Admissions to the engineering and medical courses in Annamalai University, Chidambaram, for the upcoming academic year 2013-2014 would be only through entrance tests, asserted Shiv Das Meena, State government-appointed Administrator.
Addressing the first ever press conference after he took charge as the Administrator on the university campus on Saturday Mr. Meena said that the entrance tests would be held on June 7,8 and 9, instead of the original schedule of May 10,11 and 12.
In the matter of admissions, the university would strictly follow the reservation formula of the State government. The applications for the entrance tests could be obtained either from the Study Centres of the university located across the State or at the university counters or could also be downloaded from the university website.
The last date for sending in the filled in applications is May 28. The entrance tests would be conducted in seven centres, including Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchi, Salem, Tirunelveli, Chennai and at Annamalai Nagar (Chidambaram).
Asked why the university was conducting entrance tests when the government had abolished it in the other universities, Mr. Meena said that since the institution was passing through a transition period and as the test schedule had already been announced it had become necessary to hold the tests.
However, he said that for the arts, science and marine biology courses admissions would be made on the basis of marks obtained in the qualifying examinations.
The Administrator further said that the number of MBBS seats would be 150 as per the Medical Council of India norms BDS seats — 50 as per the Dental Council of India norms and B. Pharm and B. Sc (Nursing) courses — 100 seats each as per the Pharmacy Council of India norms.
Fewer engineering seats
Mr. Meena hinted that the number of engineering seats that stood at 5,000 as of now might be scaled down to 2,500—2,700.
Cutting down the number of seats had been proposed by taking into consideration the faculty strength and the infrastructure availability. It would be decided on a rational and professional manner, he said.
For all the courses the university fixed tuition fees would be collected. As for the five-year integrated courses were concerned the Administrator also noted that the Syndicate and the Academic Council of the university had decided to award an undergraduate degree (at the end of the third year) and a postgraduate degree (at the end of the course) to the candidates.
Accordingly, the recruiting agencies such as the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission would be informed to recognise those degrees. Mr. Meena further said that the present curriculum for the various courses too were under scrutiny by the committees headed by the respective Deans and Heads of the departments.
These committees would finalise the matters relating to their respective subjects before the admission process commences.
Six committees formed
He also noted that six committees had been formed to take care of various aspects of university administration, such as security, sanitation, environment, health aspects, hostels, electricity and water supply and gardens.
Mr. Meena also noted that the university would involve the over 1,500 staff of the Study Centres in the Career Guidance Programme being organised by the School Education Department in schools. They would counsel the students about the courses available in the university so as to help in the intake of students.
Registrar Incharge N. Panchanathan, Deans N. Chidambaram (Medical Faculty) and RM. Kathiresan (Agriculture) participated.