Mumbai University to set up councils after two-year wait

Mumbai: The University of Mumbai (MU) will next week start the process of setting up the management council, academic council and students council which have not been operational for two years. The purpose of the councils or varsity bodies is to make crucial decisions related to academics, administration, syllabus and examination. Till now, a temporary body has managed all these activities.

The state government has instructed all the universities in Maharashtra to set up all the important bodies before February 28. However, MU is yet to start the procedure of senate elections. State education minister Vinod Tawde said, “The statute of the senate elections will be declared soon.” The statute will be helpful for the representatives. In case of MU, the representatives are all the stakeholders – students, graduates, teachers, management and principal.

Vaibhav Narwade, a former senate member and president of Mumbai University and College Teachers’ Association (MUCTA) said, “The varsity does not have a democratic process to make crucial decisions as all officers and bodies in the mere university nominees. Moreover, even though the state has given a deadline of February 28, there has been no notification from MU,” Mr Narwade said. Once the notification or statue is released, the electoral duty shall commence.

The MU sources claimed that the process of searching new and full time Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and Controller of Examinations and Evaluations are underway.

Duties of Council

Academic Council:
Setting of syllabus, dates of examinations, creating a schedule of examinations

Management Council:
Controlling and managing university's affairs and concerns,  helps in setting the budget every academic year and tracking the expenditure of the university.

Students Council:
Highlights students concerns and problems and raises them with the concerned department or council.