Pondy University plans 15 more departments

PUDUCHERRY: Pondicherry University is likely  to add 15 more departments and about 40 new Masters and PhD programmes, said J A K Tareen, vice-chancellor of the university, on Monday.  This was being done keeping the cardinal principle of growth:increasing the access and attaining the critical mass with excellence and equity. After the addition of departments in the XII five year plan period, the total departments may touch 55 with 200 programmes, he said.Tareen said Pondicherry University was the only varsity which completed the entire XI plan development as per targets set and has now again set new target during XII five-year plan. The university may reach a strength of 12,000 students and 800 faculty members.Pointing out that over 1.3 million sq ft of space was created during XI plan, Tareen said it had been proposed to create the same amount of additional space during the XII plan and added that the strength of students during 2012-13 was expected to reach 6500.Stating that there had been an exponential increase in the aspirants from across the country for admission to Masters and PhD programmes of Pondicherry University, Tareen said the university had been the most sought after by the students.“The total number of students writing the entrance exams increased from 7900 in 2007 to 49,000 in 2012. Simultaneously, the student intake has also increased from about 900 to over 3500. The overall growth of the university has been 300 per cent on all fronts, which is itself a record in the country,” he said.Some of the unique features of the university are: a demographic diversity of students from 32 states and faculty from 21 states; over 110 women faculty out of the total 439;a secure and serene environment.