GUWAHATI, June 10 � The Noida-based Government of India concern EdCIL (India) Limited, engaged by the State Government to prepare the roadmap for development of the century-old Cotton College for the next 50 years, has recommended that the college be upgraded to a State-level university as an autonomous �Institute of Excellence.�
It has suggested ten schools of language, mathematics and physical sciences, social sciences, humanities and fine arts, earth sciences, wildlife, forest and agro-resources, law and jurisprudence, media and mass communication, management, cultural studies and performing arts and hospitality, tourism and hotel management under the Cotton College University. The existing departments of the college will be merged into these schools / centres as constituent units except the higher secondary (10+2) programme, which is expected to be phased out, said the EdCIL in its report submitted to the authorities recently.
In its report, the EdCIL has stated that Cotton College now proposes to convert itself into a global institution of excellence building upon the experience, expertise and reputation derived from successfully imparting graduate and postgraduate education and training over the past ten decades.
With this objective in mind, Cotton College is desirous of attaining academic and administrative autonomy along with necessary empowerment to grant degrees and other distinctions that are recognized both nationally and internationally and hence proposes to develop itself as a State university through an Act of the State Legislature.
The vision for the new university may be derived from the college motto �Apramattena Veddhavyam�, which signifies that knowledge in any field, whether technical, professional or general, must be attained with an unfaltering aim.
On the guiding principles for development of this university, the EdCIL has said that this university is proposed to be developed into an institution of excellence on the basis of the five guiding principles of � global vision, seamless, industry-linked, research-focused and technology-enabled education.
Based on these five guiding principles, it is expected that the university shall develop into a place of learning and a source of knowledge engaged in promoting seamless education cutting across all barriers of structures, contents, processes, approaches, methods, etc.
Besides, an exposure of the university to the outside world through establishment of beneficial linkages with the environment industry and to integrate it with the societal needs and expectations through research and development activities relevant to all development sectors, have also been proposed.
EdCIL has also proposed replacement of the rigidities of the governing structures and processes with modern concepts and practices for the development of the university.
To ensure flexibility, diversity and seamlessness of this university�s educational provision, it has suggested academic programmes at the certificate, diploma, first degree and postgraduate levels as well as research programmes leading to the MPhil and doctoral degrees in a variety of areas of knowledge pertinent to Assam and the north-eastern region.
In order to make it an �institute of excellence,� a four-tier inter-linked system of governance is being suggested. The college already has considerable infrastructure in terms of a built-up campus located at two sites in the heart of Guwahati city � at Pan Bazar (34 acres), and at Roopnagar (6 acres). For its upgradation into a university, restructuring of its physical infrastructure is being envisaged
The college also has a range of equipment and hardware in its laboratories. However, additional equipment would need to be provided keeping in mind the specific requirements of various academic and research programmes being offered by the proposed university.
EdCIL report has said further that the funds required for expansion will have to be worked out after the academic model and the plan for the expanded Cotton College University is proposed. Meanwhile, the 13th Finance Commission has allocated Rs. 50 crore for the infrastructure development of the college, said the report.
It needs mention here that the members of the Board of Governors of the college are also learnt to be in favour of the upgrading the college into a university. Besides, the staff council of the college also adopted a resolution in its June 7 meeting favouring such an upgradation of the college, said sources in the college.
