Annual Report 2008-2009
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Assam University (Accredited by NAAC with B+ Grade with a CGPA of 2.85) ï SIXTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 2008-2009 Compiled & Edited by Dr. Niranjan Roy Director Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) Silchar - 788 011 1 ASSAM UNIVERSITY Vice Chancellor (A Central University) Accredited by NAAC with B+ Grade with a CGPA of 2.85 Professor Tapodhir Bhattaharjee Silchar - 788 011, Assam, India MA (Triple), Ph.D From the desk of the Vice Chancellor ... I am delighted to present to the readers the Annual Report of the University for the financial year : 2008-09 which has been compiled and edited by the Director, IQAC and his associates with great care and competence. The vibrance of the University at the threshold of a more mature stage of existence has been duly reflected in the report. It bespeaks of the initiation of great spree of manifold activities in the University in last one year. Our University has undoubtedly entered into a new phase of continuous upliftment of human resources, not only in the arena of science and technology, but also in the realm of humanities, Social Sciences and Language Studies. The University is faithfully following the national policy of inclusive growth and consequently the number of students intake has considerably increased in this year and there are reasons to believe that it will be further augmented in the immediately following academic year. The brief period of lay off and inertia is decisively over now. We are deducing our strength and energy from the policy of participatory management. Our goal is multipolar integration of regional and national aspirations with the global human existence. All our strategies evolve around the cardinal principle of continuous regeneration of human values through relentless pursuit of excellence. Yes, we are incorrigible dreamers and optimists who believe that there is always the possibility of a new beginning if we are committed to selflessness, collectivism and transparency. The old order is passing out gradually yielding space to new rays of hope and enthusiasm. Let our university be true to its professed motto i,e towards confidence, conviction and creativity. (Prof.Tapodhir Bhattacharjee) 2 Highlights of Events and Activities of the Year 2008-09 Visit of High Level Committees/meetings 1. UGC XI Plan Visiting Committee under the Chairmanship of Prof. S. Jayarama Reddy, Former Vice Chancellor, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati visited the University during 21– 24, July, 2008 to assess and finalise the quantum of grants during the XI plan period. 2. NAAC Peer Team under the Chairmanship of Prof. S.P. Thayagarajan, Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Madras visited the University during 19-23 August, 2008 to assess and accreditate the University as per UGC-NAAC guidelines. The University has been accredited with B grade with a CGPA of 2.85. 3. Third Expert Committee meeting of DST on special package for augmentation of science and technology education infrastructure in North Eastern region held in the University during April 6-7, 2008. 4. Meeting of the DST -PAC for Atmospheric Sciences held in Assam University during Nov 29-30, 2008. OBC Reservation 1. OBC reservation of 27% implemented in all academic departments. In science department’s capacity expansion is planned in two phases: 27% increase in intake capacity in 2008-09 and another 27% in 2009-10, while in Arts and Humanities departments intake capacity is increased 54% in 2008- 09 academic session itself. 2. Capacity expansion of many academic departments and residential accommodation for teaching and non-teaching employees started under OBC special fund Publications: The University faculty members published a total of 260 research papers in reputed journals and edited volumes apart from several other popular articles, poems and translations. The faculty members presented 289 papers in seminars and conferences Seminar/ Conference/Symposium organized: Seminar on International Philosophy Day on “Philosophy of Education for Peace” 27th Nov, 2008, Organised by Dept. of Philosophy Two-days Workshop on Communicative Language Teaching: Classroom Issues. 