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Aligarh:
Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis, an eminent marine scientist, assumed the
distinguished office of the Vice Chancellor on June 10, 2007. He
is completing four years in office today. Although there were
anxious moments of difficulties, turbulences and three sine die
closures of the University, Prof. Azis was able to stir the
University and bring it back on a resurgent track.
With an amazing quality of
simplicity combined with steel nerve, he relentlessly carried
forward a new vision of development of cutting-edge technology and
expansion unprecedented in the history of AMU. A brief look at the
major developments initiated by Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis bears
testimony to the service he rendered to the community and the
nation at large as AMU Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Azis is the moving spirit and the working force behind
getting the approval of the Central government to set up five AMU
centres across the nation, one each at Murshidabad (West Bengal),
Malappuram (Kerala), Kishanganj (Bihar), Maharashtra and Bhopal
(Madhya Pradesh). He is instrumental in establishing two centres
of the Aligarh Muslim University at Malappuram and Murshidabad and
making them functional by launching BALLB and MBA programmes. His
efforts have brought to AMU fold an additional, almost 800 acres
of land free of cost. The Bihar Government is providing 250 acres
of land to establish AMU Centre at Kishanganj. The Maharashtra
Government has also announced its desire to consider setting up of
AMU Centre in the state.
Prof. Azis implemented an action plan to bring into the University
fold the cutting-edge Information and Communication Technology.
The University installed more than 700 computers with high speed
internet connectivity in each department of study, hall of
residence so that the student and staff can reap the benefits of
campus wide bandwidth expansion round the clock. Within a short
span of four years the AMU has witnessed a phenomenal growth in
ICT from 0.05 mbps in 2007 to almost 1054 mbps bandwidth. The
Aligarh Muslim University will soon emerge as a modern educational
technology hub contributing significantly to both knowledge
acquisition and knowledge creation. The Bluetooth enabled WiMax
system brought with his efforts will bound to change the
educational scape in the University.
Realizing the productive dimension of global interaction and
exposure of reputed international academic institutions, Prof.
Azis has put in place a plan for mutual cooperation. During his
visit to United States he signed MoUs with several leading
universities including Wisconsin and Cleveland, Atlanta, Boston,
Georgia State, Youngstown State, New York University and
Massachusetts University. In the current academic session alone,
AMU has signed eleven Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with
leading institutions and establishments of national and
international repute.
Several building projects of X Plan whose funds lapsed, were
brought back and got completed by special efforts made by Prof.
Azis. He is behind getting several important building projects
getting approval under X Plan. With a view to give a big push to
infra-structure development, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis has recently
approved building projects involving a total expenditure of Rs.
2482.7 Lacs. The University approved eleven major building
projects under XI Plan involving a total expenditure of Rs. 2115.4
Lacs to be completed by Central Public Works Department (CPWD) by
March 2012. The Building Department of the University has been
assigned 14 works involving a total expenditure of Rs. 367.06 Lacs
which will be completed by July 31, 2011. In the next academic
session a new girls’ hostel for Engineering students, a University
Canteen with modern kitchen, new classrooms and extension of
library building for the Islamic Studies department and new
faculty building for Social Sciences will be available to students
and staff of the University.
With a view to mitigate the financial difficulties of thousands of
retired employees and family pensioners of AMU, Prof. Azis has
launched a special drive to provide financial succor to family
pensioners. The University got processed 5452 cases of pensioners
out of which 2036 were family pensioners and approved the new
pension payment as per the enhanced rate of sixth Pay Commission.
The Sports Authority of India has sanctioned an amount of Rs. 3.5
crores for Astroturf. This would help the University provide
national and international level players of hockey once again, a
hallmark of AMU. The University Grants Commission has sanctioned
Rs. 50 Lacs for an Indoor Sports Complex, which will be
constructed soon. The University has renovated Roller Skating Rink
at the cost of Rs. 20 Lacs and with this, it has become the
largest Roller Skating Rink among the Indian universities.
During Prof. Azis’s regime, AMU has introduced several new courses
as parts of its scheme of academic expansion. The most recent
additions were Master course in Women’s Studies, PG Diploma in
Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies (CRPS) and Advance Diploma
in Interior Decoration.
Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis has given extra priority to the issue of
research projects. His initiatives have started yielding results
and now a greater number of the departments are getting aid under
Special Assistance Programme and assistance from other funding
agencies. AMU teachers got individual projects worth nearly 10
Crores in the last three years and now AMU stands 3rd among the
central universities in research articles publication in
international journals of repute. The Department of Science and
Technology has selected AMU for a funding of Rs. 9 Crores as
recognition to the University for its contribution in the field of
research publications. More than 300 AMU students were getting PhD
annually under various faculties.
The Vice Chancellor’s personal interest and interventions resulted
in the Government of India sanctioning Rs. 150 Crore under the
Second Phase of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY) for
the up-gradation of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College. The
University will have a new wing of Gynaecology and Neonatology,
College of Nursing, modern kitchen, modern laundry and new OPDs.
During Prof. Azis’s regime, the Aligarh Muslim University has
conducted 260 General Selection Committees and appointed/promoted
431 faculty members including Principals of Colleges and schools.
University has also conducted general selection committees for a
number of vacant non-teaching positions.
His constant pursuit has resulted in the establishment of a
state-of-the-art Digital Resource Centre in the University Library
which is linked to campus wide network and the National Knowledge
Network extending online access to more than two lakh books and
thousands of online journals along with the great treasure of
knowledge of NKN to all departments of studies, halls of residence
and other University offices.
Often Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis conducted special drives for infusing
transparency and speed in administrative dealings. As a result
most of the things were improved now more transparent information
is available on the website. Examination and admission reforms
were introduced. OMR sheets are given to candidates appearing in
admission tests, online hall tickets can be seen for ready
reference, extra precautions were taken to avoid any inconvenience
to candidates appearing in admission tests. Finance management has
improved and audit reports were ok. Solving pension problems
pending for last four decades has been a big achievement.
Legitimate dues have been paid, several selection committees have
been conducted, appointments have been made and on a fair basis,
there has been no complaint. He was able to provide AMU a very
clean, honest and transparent administration. He established
several admission test centres across the country. Earlier, it was
only in Aligarh but now one can find AMU Test centres in Srinagar,
Patna, Bhopal, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Kozhikode. Candidates number
has increased.
AMU is a happening institution now, numerous construction
activities have been going on in the campus in different
locations. Urdu Academy is ready to be inaugurated, Dental College
building is ready, University will be going to lay the foundation
for M. A. Library block, 1000 seats girls’ hostel then new faculty
building and it has set apart Rs. 20 Crores for developing campus
roads, strengthening water supply, augmenting electricity supply.
M. A. Library has Digital Resource Centre, departments can have
access to library. Within a period of one year all classrooms are
going to be converted into Smart Classrooms, campus is becoming
WiFi in another 15 days. So this is repositioning the University
on a cutting edge area of technology with ICT available on finger
tips of every student and teacher.
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