Updated on: Saturday, March 24, 2012
The West Bengal Governor, Mr. M.K.Narayan wants the same special status as sought by Presidency University to be given to the 155 year old University of calcutta. Mr. Narayan who is the Chancellor of both the Universities said, “there is no reason whatsoever why University of Calcutta should not be treated on the same footing as Presidency University in all matters.”
He was delivering the convocation address at the University of Calcutta. Presidencys mentor group has recommended that the institution be regarded in the future as a crown jewel in West Bengal that will be an example for other institutions to emulate.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier said they might consider the demands. Narayanan said that in every respect the University of Calcutta is already the crown jewel among institutions of higher education. “It therefore should be given the same special status as a centre of excellence something which is proposed to be done for Presidency University,” he said.
The granting of special status, as has been recommended for Presidency University, would mean creating positions of distinguished university professors, recruitment of an outstanding and diverse faculty capable of cutting edge research and high quality teaching accompanied by the need to offer suitable compensation to those so recruited.
The Governor said, “University of Calcutta should be encouraged to provide an intellectually exciting curriculum and make alterations in teaching and research that would be in sync with its new exalted status as has been proposed for Presidency University.”
Regarded as one of the best colleges in India for liberal arts and science, Presidency was upgraded to university status in 2010. To make Presidency a world-class university, the mentor group, led by Harvard professor Sugato Bose, has suggested a number of radical changes including a transparent and rigorous process to create an outstanding and diverse faculty.