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Chandigarh, September 29, 2019 :
Universities are birthplaces and testing grounds of new ideas, new discoveries and initiatives and always demand visionaries to create perfect environment for the academic excellence. Punjabi University is reaching ahead to traverse new vistas and making impressive strides in academic world. Established in 1962, Punjabi University Patiala has been lead by able personalities like Jodh Singh (Founder vice chancellor), Kirpal Singh Narang, Inderjeet Kaur Sandhu, Amrik Singh, Bhagat Singh, Sardara Singh Johal, H.K. Manmohan Singh, Jogide Singh Puar, Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia and Jaspal Singh.
Current Vice Chancellor Prof. B. S. Ghuman, who joined as vice-chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala on August 14, 2017, has successfully completed two years of his term, is very keen and enthusiastic to make it scale new heights in near future. He admits that it has been really challenging to work and progress amidst fiscal difficulties of which University is going through for some years. At the same time he is quite hopeful that his efforts would surely yield desired results. Through his constant endeavoring he got succeeded in getting Rs. 50 Cr. as special grant from Punjab Government twice. Besides the Government also announced a six percent hike in annual grant for the University.
Prof. Ghuman said that he is really grateful of Sri. V.P. Singh Badnore, Honorable Governor of Punjab and Chancellor of the University, Captain Amrinder Singh, Honorable Chief Minister, Punjab, cabinet ministers and MLAs who played a key role in providing the financial grant. Prof. Ghuman also remained successful in securing Rs. 50 Cr. grant from Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India under RUSA for Research, Innovation and Quality improvement component. Punjab Government announced to provide seven crore each for setting up of Maharana Partap Chair and Aggarsen Chiar also. Prof. Ghuman said that his first and foremost priority has been to put stop on each and every kind of wasteful expenditure to help the University to sail through financial crisis. He said that these expenditure cuts have allowed timely salaries to the employees.
For strengthening research and academic activities in changing and competitive times ahead, University has initiated different steps in various fields. The setting up of centre for artificial intelligence and data sciences has been a major step in this direction. Besides the setting up of new centers like ‘Centre for Productive Development Through Novel Technology Intervention’, ‘Centre for Human Development and knowledge Management’, ‘Centre for Industrial and Social Transformation through Research and Innovation in Vocational Entrepreneurship’, ‘Centre for Public Policy and Governance’, ‘Rapid Prototyping and Material Testing Research Centre’ and Research Centre for Technology Development for Differently able Persons’ has been an innovative initiative itself.
The University is attaining new heights in research and academic field is further evident from the visit of PAU vice chancellor Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon who alongwith his research delegates and Principal Secretary Punjab Govt. Mr. Rakesh Kumar Verma to see the research work being carried out by the Punjabi University teachers. This team showed keen interest in the patents registered here. It is worth mentioning that during Prof. Ghuman tenure three patents have been filed including the two which have already been granted. Prof. Ghuman said that besides starting new courses, the University had to increase seats in many traditional courses also. The professional courses like Law has witnessed a remarkable increase as the Bar Counsel of India approved double the number of seats in the Punjab School of Law here. Due to constant efforts of Finishing School nearly 53 reputed companies provided placement to many a students in these last years. Besides, various departments have worked on their own to secure placement for the students. School of Management Department got 219 placements out of its 240 students. 80 percents students of Physical Education Department, 70 percent of Social Work Department have been able to secure jobs.
At global level to the University has been able to sign agreements with many foreign universities and reputed global institutes including University of British Columbia, University of Wisconsin, Parkside; University of British Columbia, Vancouver; University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George; Punjab Bhawan, Surrey; Dhahan Prize, Richmond, Canada; and University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, Canada. The University has also become partner of a very powerful knowledge cluster namely Chandigarh Region Innovation and Knowledge Cluster (CRIKC) having around 30 institutions as its members.
The Punjabi University is celebrating 550th birth celebration of Guru Nanak Dev ji with great fervor. It has outlined 57 programs in this regard which is more than any other institution. The University strongly believes in research based result oriented workshops. The play ‘Pagri Sambhal Jatta’ was conceived on the basis of research undertaken by the University on rural suicides. staged recently in the University was highly appreciated as it tried to provide many workable solutions to come out of the agrarian crisis causing farmer suicides in large numbers.
Punjabi University has been a conservatory for development of Punjabi, Language, literature, culture and social development. In this regard the University organized almost 215 seminars, conferences, workshops and other programs in the recent past. Many reputed institutions have been apprentiship the University to collaborate in various sectors for research and development.
Allotment of independent DTH channel to the Media Centre in the University is an achievement in itself. It is noticeable that there are only six centers in total 21 centers in the country which have been allowed independent DTH. Publication Bureau of the University has created history in itself selling books worth 1.74 Cr in the book fairs. The second Book Fair was dedicated to 550th anniversary of Sri. Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Two books of this bureau have received national award also. On the cultural front, twelve students of University have outshined at North Zone and National University Youth Festivals.
Ten times winner of MAKA trophy, the University has shown phenomenal success year after year it has been announced to the best University by the president of India. Prof. Ghuman also expressed his gratitude towards all governing bodies as well as teaching & non teaching staff, researchers and students, without whose help all this was not possible to achieve. The cumulative result of all the initiatives taken during these two years will continue to be realized in future as well.
Author :
Jaswant Singh Puri,
Doctor of Letters(Honoris Causa),
Punjab Rattan,
Member,Dewan Family,
Erstwhile Princely State of Patiala,
HealthySoch
