A university with a difference

In an exclusive interaction with Vijayawada Hans, Aacharya Nagarjuna University’s Vice-Chancellor Viyyanna Rao points out that industries should have MoUs with institutions in the State to point out the right curriculum and to absorb students through campus placements

• Constant updating to meet the requirements of changing times
• VC laments industry in State not proactive to come up with curriculum to create industry-ready professionals

Young scientists, inventors of new technology, positive thinkers and students with innovative technological idea have a reason to cheer about as their innovative ideas will be formulated and financed by the government. Aacharya Nagarjuna University with financial assistance from the Centre will help young inventors to realise their dream of translating their ideas into a reality and from laboratory to land. Under the scheme ‘New Entrepreneurs Development Identification Programme’, enthusiastic students can submit the project report for which financial help will be rendered if the project is considered viable and of public interest by the government.

During an interaction with Vijayawada Hans, the university’s Vice-Chancellor Viyyanna Rao spoke about the steps taken by him to rise to the students’ academic requirements and in moulding the university into a state-of-the-art institution.

“Acharya Nagarjuna University is in many ways different from other universities as it is being fine-tuned to meet the requirements of changing times and technologies through constant updating,” according to the vice-chancellor.

On the suggestion that the university should be churning out industry-ready professionals, technocrats and managers, Viyyanna Rao expressed his disappointment saying that the industry in the State is yet to have a dialogue with the university.

“There has been no interaction by the stakeholders in this regard. It is required that the industry pinpoints the courses and they are keen to prepare the curriculum accordingly. The industry should indeed have an MoU with institutions of higher learning in the State so that jobs could be created and students are absorbed through campus placements. If the industry thinks on these lines, the university can attain international standards,” he added.

The university is also executing ISRO funded projects relating to ‘Satellite Data Analysis’, ‘Remote Sensing’ and ‘Data Base Management’.

Prof. Rao reveals that ‘Career Guidance’ is another focus area of the University.

“The Career Guidance Mela has been an annual feature of the university and the response from the students and parents has been overwhelming. The programme aims to educate students on courses apart from the mainstream fields of engineering, medical and IT, which are over-projected by corporate institutions,” he informed.

Buddhism, scientific socialism, Marxist studies, Gandhian studies, Jothyrao Phule and women's study centres are some of the focussed areas of study. The university is offering 70 courses and also an International Students Cell for the benefit of foreign students.