University of Madras has closed down all its five-year integrated courses

In a bid to revamp courses that do not attract students, University of Madras has closed down all its five-year integrated courses except in Anna Centre for Public Administration.
Placing the university’s annual report in the Senate on Saturday, university vice-chancellor, Dr G. Thiruvasagam, said after analysing the pros and cons of the five-year integrated programmes and the number of students enrolled in it, that the university Syndicate has resolved to refuse permission for offering these programmes to other departments except Anna Centre for Public Administration.
The university has also decided to merge various centres in the university with their parent department as they lack faculty and students.
“We are in the process of introducing research methodology as a subject in under-graduation. The university will also conduct instant examination for final-year students who have failed in one subject, from next month onwards,” he said.
Madras University has for the first time contemplated providing reservation for children of the university staff in admission to all courses.
Motivating colleges to frame better curriculum, the university will be presenting awards to best colleges. It has also made insurance for students compulsory.
Pointing out that the Rs 25 crore grant given by University Grants Commission (UGC) for national common minimum programme had remained unutilised, Dr Thiruvasagam said the funds would be used by the university.
The vice-chancellor has also instructed the colleges not to segregate students as first and second-class.

- Media Man