been specifically stated in the course syllabus.
44 Assessment and Evaluation All assessments and examinations for various academic programmes at the University, except for the evaluation of Ph.D. thesis, will be conducted internally. However, in some cases there may be external evaluation upon recommendation of the Board of Studies, and with the agreement of faculty members.
The faculty member who prepares the question paper will be responsible for evaluation and grading. However, the Dean may also request other members of the faculty with relevant expertise to evaluate the answer sheets or conduct oral examinations if the need arises.
The Dean of the concerned School will appoint a committee of faculty to scrutinise the grades before the final grades are announced.
The results of the examination at the end of each semester will be forwarded by the Dean’s office to the University Administration.
The University will retain the graded answer sheets of students in safe custody for at least one year, in case there is a request for re-evaluation from any student.
Review of result If a student is not satisfied with the examination result, she/he may request for a review through the Academic Office.
45 While reviewing the results, the Academic Office will verify whether the examination script has been marked completely and all marks have been correctly transmitted to the Board of Examination. It will not involve marking an examination script for the second time.
The University may review the answer scripts of semester- end examination but not other continuous assessment parameters.
The application form for review, along with the prescribed fees of Rs. 400, for a particular course, must be forwarded to Academic office within two weeks of declaration of result.
Modification of results If the result of the examination is found to be erroneous, the Board of Examiners will get such results rectified with the necessary approval of Vice Chancellor provided that the errors are reported or detected within six months from the date of declaration of results. If any error is detected thereafter, the same must be placed before the Board of Examinations for rectification.
For this purpose, the following errors will be taken into consideration:
1) error in computer or data entry, printing or programming and the like,
2) clerical error in totalling or entering of marks in file,
46 3) error due to negligence or omission of examiner or any other person connected with evaluation, moderation and result preparation
If the result of Examination has been published and subsequently, it is found that the result has been obtained by fraud or malpractices exercised by a particular examinee, the Board of Examination can revise the result at any time.
Moderation The University will ensure effective and consistent moderation processes in all courses to ensure consistency and fairness of the marking and grading process.
The moderation of assessment instruments (course work briefs and examination questions) will ensure that their form and contents are correct in terms of standards, assessment of learning outcomes, syllabus coverage, level of challenge, and fairness.
The moderation of student work (course work and examination scripts) will ensure the use of agreed marking criteria, comparability and equity of standards, consistency and fairness of marking.
The Moderation System as decided and set forth by the Board of Studies will be applicable to all the Post Graduate End Semester Examinations as well as all other examinations conducted from time to time.
47 Evaluation and Grading System Students are evaluated for each credit course during a semester according to the parameters set out by the course instructor. The distribution of weightage of each parameter will be indicated in the course outline and students will be informed about the evaluation procedure at the commencement of the course. Each School may also internally set the procedure for students who require earning additional credits after having failed either in a core or an elective course.
While converting marks into their corresponding Grade Point, the marks will be rounded off to the nearest integer.
Guidelines for Final Grading
After compiling the marks for all the evaluations (written, oral, quizzes, written papers, examinations, dissertations, projects or take home examinations) the final grades will be awarded as per the following guidelines:-
48 Letter Grade Performance Slab (%) Grade Point A+ 10 Distinction 90-100 A 9 Outstanding 85-89 A- 8 Excellent 80-84 B+ 7 Very Good 75-79 B 6 Commendable 70-74 B- 5 Good 65-69 C+ 4 High Average 60-64 C 3 Mediocre 55-59 C- 2 Low Average 50-54 D 1 Marginal Pass 40-49 F 0 Fail <40 I Incomplete NC(SR) 0 Audit Course Satisfactorily Reported NC (NR) 0 Audit Course Not Reported
(NC: Non Credit)
49 The Final CGPA obtained by a student is equated as per the following performances:
CGPA Grade Performance 9.0-10 A+ Distinction 8.5-8.9 A Outstanding 8.0-8.4 A- Excellent 7.5-7.9 B+ Very Good 7.0-7.4 B Commendable 6.5-6.9 B- Good 6.0-6.4 C+ High Average 5.5-5.9 C Mediocre 5.0-5.4 C- Low Average 4.0-4.9 D Marginal Pass <4.0 F Fail
50 The minimum CGPA required for the awarding of Masters Degree is fixed at 4.0
Passing Grade
The minimum passing grade is ‘D’. The credits that will be considered for the final evaluation will be the ones obtained by the students in which they have obtained ‘D’ or a higher grade.
