Date:02/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/02/stories/2007070253150300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Cusat says ‘no’ to nanoscience, aerospace engineering courses

Staff Reporter

Decision taken at a recent Syndicate meeting in the capital

KSU leader says the decision will shoot down the university’s dream of IIT status
Syndicate cites financial crunch for dropping the courses this year

KOCHI: The Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) will not start the two new engineering courses in aircraft technology and the post-graduate course in nano science and technology this academic year as had been planned earlier.

The decision was taken at a recent Syndicate meeting, the university registrar said in a statement. No admissions would be made to the B.Tech. courses in Aerospace Engineering; and, Aircraft Manufacturing and Maintenance Engineering as well as M.Sc. in Nano Science and Technology.

The programme in nanoscience was an important initiative taken by the former vice-chancellor Abdul Aziz. World renowned nanoscientist Ajayan Pulickal had, during a visit to the city last year, suggested that Cusat start such a programme and had also offered all support he could marshal.

‘End to IIT dream’

Reacting to Cusat’s decision to drop the new courses, KSU State president Hibi Eden said in a statement that it was a step that would shoot down the dream of the IIT status for Cusat.

It was essential to start these courses to get the status of IIETS for the University, he said. The courses, which have an international demand, promise high-salaried jobs to students passing out from here, the statement said.

The former Vice Chancellor Abdul Azis was responsible for bringing about the courses into the realm of engineering courses at CUSAT. However, the University Syndicate, having a majority of Left Democratic Front (LDF) members have managed to torpedo the programme, said Mr. Eden.

The Syndicate has given reasons of a financial crunch for dropping the courses this year. But, the University has received crores of rupees as grants from the Union Government and the University Grants Commission, Mr. Eden said.

It was with the sole agenda of dropping the courses that a hurried Syndicate meeting was called in Thiruvananthapuram, he added.

The university had invited application for the new courses this year. Counselling sessions for the nano science course was scheduled for Monday and for the others on July 5. These courses were given to five universities, including Cusat, in the country as a ground for providing the IIETS status.

Mr. Eden said that when private managements were trying to get these courses started from their colleges, the LDF-controlled Syndicate has brought to nought the privilege of Cusat.

The KSU has requested the Syndicate to reconsider the decision to drop the courses. IT has warned of protests and strikes in this regard if the new courses were not started this year itself.