Updated on: Tuesday, June 15, 2010
EFLU will set up the entire infrastructure required for the campus. The initial cost of the project is estimated at Rs.50 crore.
University authorities said that the proposed multi-campus in Kerala would focus on disseminating instructional, research and extension facilities in the teaching of English and foreign languages and literature in the country. It will also take appropriate measures for inter-disciplinary studies and research in literary and cultural studies and develop critical intercultural under standing of civilisations. In order to realise the mandate given, the English and Foreign Languages University has plans to strengthen the existing academic programmes offered both in the face-to-face and distance modes.
Some of the courses including five-year integrated M.A. in English; five-year integrated M.A. in Arabic, French, German, Russian and Spanish; five-year integrated M.A. in mass communication and journalism; one-year full-time intensive advanced diploma in Russian; five-year integrated M.A. in English at both the Shillong and Lucknow campuses; and Ph.D. in English (Linguistics and Phonetics) at the Lucknow campus had attracted a large number of aspirants and all the seats were filled both in the general and reserved categories.
Explaining that the new courses have been extremely successful, Prof. Maurya said that the number of Indian and foreign students on the campuses had increased considerably after introducing new programmes.
“Students of the five-year integrated M.A. in English or journalism and mass communication are offered a compulsory course in any one of the foreign languages for four semesters (two years). Similarly students of foreign languages study English for four semesters as a compulsory course. The benefits obtaining from these unique programmes could be enormous and they are already there for all to see,” he said.
Prof. Maurya said that EFLU students, even with a B.A. (Hons) degree, which they get after pursuing the five-year Integrated M.A. courses in English for three years, are a sought after lot by companies and other organisations thanks to the high standard that they attain in English language.
“Moreover, with a B.A. (Hons) degree in English, foreign languages and journalism and mass communication, the students could pursue higher studies in fields like MBA and others and that too with an added advantage accruing to them, thanks to proficiency in English and foreign languages. Indeed, our courses are, for all practical purposes, emerging as professional courses offering immense job and career prospects, he said.
The university also offers the B.Ed. course in English (a self-financed course) and Postgraduate Diploma in the Teaching of English (PGDTE).
Both of these are extremely sought after courses. Students passing out from these programmes are recruited in prestigious schools and other educational institutions.
“Indeed, the placements for our B.Ed. graduates have been 100 per cent over the years.
Most of these graduates get offers from more than one prestigious school with quite attractive pay packages,” Prof. Maurya said.
Job scheme
The university has also launched ‘Earn while you learn' scheme and a number of scholars have been engaged in teaching and other activities under this dispensation. It provides full medical care to all its full-time students, including hospitalisation, free of cost.
EFLU' vision plan includes entering in to agreements with several universities of the world for undertaking joint teaching and research programmes or projects.