26-27 February, 2009, Organised by Dept. of English Workshop on Basic Bioinformatics during 19-20 January 2009, Organised by Dept. of Life Science Regional Seminar on Intellectual Property and Innovation Management in Knowledge in Collaboration with NRDC, New Delhi 11-12 January 2009, Organised by Dept. of Life Science National Conference on Recent Trends in Biodiversity Researches during 16-18 March 2009, Organised by Dept. of Life Science 3 Workshop on Quantitative Economics for Undergraduate Courses during 31st July-1st Aug, 2008, Organised by Dept. of Economics Seminar on Development Strategies for Barak Valley: Problems and Prospects on April 29, 2008, Organised by Dept. of Economics Regional Seminar on “Human Development Experience in Assam” during 27-28 September, 2008, Organised by Assam University. International Seminar on Encounter & Intervention during 17-19 March 2008, Organised by Dept. of History Regional Workshop on “Public Administration and Terrorist Activities in Assam” on 25th March, 2009, Organised by Dept. of Political Science & IQAC One Day Conference “Agricultural Engineering Inputs for the Development of NE Region.” On 3rd Dec, 2008, Organised by Dept. of Agricultural Engineering National Seminar on Meaning and Understanding in Human and Literary Studies, organized by Assam University in collaboration with ICPR, New Delhi during 16-18 March, 2008 International Seminar on Buddhadev Basu and his Contribution to Modern Indian Literature and Social Philosophy, organized by Dept. of Bengali during 11-13 November, 2008 Administrative Reforms Participatory management system continued through decentralization of different sections and units Central Purchase Committee formed and all major purchases initiated through this committee Reorganization of existing sections into different units continued and nomenclatures changed. ICT Laptops given to all new faculty members appointed during the year Second phase of campus networking initiated Computerization of administrative and academic departments strengthened Infrastructure Development Construction of 24 number of permanent buildings started Major renovation work of Transit Accommodation Complex completed Construction work of two students hostels initiated Construction of 20 additional teachers quarters and 16 non-teaching staff quarters under OBC special fund initiated Construction work of Children’s Park and Multipurpose Community Hall completed Research Fellowship, Projects and Centre of studies UGC Fellowship programme for M.Phil and Ph.D students continued 25 research projects sanctioned to faculty members by different agencies 3 (three) academic departments, viz., Bengali, Fine Arts and Ecology and Environmental science awarded with SAP by the UGC. 3 (three) Centre of Studies sanctioned by the UGC under XI plan. These are (i) Centre for Studies in Endangered Languages, Folklore and Manuscriptology (ii) 4 Centre for Studies in Soft Matters and (iii) Centre for Studies in Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management. Visits Abroad Prof. Abhik Gupta. Dept. of Ecology & Environmental Sciences attended Ninth Asian Bioethics Conference, Yogyakarta, Indonesia to present a paper- Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater in Asia: Health Implications and Ethical Perspectives. 3-7 November, 2008 Prof. Abhik Gupta attended Globethics. net, Switzerland. Care and compassion: Methods for sharing values Across Cultures and Religions, Nairobi, Kenya to present paper-- Global in Local and Local in Global: Ethics in a Globalized World : Between Individual and Inclusive. Mr. Bhaskarjit Neog. Dept. of Philosophy, visited Lammi Biological Centre, Finland. Paper and presented on “Collective Responsibility and Collective Intention. 20-24th August 2008 Dr. Dipendu Das, Dept. of English participated in International Conference on The Sacred and the Secular , 19-21 September 2008 in School of Humanities (Department of English) University of Southampton, United Kingdom, Professor S.K. Ghosh attended University of Guelph, Canada for Invited talk on ‘DNA Barcoding’ April 26 – May 3, 2008 Dr. M. Dutta Choudhury attended University of Mauritius as UGC-TAC Visiting Fellow during March – April 2009 Dr. Sarbani Giri invited by University of New York as Indo-US Fellowship January 2009 – till date Dr. Basant K. Tiwary visited University of Chicago for Overseas Associateship in Niche areas of Biotechnology July 2007 to July 2008 Dr. A L Ghosh visited AIT, Bangkok as visiting Academic for 16 Week Professor N.V.S. Rao visited University of Menneopolis, USA for Research and Invited Lectures during June 16-30, 2008 Professor N.V.S. Rao visited University of Colorado, Boulder, USA for Research & Invited Lectures Aug 5-31, 2008 Professor Asoke K. Sen visited University of Hertfordhsire, Hatfield, UK to attend 11th Electromagnetic and light scattering Conference during September 07- 12 , 2008 Professor Asoke K. Sen visited Cardiff University, UK and Delivered a talk on 'Imaging polarimetry of star forming clouds' September 14- 19, 2008 Professor Asoke K. Sen visited Kobe University, Japan as visiting scientist under DST-JSPS science co-operation programme. January 20- Feb 06 Mahmood Ansari visited. Royal University of Bhutan for Teaching(on Deputation) April/2007-April/2009 Professor Sajal Nag visited Cambridge University for Research doing June- August 2008 Dr. S. Pathak visited Oswego,