Cusat firm against merger of departments – Fisheries Dept. Merging

The special senate meeting of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) held here on Thursday passed a unanimous resolution opposing the merger of its School of Marine Sciences and School of Industrial Fisheries with the proposed Fisheries University.

H. S. Ram Mohan, Director of School of Marine Sciences, who presented the resolution against the merger, pointed out that the move will jeopardise the research excellence and development of Cusat. Dr. Mohan said that the departments on the lakeside campus generate one-third of the total research output of the university. He said that the departments have produced around 400 doctorate degrees during the last 10 years.

Ramachandran Thekkedath, Vice-Chancellor, who presided over the meeting, said that the higher education policy of the State should be revised every 10 years considering the rapid progress in the field of science and technology and other knowledge related areas.

Several members who participated in the discussion on the higher education policy drafted by the State Higher Education Council suggested that the appointments in aided colleges should be done by the Public Service Commission. Members also recommended stringent clauses in the policy document for checking the commercialisation of higher education.

They also urged the policy makers to check the interference of religious education in public education sector in the State. The meeting also stressed the need to ensure quality in higher education field. It also recommended that the higher education policy should be implemented without diluting its actual goals and vision.