‘Restoring past glory of Patna University my priority’

PATNA: To head an academic institution, which has been one’s alma mater and workplace, is a dream come true for a teacher. But, for Girish Kumar Choudhary, the new and 53rd vice-chancellor of Patna University (PU), the opportunity has come as a challenge of sorts as the expectations of teachers, students and non-teaching staff have gone high. He tells B K Mishra in an interview that restoring the past academic glory of the university will be his topmost priority.Excerpts:
You have been a student as well as a teacher of PU for several years. How do you feel on being appointed its VC?
It’s indeed a moment of great pride and happiness for me. I owe much to this university and I would work hard to repay my debt by ensuring the university’s all-round progress.
What will be your topmost priority for raising the academic standard of PU?
Any university is known by its academics. PU was considered as one of the topmost universities in the country until three to four decades ago, but unfortunately its academic standard has declined considerably in recent years. My first priority is restoring the old academic glory of the university by creating a healthy atmosphere of research and innovations.
What will you do to promote quality teaching and research in the university?
Regular academic activities will be ensured in all the colleges and postgraduate departments. The process of appointment of teachers has already begun and, hopefully, all the vacant posts would be filled by the Bihar State University Service Commission soon. Younger teachers of different colleges and PG departments will be encouraged to submit research proposals to different funding agencies like UGC and DST.
PU and two of its premier colleges – Patna College and Patna Science College – have fared badly in their recent NAAC grading and accreditation. What are your plans?
The grades awarded to historical PU and its colleges by NAAC are certainly not satisfactory. I will try to find out the reasons for the institutions’ poor performance and plug the loopholes. I believe that the grading of the university and its allied institutions will automatically improve if the standard of teaching is raised. All the teachers, research scholars and students will have to perform their duties sincerely. In due course, PU will also apply for National Institutional Ranking Framework and strive for getting a better rank on the basis of its improved performance.