A noted scientist, a former Professor and HOD of laser and Plasma Technology Division of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Dr Ashok Kumar Das has taken over as Vice-Chancellor of the Utkal University since June 2014. He has presented 130 papers in various conferences at national and international level. He is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Union Department of Science and Technology. He combines in him the vision and vitality of an accomplished scientist and the wholesome attitude of a liberal educationist. During his tenure as the VC of a veritable Methuselah-like university as the Utkal, he has struck an ideal balance between development of a scientific ambience and studies in humanities ontogenesis in this age-old temple of learning. He has taken a holistic approach for physical, mental, vital, scientific and aesthetic improvement of his students under his watchful eyes and is confident that this university will one day find its coveted place in the international sphere as well. He is of the opinion that the student unrest in the university campus is certainly due to a myopic vision in our political set-up and a dangerous degradation of value system. As a scientist of repute, Das is proud of India’s achievement in scientific sphere and dismisses the old alien taboo that Indian science is a fun. In an interview to The Pioneer, Dr Das spoke to Sugyan Choudhury from his office at the Utkal University campus, Vani Vihar, in Bhubaneswar.
What plans are there in your agenda to tone up the academic environ of this age-old universityIJ
Utkal is the oldest and premier university of Odisha with 27 departments, 18 SFS courses and a very strong academic heritage. It also has been transforming itself keeping pace with time. The following steps are being taken to keep it on the path of academic excellence:
4 Choice-based credit system being introduced in UG and PG courses
4 Recruitment of faculty strictly following UGC guideline
4 Introduction of a large number of innovative PG and certificate courses to improve higher-level skill and employability
4 Upgradation of Central library with massive digital resources
4 Use of field laboratories, museums, experiential programmes and earn while you learn programmes to improve understanding and value system
4 Upgradation of computer centre, networking, WIFI, instrumentation as learning and research infrastructure
4 Massive boost to research through seed funding, innovation funding, proposal banks and proposal generation schemes
4 MoUs with orgasnisations like CIPET, NAlCO, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, department of higher education, etc., as knowledge and outreach partners
4 Intensification of International exchange programs and collaborative research with other universities
4 Developing and instituting virtual tutorials as an equity initiative to provide video-recorded tutorials in Under Graduate (BA, B Com, BSc) in remote tribal areas during 2017
What plans are there to galvanise the administrative setup of the universityIJ
Our aim is to transform the administrative setup to a more sensitive and responsive administration. The following steps are being taken:
* Online admission and payment
* Automation of account system
* Computerised examination management system
* Plans are afloat to computerize student enrollment and services
* A full-fledged internal quality assessment cell is being operational. Similarly a college development council is facilitating affiliated colleges
* The university has adopted a number of best practices like solar energy in campus, watershed management, mega organ donation and blood donation campaigns and student mediclaim facilities
* Every department runs a student feedback, parental feedback and alumni interaction for development
* An institutional development plan with new centres of excellence are being developed for World Bank support
Our students are not coming up at a par with other universities like the JNU and others on Civil Services Examinations results. What remedial measures are you adopting for the sameIJ
It is true that our students are not same as students from JNU or CUHyd in CIVIl service results. However, it cannot be denied that students from Utkal are very good at fundamentals and core areas particularly in science subjects. Also, being obsessed with civil service examination as the be all and end all of our students’ life is not a correct view. However, keeping this sentiments in view, the following steps are being taken:
- A career counselling and placement service centre is being opened with State Government support.
- A civil service and net coaching centre is being opened with State Government support.
- A net/civil service coaching is being done under the auspices of the Ambedkar Study Centre
- The PG Council is also starting a civil service coaching activity in collaboration with the Vikash Educational Trust solely for Vani Vihar students
- The university is also initiating personality development and articulation training for students
Should elections of Students’ Union be banned for restoring normalcy in the university campusIJ
Students are the major stakeholder in every university and they are important to us. Inculcation of political awareness and democratic values is very essential. It is true that due to myopic vision in our political system and terrible degradation of value system Students’ Union elections have become a cause for worry. I believe that there should be serious brainstorming amongst our society leaders about how to inculcate student representation in a manner to encourage correct value system.
Students obtaining 1st class first rank and being IAS toppers are also in top of the corruption list, which shows that something is wrong somewhere in our education system. As an educationist, what remedial measures do you suggest to arrest such an untoward growthIJ
I do not subscribe to the view that all first rank and IAS toppers behave in the manner that the question seems to indicate. A careful and detailed survey would show that most of our toppers are creams of the society and tend to remain so. The apparent degeneration is due to the degeneration of value system in our educational process. I believe incorporation of a value system which encourages experiential learning of sustainable values would be one way. For example, let students of agriculture work in the field; students of physics innovate for societal good and learn to respect openness, tolerance and honesty.
You are a noted scientist. Are we in a position to banish the misnomer that ‘Indian Science is a fun’IJ
The misnomer referred to is farthest from truth and can only come out of an ignorant mind. Considering India’s teeming millions needing to go above the poverty line, the achievements of atomic energy, space, Defence research and agriculture in making us self-sufficient is admirable. India’s IT industry, pharma industry, metal and automotive sector illustrate the power of science. Our research has both width and depth that very few nations have. Where we have failed is the delivery of science to the common man. India is the fourth largest science and technology power. Resource is another lacuna.
What are your vision plans for putting this university on a higher growth trajectoryIJ
Utkal is already an A+ accredited university; that is very rare for a state university. So, it is already in the growth path. Currently, we are in the process of developing an Institutional Development Plan (IDP) that would chart our roadmap and implementation protocols for next 5, 10 and 15 years. It would include centres of excellence, social outreach programmes, development of a second campus at Chandikhol as a centre of excellence in skill and rural development, new courses, new student facilities, a state-of-art auditorium, alumni centres, centres of linguistics and strategic studies, a department of physical education as well as pedagogic studies. We plan to develop new remote delivery courses, an international exchange programme and, possibly, reach “Times best university list”. We need blessings of all stakeholders.