Failing Grade
Students who do not earn any credit in a particular course are awarded ‘F’ grade and have to repeat the course until a passing grade is obtained.
The “I” Grade
An ‘I’ grade will be awarded to students who do not fulfil all the requirements for a particular course on account of circumstances which are beyond their control, such as, meeting with an accident, becoming a victim of crime, acute illness or serious ongoing medical condition, ongoing life threatening illness of a close family member or partner, bereavement of a close family member or partner, acute or ongoing serious personal or emotional circumstances, or domestic upheaval at the time of the assessment (e.g. fire, burglary, eviction), etc.
The ‘I’ grade will be converted into a proper grade after evaluation. The period of conversion of ‘I’ grade will only be extended to the first week of the next semester, with the approval of the Dean of the concerned School. The
51 final grade will be sent to the Academic Office within two weeks from the date on which all the major tests are over.
“SR” and “NR” Grades
Non-credit of Satisfactorily Reported or Not Reported grades will be awarded in an audit course. The students who do not earn credits in audit courses will be awarded a Satisfactorily Reported or Not Reported grade as the case may be. These grades will not be considered in the calculation of Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) or Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).
SGPA, CGPA and FGPA
The performance of a student is represented by Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA), Cumulative Grade Points Average (CGPA) and Final Grade Point Average (FGPA). CGPA is calculated as the grade point average for all the completed semesters.
Calculating SGPA
The Semester Grade Points Average (SGPA) is calculated for each semester on the basis of grades obtained in that semester and the SGPA for the ‘jth’ semester is calculated as follows:
n n SGPAj = ∑ i=1mici / ∑ i=1ci Where ‘n’ is the number of courses in the ‘jth’ semester,
‘mi’ denotes the numerical value of the grade obtained in the ‘ith’ course of the semester, ‘ci’ denotes the number of
52 credit for the ‘ith’ course of the semester.
Here’s an example to understand this better:
If the numerical grade and credit of a student in the 2nd semester is as given in the table below:
Course Course1 Course2 Course3 Course4 Course5 Credit 3 3 4 3 2 Numerical 7 6 5 8 6 Grade
Then SGPA for the 2nd Semester is calculated as:
SGPA2 = 3x7+3x6+4x5+3x8+2x6 / 3+3+4+3+2 = 95 / 15 = 6.33
Calculating CGPA
Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) for ‘k’ semesters is given as:
k * k CGPAj = ∑ j=1SGPAj cj / ∑ j=1 cj Where, ‘cj’ is the total number of credits in the ‘jth’ Semester.
Here’s an example to understand this better:
If the SGPAs obtained by a student in four semesters along with total credit in each semester is as given in the table below:
53 Semester First Second Third Fourth SGPA 6.33 6.00 8.2 7.66 Total 15 16 18 16 Credit
Then CGPA for 4 semesters is calculated as
CGPA4= (6.33x15) + (6x16) + (8.2x18) + (7.66x16) / 15+16+18+16
= 101.28 + 96 + 147.6 + 122.56 / 65 = 7.19
Repeating a course
The criteria for repeating the course is set out by the concerned School, keeping in view the parameters involved in evaluating a student’s performance in the particular course.
Students are permitted to reappear for the examination of a failed course twice.
A student will be declared as failed if he or she does not obtain minimum number of credits in all the courses within a total period of four years from the semester of admission.
Improving a grade
If the Board of Studies of the School permits, any student who secures a grade higher than ‘F’ in a particular course may be allowed to improve her or his grade by repeating the course. However in case of repeating a course for
54 grade improvement only the latter performance is taken into consideration for SGPA or CGPA calculation.
Students who wish to reappear in any examination in order to improve their grade in a course will have to apply to the Dean of the School in the Application Form prescribed for the purpose and will be required to pay a fee of Rs. 400 per course.
Minimum grade requirement
A student will not be permitted to register for a new semester if she/he has not passed at least 50 per cent of the courses she/he registered for in the previous semester.
A student who has not passed in all individual courses in all the semesters and has secured a minimum Final Grade Point Average of 4.0 will not be awarded the Masters degree.
