5 days ago
GU to discontinue MSW programme, School of Commerce class timings changed
The Gujarat University's (GU's) Executive Council (EC) on Thursday decided to discontinue its Master of Social Work (MSW) programme, which was running on Higher Payment Programme (HPP) mode, stating that the course was not being taught as per prescribed guidelines.
As per university authorities, among other major decisions taken by the Executive Council, which met for two hours from 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor Neerja Gupta, were change of timing for School of Commerce classes from afternoon shift to morning shift; filling of 50 vacant seats in postgraduate courses, including Science, Commerce, Arts by contractual teachers till permanent appointments are done; Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) for promotion to be held as per the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines.
GU had sought a legal opinion and based on it, it decided to close the programme. 'The Higher Payment Programme (HPP) for the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree offered at the university's Samaj Vidya Bhavan is not being taught as per the prescribed guidelines. So a decision has been taken to close it, based on legal opinion,' university authorities told this paper.
It was a self-financed programme under the Department of Social Work established in 2013 designed to be self-sufficient on a higher fee than standard programmes. Sources revealed that the University might consider to relaunch the programme, but not as HPP.
Further, it was decided that a special committee will be formed to investigate into various matters, including the appointment of suspended Assistant Prof Vanrajsinh Chavda. Earlier, retired Prof Pradeep Prajapati, a former professor of GU, had submitted a written complaint regarding the appointment of Prof Chavda, following which disciplinary action was taken against him.
GU V-C Gupta stated that the EC has approved lateral entry courses, including Science, Commerce, Arts, as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. In addition, students studying in the second semester of other universities have been allowed to enter the third semester of GU.
For the School of Commerce, classes were being run in the afternoon shift, till 6pm. Students had demanded for a change of timing, for them to be free for other programmes or jobs.
