DUCASS asks VC to start M Phil in economics

A delegation of Doon University Chhatra Adhikaar Sangharsh Samiti (DUCASS) met the vice chancellor of Doon University and requested him to start MPhil programme in economics as planned and advertised by his own administration from this year, said DUCASS Joint Secretary Peeyush Sharma on Thursday.

“The university had advertised and invited applications from those seeking admission to MPhil course but after buying the prospectus, the applicants were told that the university does not have the faculty to conduct the course this year,” complained Sharma.

Sharma said that the university had decided to launch MPhil programme in Economics with 10 seats from 2013 session. The launching of this new programme was duly notified in newspaper advertisements, official website and printed in the prospectus. 

As no other educational institution offers regular MPhil degree in economics with interdisciplinary approach in the capital Dehradun, the decision was widely welcomed by the social science students.

“But now university administration has, in an ad-hoc manner suddenly decided not to launch M.Phil programme in economics from this year without giving a proper thought to the interests of students who would have immensely benefited from the availability of this research programme,” said the students.

Sharma said that a delegation of DUCASS met the vice chancellor of Doon University on Tuesday and requested him to start MPhil programme in economics as planned by his own administration from this year, but Vice Chancellor not only insulted the students by giving them many unreasonable explanations, he misled the students on false premises.

“We are demanding that the university authorities should not spread lies and misinformation among the student community through their prospectus; university authorities must stick to the earlier decision to start MPhil programme in economics from this session. 

Research programmes should be given priority in school of social sciences and other schools of the university; no student should be denied an opportunity to study in Doon University simply because his or her parents cannot afford to pay the fees, University must encourage interdisciplinary studies for the overall intellectual development of students,” he added.

Sharma further said that there are numerous issues concerning the welfare of the students of Doon University and if university fails to address it soon, their association will intensify its protest against University vice chancellor and its administration.