After a candid interaction with the students on his last visit to colleges of Delhi University, the out-going Vice Chancellor (V-C) Dinesh Singh in an interview with The Pioneer spoke about various road-blocks caused during his efforts to implement the controversial Four Year Under-Graduate Programme (FYUP). He said, he will no long hold any formal position at the university and will write a book on higher education at a global level. Excerpts
Now that you have completed six- year term, can you say what it means to be the Vice Chancellor of Delhi UniversityIJ
It is a great thing to be the Vice Chancellor of this university. Delhi University is great and you can do great things here. It is the country’s oldest university which has grown in excellence over the years. I feel positive about it. It will do great in the coming time.
Did the rollback of FYUP come as a shock to youIJ How did you feel about itIJ
(laughs) How do I feelIJ When you have worked so hard to get something implemented, you never think it will not happen. I was not shocked because it happened over a span of time. It’s Four Year Under-Graduate Programme (FYUP) rollback wasn’t my loss; it is the loss of society, institution and the country. Probably God did not want it, but the required approvals were there.
Who do you think are responsible for the rollback of FYUPIJ
There was lot of opposition. I can’t point a finger on anyone but I have mentioned within the university only six teachers dissented over the Four Year Under-Graduate Programme (FYUP). I did a lot of consultations. Both UPA and NDA Government called on me to discuss the FYUP issue. I do not hold grudge against anyone. I believe the dissent was not against me but something that was going to do well to this university and eventually to the country.
You seem to be upset with a section of mediaIJ
No, I am not upset with anybody. I was accused of not taking consent of the stakeholders which is wrong. We adopted an elaborate methodology; all Vice Chancellors in the university’s history would not have together put in this
much effort in consultation like we did. From 4,000 professors, 4,000 students, parents and 700 teachers,
all were called for consultations. A three-day academic Congress was organised in which 1,200 teachers and experts, including sportspersons, from across the county participated and, then, with dissent of six out of 26 members, the programme was passed in the varsity’s Academic Council (AC)
Will you continue to be a part of the university in some wayIJ
No, I won’t. I will not hold any formal position at Delhi University now onwards. This was the last role, I played as an administrator. I would do my other work. I believe one should do the job responsibly and move on. I will move aside gracefully. It is important for a person. However, I am a professor and I will continue teaching.
Do we see you joining some other institutes in the countryIJ
Well, that may happen. There is a possibility.
Where do you see the higher education in India at presentIJ
I see it with a lot of optimism. Many good institutes have come up in the country. The institutes like IITs are very good. As the Vice Chancellor, I was consulted on various discussions at these institutes. While there is a lot of hope for future, we need to make quality education accessible to students from all corners of the country.
What are your immediate plans as your terms endsIJ
I want to write a book. I would not say my word should be taken as the last word of wisdom but I plan to write on the higher education. I will write about what I think about the higher education at a global level. I feel some of the global institutes are on the losing end. I want to write at length on it. Education in our country as well as abroad would be written about in my book.
Would your experience at the Delhi University be a part of your bookIJ
Of course, the six years I spent as the Vice Chancellor would definitely be included in it. My experiences and thought about the university and education would make my writing.