CUSAT to get an architecture faculty

Newspaper

Though the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) doesn’t have an architecture department, the university’s academic council has given approval to amend the university statute to set up a faculty in architecture.

This is being done, as the council of architecture has clearly stipulated that an affiliating university should create an independent faculty of architecture, which consists of dean and board of studies in architecture, for proper growth and development of architecture course and also to prepare syllabus, course curriculum and scheme of exams.

Meanwhile, the Cochin University Teachers Association (CUTA) alleged that the decision was taken to help a private architecture college, which recently sought affiliation from Cusat.

The Cusat vice-chancellor in the academic council meeting on March 27 was not in favour of amending the statute to start faculty in architecture, amidst concerns that with no architecture faculty available in the university, they would have to nominate members from private institutes in the board of studies and even as Dean of Architecture, thereby giving entry and dominance to private faculty from private colleges. “This is something that has never happened in the university in the past,” said an official, who was present at the academic council meeting.

In a note to the academic council, it was informed that TKM School of Architecture, Kollam, has submitted a proposal for considering the regulation and syllabus for the 5-year full-time architecture course.

“The syndicate at its meeting held on November 15, 2012, has resolved to take steps to add a faculty of architecture amending the Cochin University First Statutes, 1980. It also resolved that the vice-chancellor to be authorized to constitute an inspection committee as and when faculty is incorporated in the statutes,” the note stated.

“Since this is an academic activity, the matter has to be placed before the academic council to finalize the structure of board of studies and faculty, including that of draft amendment to be made in the Cochin University First Statutes,” the note stated.

“University doesn’t have any architecture course and therefore there is no need to have an architecture faculty. But this decision has been taken to help a private institute,” alleged CUTA president K Sreekumar.

However, Cusat registrar A Ramachandran said, “We had two requests from private architecture colleges, seeking affiliation from us to start the course from 2013-14. As we don’t have any faculty in architecture, the matter was placed before the academic council to amend the statutes. The same was approved”.

 


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