The COVID-19 pandemic and the nation-wide lockdown enforced to contain the pandemic has created challenging times. However, with the right attitude, proper management and actions, this challenging time has become a positive learning experience for the students, faculty and management of Uttaranchal University, said its chancellor Jitender Joshi. Talking to The Pioneer, he elaborated on how the university is using this opportunity to adapt and further enhance its academic functioning in a manner which will benefit the students in the future too.
With about 400 faculty members and 7,000 students, the task of ensuring continuity in academics was taken up online. “We began regular online classes from March 24. Initially about 20 per cent of the students were not attending the online classes so we talked to their parents and made sure that they do not miss the classes. Now there are routine online classes and periodic tests to ensure the students are prepared for exams when they are conducted in the future. I myself conduct follow-ups with the vice chancellor and 11 directors of our various institutes regularly to check if any issues are being faced. The situation is challenging but it is also a learning experience for us. We have enhanced our online activity considerably and now I am thinking that even after the lockdown is lifted, the students might benefit in their studies if a small laptop is provided to each of them,” said Joshi.
Though most of the university’s students are at home, there are some who are staying in the hostel as they were unable to return home due to the lockdown and other factors. The university is taking good care of the students in the hostel. Apart from providing their basic needs, hostel staff is also looking after them while Joshi too often checks on them. “The campus appears deserted. Whereas it was bustling with thousands of students before the lockdown, now there are a few students and staff. In such a situation I make sure that I too routinely meet the students to check on them and boost their morale. We have been doing our bit to assist the needy persons too during the lockdown. Since March 26, we have been preparing cooked food packets for 500 persons daily. These are handed over to the district administration,” he said.
About the operational and financial challenges being faced by the university, the chancellor said that the admissions had been affected. However, here too the online mode is being used for registration and prospectus. If an applicant is unable to secure admission for some reason, barring the prospectus cost, the rest of the fee will be refunded. On how the situation will affect placement of students, Joshi said that the university had started placements from November last year. Earlier this year, online placement was facilitated through 45 companies with which the university has a tie-up. A considerable number of students secured employment through online placements. Regarding financial challenges facing the university, he said that currently there is no such problem. “We manage our finances properly. Since I expect all the faculty and employees to believe that the university is theirs too, we also ensure they are paid their salaries on time. On the question of seeking government support, we do not need it. The government already has its hands full with more important concerns tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. In such times, it helps to be self reliant,” said the university chancellor.
It is pertinent to mention here that Uttaranchal University was established in 2013 with the merger of professional institutes of Sushila Devi Centre for Professional Studies and Research Society, namely Law College Dehradun established in 2002, Uttaranchal Institute of Technology and Uttaranchal Institute of Management established in 2006. Currently, the university comprises nine interdisciplinary institutes offering courses in a range of subjects.