Big exercise for selection for honorary doctorates

Updated on: Monday, November 30, 2009

Selecting eminent personalities for awarding honorary doctorates, particularly the Kalaprapoorna award to be given to a personality from the field of art and culture, during its convocation is always a big exercise for Andhra University's administration. With the 76th Convocation to be held on December 5, Vice-Chancellor B. Satyanarayana has reportedly received about two dozen recommendations from all quarters. At one time, the name of cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar also came into the limelight. He has reportedly sent a message that he would not accept any such award when he is still playing.

Kalaprapoorna for a noted writer who gained more prominence for his roles in films and who hails from Visakhapatnam district, has been reportedly recommended by some big wigs. Since the recommendation is from the quarter that is very close to a former Chief Minister, there seemed to be a lot of discussion and finally noted singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam has been selected.

Professors eyeing Rector's post

With Rector U. Viplava Prasad set to retire shortly, some senior professors are making their efforts to get into the post. A few of them who are retiring soon on superannuation are more interested. This time BCs feel that they should be given the opportunity. Since both Prof. Satyanarayana and Rector P.V.G.D. Prasada Reddy are from the engineering faculty, and Prof. Viplava Prasad is from science college, professors of College of Arts and Commerce feel that the Rector post should go to their college.

Meanwhile, the teachers are eagerly waiting for the Government to announce implementation of new pay-scales which are due from 2006 and those on the verge of retirement are more eager because there is every likelihood of the Government enhancing the age of retirement from the present 60 years to 62 years and if the teachers are more lucky, up to 65 years.

YLP starts the process

A senior professor of Hindi Department, a former student Y. Lakshmi Prasad, who is also holding the post of Chairman of AP Hindi Academy, is the first to respond to the VC's request to the present faculty and alumni to donate for the construction of a compound wall around the vast extent of university's land.

Prof. Satyanarayana said Rs.7.500 is required to raise a 10 feet long piece of the compound wall and assured that the name of the donor would be displayed on that bit. Dr. Lakshmi Prasad handed over a cheque for Rs.75,000 for construction of a 100 feet length of wall and appreciated the idea of seeking donations for an important cause.

Seminar on marine pollution

Andhra University UGC Academic Staff College organised a panel discussion on marine pollution. Dr. N.V. Rao of Maritime University was chief guest and explained about marine pollution being caused in different ways. Orissa, Kerala and West Bengal are the States causing a lot of marine pollution. Public awareness, cleaning and minimum usage of pesticides are some of the remedies, he said.

Director of ASC G. Ramachandrudu presided. Course director A. Narayanaswamy, former HoD of Botany M. Umamaheswara Rao, Prof. M. Ramesh Babu, Prof. N.A.V. Prasada Reddy and others participated.

UGC Coordinator V. Veeraiah was chief guest of the valedictory function. Teachers from different colleges who are attending the inter-disciplinary refresher course at ASC actively participated in the panel discussion.

Coaching for UGC NET

Andhra University is providing coaching for SC and ST students appearing for the UGC NET. Prof. Satyanarayana formally opened the coaching programme. Principal of College of Arts and Commerce L.K. Mohana Rao, Rector U. Viplava Prasad, Principal of AU College of Engineering P.S.N. Raju, Prof. Veeraiah, S.C. and S.T. Cell Coordinator Ch. Ratnam and co-cordinator K. Sudarsana Raju provided various tips to the candidates for their success in the examination.

NSS training programme

The NSS Training and Orientation Centre conducted its 93rd training programme for Programme Officers. Assistant Programme Advisor K. Rajendran was chief guest. Training Coordinator N.A.D. Pal presided. AU NSS Coordinator P. Ramachandra Rao, State Coordinator Bhaskara Rao, District NSS Programme Officer V. Narasimha Murthy and others participated.

As part of the training programme the POs were taken to the Leprosy Home of the Prema Samajam and a one-day workshop on human rights was conducted for them.

Help to flood victims

NSS of Andhra University collected Rs.5.75 lakhs and handed over the same to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, through Prof. Satyanarayana. The money was collected towards relief to the flood victims in the State. Teams of NSS volunteers from a few colleges were also involved in flood relief work.

ANITS' teaching and non-teaching staff donated their one-day salary for the flood victims. The amount, totalling Rs.1.04 lakhs was handed over to the Ramakrishna Mission by Principal V.S.R.K. Prasad. Earlier chairman of ANITS N. Prasad handed over Rs. 5 lakhs to the CM.

During CM's visit to the city recently, secretary of Chaitanya Degree and PG College for Women (Gajuwaka) G.V. Narayana Rao handed over a cheque for Rs.72,000 towards flood relief. Earlier the college donated Rs. 1 lakh through Andhra University VC, Principal MV Ramana Rao informed.

IT Expo

Aditya Degree College students exhibited their talent and knowledge in IT at the IT Expo 2009 organised in the college. Professor of Computer Science P.S. Avadhani inaugurated the show.

Hardware and software were on display. Competitions were also held for students. Principal T. Theophilus presided. HoD of Computers G.A.V.S. Sastry, lecturers K. Mahesh, B. Shankar, P.M. Naidu, P. Srinivas and M. Radha, club activities convenor B.L. Ganesh supervised the exhibition.

Students of the college also won prizes in the Varnahela, organised by the PRISM College. M. Gayathri, Y. Suma, K. Soundarya, P. Narendra, Santosh, Venkatesh, Aleena, Sandhya Rakesh, Kalyan, Sampath, Mounika and Nirmala won first prizes in group dance, paining, bioquest and Medha-Veda competitions.

D. Neelima won second prize in flower show and T. Satish picked up third prize in Ek Minute competitions.

Principal and others congratulated the prize winners and literary coordinators P.M. Naidu, P. Madhavi Lata and M. Radha.

Workshop on communication skills

A two day workshop on communication skills and personality development was conducted by Yandamoori Veerendranath at Aditya Institute of Technology and Management (AITAM), Tekkali, from Friday.

Apart from giving presentation he also conducted IQ test and interactive sessions.

The Chairman of the college K. Someswara Rao, Director V.V. Nageswara Rao, secretary L.L. Naidu, Treasurer T. Nagaraju and other faculty members were present.

Big exercise for selection for honorary doctorates

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