UGC suggests renaming study centres, Calicut, Kannur agree, Kerala university declines to comply
Thiruvananthapuram: Following the ‘name change’ row of centrally-initiated projects, the centre is now pushing to initiate name changes in the university study centres in the states. The UGC has suggested renaming Human Resource Development Centres (HRDC) in universities after freedom fighter and founder of Hindu Mahasabha, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya.
Calicut and Kannur have accepted the UGC’s demand but Kerala University refuses to budge. HDRCs are present in three universities of the state. Though, Mahatma Gandhi University had applied for the same, it was not granted.
Kerala University is of the stance that it will take a decision only after a detailed investigation is carried out as it suspects certain political goals in the UGC’s decision. The universities are worried that if they do not comply with the UGC directive, they will be refused financial aid in the future. Kerala University will come to a decision after considering all these factors.
Recently, there was a tiff between the centre and the state regarding the alleged non-allocation of funds due to not changing the names of centrally-aided projects. This included the instruction to display the central project name and logo on the houses built under the Life Mission Project.
What is HRDC?
- A centre of excellence for higher education institutions. A professor as the director and an assistant professor as a faculty committee member.
- Organises training, refresher courses to enhance the academic and leadership skills of the teachers.
- Empowering teachers to develop entrepreneurial start-ups, through research, mentorship or technology.
- Training teachers in technology-based learning, disaster preparedness, gender awareness, social relations, etc.