To help students crack tough,competitive exams such as those conducted by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC),Mumbai University is planning to start a training centre on campus. We want to coach students from our university and affiliated colleges and prepare them for competitive examinations. Accordingly,a committee has been formed to chalk out a plan. It will include the criterion and procedures for selecting the students,utilisation of grants and arranging expert faculty. While we will initially identify a temporary place for coaching students,we will eventually set up the centre, said Rajpal Hande,director,Board of College and University Development (BCUD),Mumbai University. Further,to tide over the shortage of qualified teachers,faculty from the university and affiliated colleges will be trained for the National Eligibility Test and the State Level Eligibility Test. According to experts,the success rate for both the eligibility tests is poor only 1.5-2 per cent can clear it as the minimum qualifying percentage is 50 and few can clear all the subjects at one go. The committee has scheduled two practice sessions for teachers on May 14-15. Teachers will get to interact with experts and solve sample papers. Similar workshops will be held through the year. To ensure various schemes and facilities reach our students,teaching and non-teaching staff,more committees have been formed. Each will prepare suggestions and submit reports to the university. The committees have members from the Senate,academic council and management council of the university. It also includes teachers and principals and deans of departments, said Hande. One group will draw up guidelines for minor/major research projects of the university. A budgetary provision of Rs 90 lakh has been made for the project. The committee will have to suggest aspects such as how teachers can apply,the selection process and so on. The university will scrutinise the guidelines and put them up on its website. Another committee will focus on schemes and scholarships available for SC/ST and minority students and Rs 25 lakh has been earmarked in this regard. The members will have to list various schemes offered by the state and University Grants Commission (UGC),total grants required and mode of implementation. Many students may not be aware of the various provisions available for them or of the procedures to apply for the same. Thus,it is necessary to have a proper database to help students. The committee will also monitor if the schemes are being implemented properly,said Hande. Also,even as the university plans to come out with its own journal for the first time,a committee will recommend the scope of the journal,formation of the editorial board and so on. Yet another team will suggest guidelines for publishing the quarterly bulletin of the university which will highlight the academic,cultural and sports activities on the university and college campuses. The first issue is scheduled for September and Rs 25 lakh has been set aside for this project,Hande added. Helping hand Committee formed to chalk out detailed plan,including criterion and procedures for selecting the students,utilisation of grants and arranging expert faculty Faculty from the university and affiliated colleges will be trained for the National Eligibility Test (NET) & State Level Eligibility Test To ensure various schemes and facilities reach the varsitys students,teaching and non-teaching staff,more committees have been formed
