Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis, an eminent marine scientist,
assumed the distinguished office of the Vice Chancellor on June 10, 2007. He
is completing four years in office today. Although there were anxious
moments of difficulties, turbulences and three sine die closures of the
University, Prof. Azis was able to stir the University and bring it back on
a resurgent track. With an amazing quality of simplicity combined with steel
nerve, he relentlessly carried forward a new vision of development of
cutting-edge technology and expansion unprecedented in the history of AMU. A
brief look at the major developments initiated by Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis
bears testimony to the service he rendered to the community and the nation
at large as AMU Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Azis is the moving spirit and the working force behind getting the
approval of the Central government to set up five AMU centres across the
nation, one each at Murshidabad (West Bengal), Malappuram (Kerala),
Kishanganj (Bihar), Maharashtra and Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh). He is
instrumental in establishing two centres of the Aligarh Muslim University at
Malappuram and Murshidabad and making them functional by launching BALLB and
MBA programmes. His efforts have brought to AMU fold an additional, almost
800 acres of land free of cost. The Bihar Government is providing 250 acres
of land to establish AMU Centre at Kishanganj. The Maharashtra Government
has also announced its desire to consider setting up of AMU Centre in the
state.
Prof. Azis implemented an action plan to bring into the University fold the
cutting-edge Information and Communication Technology. The University
installed more than 700 computers with high speed internet connectivity in
each department of study, hall of residence so that the student and staff
can reap the benefits of campus wide bandwidth expansion round the clock.
Within a short span of four years the AMU has witnessed a phenomenal growth
in ICT from 0.05 mbps in 2007 to almost 1054 mbps bandwidth. The Aligarh
Muslim University will soon emerge as a modern educational technology hub
contributing significantly to both knowledge acquisition and knowledge
creation. The Bluetooth enabled WiMax system brought with his efforts will
bound to change the educational scape in the University.
Realizing the productive dimension of global interaction and exposure of
reputed international academic institutions, Prof. Azis has put in place a
plan for mutual cooperation. During his visit to United States he signed
MoUs with several leading universities including Wisconsin and Cleveland,
Atlanta, Boston, Georgia State, Youngstown State, New York University and
Massachusetts University. In the current academic session alone, AMU has
signed eleven Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with leading institutions and
establishments of national and international repute.
Several building projects of X Plan whose funds lapsed, were brought back
and got completed by special efforts made by Prof. Azis. He is behind
getting several important building projects getting approval under X Plan.
With a view to give a big push to infra-structure development, Prof. P. K.
Abdul Azis has recently approved building projects involving a total
expenditure of Rs. 2482.7 Lacs. The University approved eleven major
building projects under XI Plan involving a total expenditure of Rs. 2115.4
Lacs to be completed by Central Public Works Department (CPWD) by March
2012. The Building Department of the University has been assigned 14 works
involving a total expenditure of Rs. 367.06 Lacs which will be completed by
July 31, 2011. In the next academic session a new girls’ hostel for
Engineering students, a University Canteen with modern kitchen, new
classrooms and extension of library building for the Islamic Studies
department and new faculty building for Social Sciences will be available to
students and staff of the University.
With a view to mitigate the financial difficulties of thousands of retired
employees and family pensioners of AMU, Prof. Azis has launched a special
drive to provide financial succor to family pensioners. The University got
processed 5452 cases of pensioners out of which 2036 were family pensioners
and approved the new pension payment as per the enhanced rate of sixth Pay
Commission. **
The Sports Authority of India has sanctioned an amount of Rs. 3.5 crores for
Astroturf. This would help the University provide national and international
level players of hockey once again, a hallmark of AMU. The University Grants
Commission has sanctioned Rs. 50 Lacs for an Indoor Sports Complex, which
will be constructed soon. The University has renovated Roller Skating Rink
at the cost of Rs. 20 Lacs and with this, it has become the largest Roller
Skating Rink among the Indian universities.
During Prof. Azis’s regime, AMU has introduced several new courses as parts
of its scheme of academic expansion. The most recent additions were Master
course in Women’s Studies, PG Diploma in Conflict Resolution and Peace
Studies (CRPS) and Advance Diploma in Interior Decoration.
Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis has given extra priority to the issue of research
projects. His initiatives have started yielding results and now a greater
number of the departments are getting aid under Special Assistance Programme
and assistance from other funding agencies. AMU teachers got individual
projects worth nearly 10 Crores in the last three years and now AMU stands 3
rd among the central universities in research articles publication in
international journals of repute. The Department of Science and Technology
has selected AMU for a funding of Rs. 9 Crores as recognition to the
University for its contribution in the field of research publications. More
than 300 AMU students were getting PhD annually under various faculties.
The Vice Chancellor’s personal interest and interventions resulted in the
Government of India sanctioning Rs. 150 Crore under the Second Phase of
Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY) for the up-gradation of
Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College. The University will have a new wing of
Gynaecology and Neonatology, College of Nursing, modern kitchen, modern
laundry and new OPDs.
During Prof. Azis’s regime, the Aligarh Muslim University has conducted 260
General Selection Committees and appointed/promoted 431 faculty members
including Principals of Colleges and schools. University has also conducted
general selection committees for a number of vacant non-teaching positions.
His constant pursuit has resulted in the establishment of a state-of-the-art
Digital Resource Centre in the University Library which is linked to campus
wide network and the National Knowledge Network extending online access to
more than two lakh books and thousands of online journals along with the
great treasure of knowledge of NKN to all departments of studies, halls of
residence and other University offices.
Often Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis conducted special drives for infusing
transparency and speed in administrative dealings. As a result most of the
things were improved now more transparent information is available on the
website. Examination and admission reforms were introduced. OMR sheets are
given to candidates appearing in admission tests, online hall tickets can be
seen for ready reference, extra precautions were taken to avoid any
inconvenience to candidates appearing in admission tests. Finance management
has improved and audit reports were ok. Solving pension problems pending for
last four decades has been a big achievement. Legitimate dues have been
paid, several selection committees have been conducted, appointments have
been made and on a fair basis, there has been no complaint. He was able to
provide AMU a very clean, honest and transparent administration. He
established several admission test centres across the country. Earlier, it
was only in Aligarh but now one can find AMU Test centres in Srinagar,
Patna, Bhopal, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Kozhikode. Candidates number has
increased.
AMU is a happening institution now, numerous construction activities have
been going on in the campus in different locations. Urdu Academy is ready to
be inaugurated, Dental College building is ready, University will be going
to lay the foundation for M. A. Library block, 1000 seats girls’ hostel then
new faculty building and it has set apart Rs. 20 Crores for developing
campus roads, strengthening water supply, augmenting electricity supply.
M. A. Library has Digital Resource Centre, departments can have access to
library. Within a period of one year all classrooms are going to be
converted into Smart Classrooms, campus is becoming WiFi in another 15 days.
So this is repositioning the University on a cutting edge area of technology
with ICT available on finger tips of every student and teacher.
