The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) will establish five special academic centres in different cities to offer professional courses. The Academic Council of the university gave the final nod to a proposal in this regard on Monday. The centres will be established in Murshidabad,West Bengal; Katihar,Bihar; Bhopal,Madhya Pradesh; Pune,Maharashtra and Mallappuram,Kerala. The centres will be opened in cities where Muslim population is high but their employment as well as education level is less. But these centres will also be open for other community students, said university spokesperson Rahat Abrar. A Rs 2,000-crore proposal for establishing the centres during the 11th five year plan is still pending with the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Now a committee under the chairmanship of AMU Vice-Chancellor Professor PK Abdul Azis will be constituted to study the academic aspects of the centres. The university has contacted the respective state governments for providing 250 to 300 acres free of cost for constructing the centres. After obtaining the land,the university will be able to appoint a consultant to prepare a Detailed Project Report and feasibility report for establishing these centres. The state governments concerned would only provide with the land,while the centres will be regulated by AMU, said Abrar. The Academic Council also approved the proposal for the re-employment of professors and principals as per the UGC guidelines. The council also resolved in principle to adopt grading system and semester system for all its courses within the framework of statuary agencies regulating medical,engineering and the other programmes in the university.
