Professors oppose Periyar University’s admission notification for M.Tech course

Periyar University faculty objects to M.Tech admission notification, citing approval concerns raised by Higher Education Minister.

A section of the faculty of Periyar University has objected to its notification for admission to the M.Tech course. The faculty said that last year, Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy had informed the Assembly that engineering degree programmes would require the approval of Anna University.

In a notification issued on Friday, Periyar University announced admission to 22 postgraduate courses, including MCA, MBA and M.Tech (Energy Technology), which were approved by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Admission to these courses would be based on an entrance exam.

Likewise, 21 courses were announced for direct admission, including diploma and certificate courses. The last date for submission of applications was May 31, the notification said.

However, faculty members said that last year, there had been objections to the university offering the postgraduate engineering degree programme.

A faculty member said that when PMK MLA G.K. Mani raised the issue in the Assembly, Mr. Ponmudy had said that “only Anna University had the jurisdiction to approve the start of engineering degree programmes” in Tamil Nadu.

According to him, instructions were given to Periyar University not to admit students to these courses.

Denying the allegation, a top official at Periyar University said that the Minister had spoken only about new courses. But Periyar University and a few other universities in the State had been offering these types of courses for the past few years.