The Students’ Grievance Committee set up as a stop-gap alternative to Students’ Union in the Aligarh Muslim University, has set in motion a slew of measures in the University. The newly established students’ body has started addressing the genuine problems and difficulties faced by the students both in the academic departments and residential halls.
The AMU Vice Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis has initiated a novel procedure to provide a ‘voice’ for the students through the instrument of face-to-face interaction. All the top University functionaries including the Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Controller of Examinations, Proctor, DSW and Finance Officer interacted with the students holding top ranks in each class and course of the University. The students air their grievances and the administration takes on the spot decision to redress the problems. The system has set in place a new and powerful mechanism that provides the students of the University with an access to address the issues of main concern to the student community.
In a two-day interactive meeting presided over by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis held on September 9 and 10 more than 300 students representing 325 courses spoke on various issues both students-centred and department-specific. Without mincing words they openly criticised the existing flaws and deficiencies and demanded immediate action to improve the quality of teaching-learning process in the University.
The meeting bears testimony to the emerging trend that girls have replaced boys in securing top scores in the University examinations. The girls have outnumbered the boys and they were seen to be more vociferous in pinpointing the gaps and shortcomings.
Belying all the expectations, the demand for immediate restoration of the dissolved Student’s Union did not figure anywhere in the discussion. The students have expressed satisfaction over the peaceful atmosphere maintained by the present regime and requested the Vice Chancellor to initiate all necessary steps to keep the anti-social and rubble rousers at bay.
In a face-to-face interactive meeting with the students the Vice Chancellor said he was making all efforts to take this University to number one position among all the educational institutions of the country and help students to achieve success so that they bring laurels to their family and the alma mater. Prof. Azis was addressing the meeting of the grievance cell that provides a platform for the students to put up their problems before the University administration. Prof. Azis took special interest in the day long activity and remained present in the interactive programme all the time.
The Vice Chancellor said the publication of scholarly papers of teachers of the University in journals of national and international repute have placed the Aligarh Muslim University among 10 Universities earmarked for highest scientific publication. He said that a very peaceful atmosphere conducive to higher academic pursuits has been ensured in the campus during the last two years and the academic calendar of the University was strictly and successfully followed for all admissions and examinations. The Vice Chancellor said that a Central Instrumentation Centre will be established in the next academic session to give a boost to the research culture in the University.