Cusat likely to be upgraded to IIEST under 12th Plan

The Hindu

Chandy met Kapil Sibal on Monday to discuss proposal

The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) is likely to consider upgradation of Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) into an Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) under the 12 Five Year Plan.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who met MHRD Minister Kapil Sibal in New Delhi on Monday, expressed the UDF’s wish to convert Cusat into an IIEST.

Mr. Sibal had reportedly told the delegation that the proposal could be taken up for consideration under the 12 Plan along with the State’s long-pending demand for an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

Stating that he had not received any official information from New Delhi on Cusat’s upgradation, Education Minister P. K. Abdu Rabb told The Hindu that Kerala’s priority is to get an IIT. “We had submitted Cusat’s upgradation proposal before the Centre during the visit of the State Cabinet to New Delhi last year,” he said.

Cusat Vice-Chancellor Ramachandran Thekkedath said that he had not come across reports on MHRD’s plans to convert the university into an IIEST. “The Syndicate had earlier passed a resolution stating that the Union government should convert the university into a Central institute,” he said.

The Ministry had delayed the approval of the proposal after the previous LDF government conveyed its desire that the university should be upgraded into an IIT and not an IIEST.

A section of the teachers and employees had also opposed the Ministry’s move to provide the framework of a National Institute of Technology for the proposed IIEST.

Faculty members, who opposed the proposal, had said that the thrust of an IIEST will be for engineering education.

They had also warned that there was no guarantee that the institution will be a public-funded one after the Plan period.

But the engineering faculty members, who voiced support for the proposal, had said that Cusat would gain national recognition with the IIEST status.

They had also pointed out that political intervention and administrative hurdles would come down with the formation of an IIEST.

 

New indian express

 KOCHI on 03rd July 2012 10:51 AM

  • The proposals got the approval during the talks held between Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal in New Delhi on Monday.

    The proposals got the approval during the talks held between Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal in New Delhi on Monday.
    The proposals got the approval during the talks held between Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal in New Delhi on Monday.

Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) is all set to be upgraded into an  Indian Institute of Engineering Science  and Technology (IIEST). The state has also got the nod for the IIT.

The proposals got the approval during the talks held between Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal in New Delhi on Monday. Rural Development Minister K C Joseph was also present during the deliberations.

“Minister Kapil Sibal has approved of the proposals and has agreed to include them in the Twelfth Plan. It will be sent to the Planning Commission for consideration,” said Hibi Eden MLA, who is also a Cusat Syndicate member, and was present during the talks. Earlier, the proposals were discussed with Ministers of State of the MHRD E Ahmed and D. Purandeswari,” said Hibi Eden.

The proposal aims to turn the university into an institute of excellence of national importance and regain its lost glory. The government aims to improve the standard of education, appoint only highly qualified teachers and improve infrastructure that will match international standards. The upgradation will also require restructuring the entire administration. The proposal will also help Cusat tide over its financial crunch with the huge funding it would receive.

In its earlier bid, the amount was about `519 crore but now the project would require at least, `1,250 crore, Hibi Eden said. Bengal Engineering and Science University got the nod for IIEST recently.


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