Develop Strategies to Capitalize on the Goodwill for Panjab University: Prof Renu Vig

Chandigarh, April 10, 2024: Higher education in India is undergoing transformation with New Education Policy as the key driver. Emerging trends mandate strategic orientation so that PU remains in the forefront, said Prof Renu Vig, Vice Chancellor, Panjab University while chairing a meeting of the chairpersons of various Departments and Regional Centres. She stated that the strong goodwill and best practices developed by PU over a period of time have ensured resilience and flexibility across the different aspects of the educational ecosystem.

Prof Vig advised heads of the teaching Departments and Administrative units to design appropriate strategies to continue serving the educational needs with distinction.

Vice Chancellor evaluated the preparedness of various departments for implementation of the NEP 2020. She underlined the need to ensure syllabus is duly approved by the Board of Studies by April 15, 2024 so that the same be considered in the meeting of Faculties scheduled later in the month. She also advised the departments to submit their requirements for the guest faculty much before the start of the semester so that necessary approvals are granted on time. Prof Rumina Sethi, Dean of University Instruction advised that the basket of Value added courses can be strengthened so as to offer variety to the students.

Prof Renu Vig highlighted the need for further strengthening the admission process. She asked departments to form teams to invite students to visit departments to explore and sensitise them about the teaching and research activities being undertaken at PU as well as to undertake digital marketing. Prof Rumina Sethi asked chairpersons to prepare pamphlets/handouts and use social media to promote their courses by giving important information. She also advised to regularly update their websites, outlining salient achievements of their departments.

Vice Chancellor also advised Dean Alumni Relations to share the membership form with all chairpersons as well as link for the alumni registration form. She further stated that the distinguished Alumni should be invited to interact with present students and also to take up the role of Alumni Mentors. She also informed that the Global Alumni Meet of the University has been planned for December 21, 2024.

Dean International Students informed that Panjab University is focusing to enhance the intake of Foreign National students in all the departments.   As an initiative to encourage more Foreign Nationals, University has revised the existing fee structure to make it compatible with the neighboring institutes/universities. Besides this, the requirement of appearing in Entrance Test to take admission in various courses offered by the Panjab University has been waived off for NRI/Foreign National students and admission guidelines for Undergraduate/Postgraduate courses has also been revised to facilitate the students.

To explore the possibility of growing academic collaboration with foreign higher educational institutions and to offer the facility of Dual Degree Programme, Panjab University has already signed MOU with University of Fraser Valley, Canada for Dual Degree in BCA/BBA and B.A. in Liberal Arts.  The MOUs with Yokohama National University (Japan), Mandel University (Czech Republic) and Nottingham Trent University (UK) for dual degree programmes is under process.

Vice Chancellor showed her keen interest on collaborations with acclaimed educational institutions for dual degree as well as credit transfer arrangements and internships to have global footprints. She recommended starting doctoral and post-doctoral programmes in collaborative mode with international institutions to enhance PU rankings.