55 ABOUT RAJGIR
Rajgir is an ancient town with a population of about 34,000 people. This historical town (known as Rājagriha in ancient times) was the first capital of the Kingdom of Magadha, a state that would eventually evolve into the Mauryan Empire. Its date of origin is unknown, although ceramics dating about 1000 BC have been found in the excavations in and around the city.
This town is also considered significant for being one of the places where Gautama Buddha had preached. The Griddhkuta Peak, or Eagle peak as it is called, is the place where Lord Buddha preached his most profound “Lotus Sutra”.
Rajgir is also central to Jain scriptures. Lord Mahavira, the last of the Tirthankaras of Jainism is said to have attained Mahaparinirvan in a town called Pawapuri which is about 38 kilometres from Rajgir.
Present day Rajgir thus remains an important tourist town and is on the pilgrimage circuit of Buddhists and Jains.
56 Tourists also throng this town for the hot springs called Brahmakund and Makdumkund, which are said to contain medicinal properties that cure skin diseases. Rajgir is known for organising various fairs throughout the year and attracts many visitors during its annual festival Rajgir Mahotsav organised by the district administration and tourism department in the months of December and January.
A new Medical College and hospital in now located in Pawapuri.
Vegetation The site falls in the zone of tropical deciduous vegetation. The surrounding areas have protected forests on the Rajgir Hills. The Pant Wildlife Sanctuary, which spreads over 35 sq km, is located close to the site. The land here is arable and suitable for cultivation, however there are wastelands closer to the foot of the Rajgir Hills.
Temperature Rajgir experiences Tropical Monsoon Climate with three distinct seasons – winter, summer and rainy. The mean maximum daily temperature even in the coldest month (January) does not fall below 21˚C except at higher hills. Hot season in this region covers the period from April to June, May being the hottest month. The maximum and minimum summer temperatures are 40˚C and 20˚C, respectively, whereas maximum and minimum winter temperatures are 18˚C and 8˚C, respectively. Rajgir receives an annual rainfall between 1000 – 2000 mm.
57 How to reach Rajgir Air: The nearest airport is at Patna (115 kms). Many Indian carriers connect Patna to Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Ranchi and Lucknow. Generally between October and May, flights operate from Gaya International Airport to Thailand, Yangon, Paro and Colombo. Domestic flights also operate during this period between Gaya and Delhi, Varanasi and Kolkata. http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/airports.jsp
Rail: Rajgir has a railhead but the nearest major stations are Patna (110 kms) and Gaya (78 kms). http://www.indianrail.gov.in/
Road: Rajgir is connected by road to Nalanda (12 kms), Bihar Sharif (25 kms), Patna (110 kms), Gaya (78 kms), Pawapuri (38 kms), etc.http://bstdc.bih.nic.in/Transport. htm#DBS
Bus: Regular buses are available from all the above mentioned towns to Rajgir.
Local Transport: Taxis, buses and tongas.
58 EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS Police - 100 Ambulance - 1099 Fire - 101 Nalanda University Mr. Anil Kumar M.V.- Receptionist 9939504874 Mr. Sagar- Administrative Officer I 7544010465 Dr. Ravi Kumar Singh- Administrative Officer II 7544010466 Security Supervisors: Mr. Rajeev Ranjan 8873002556 Mr. Ranjit Kumar 8873002559 Mr. Ravindra Kumar 9709658361 District Administration Mr. Kartikey Dhanji Budhdhabhati- District Magistrate 9473191214, 06112-235203 (O) Ms. Inayat Khan- SDM, Rajgir 9473191217, 06112-255052 (O) Dr. Siddharth Mohan Jain- Superintendent of Police 9431822972, 06112-235207 (O)
59 Mr. Nand Kishore- SDPO, Rajgi 9431800111 Mr. Ratan Kishor Jha- SHO, Rajgir Police Station 9431822176, 06112-255228 (O) Mr. Dharmendra Paswan- SHO, Chabilapur PS 9431822177 Mr. Dhananjay Prasad-Fire Officer, Rajgir 9534313437 Orion Security Control Room 9708036455 Doctors Dr. Dharmender Singh-NU General Physician 9431253583 Dr. Umesh Chandra-Sub Divisional Hospital 9973466781, 06112-255327 Dr. R C Prasad-Veerayatan 9835225550, 9835225550
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