The challenging task for a Medical University :

The challenging task for a Medical University :
1. Improve the quality and content of Higher education- Academics and Research
2. Integrate western medicine research protocols with Indegenous medical systems according to needs of Indian subcontinent
3. Innovative thinking in managing the different Institutions under its umbrella
4. Have good scientific publications in each of these fields of Medicine (both western and Indian Medical systems) and have international standard research papers and text books created by the Faculty /Research scholars .For this an e-library and facility for digitalized versions of papers and texts should function .
5. The administration (day to day ) and conducting examinations in time etc should be delegated to an administrator of the Chief secretary cadre IAS officer and the academicians should be concentrating on research and academics .
6. Have an Institute of Human Values in healthcare so that Integration of humanities and science will have long reaching effects on physical,mental and intellectual wellbeing of the people.
7. The academic and human value wing together should formulate the health policy required for the state and for the Nation and should have highly involved members with a vision of value-based education for national development policies.


The problems currently encountered by Tamil Nad Anna University and the solutions suggested for it may be considered and modified according to the needs of the Kerala based Medical University and its current problems.(The Hindu :Education Plus Monday September 19;2011.)
The problem in Anna Uty :-The academic circles feel that not more than 100 colleges should be affiliated to a Uty . But they also agree that there are several universities with 800-900 colleges of arts and science affiliated to them ,but to manage 500 Engineering colleges is very difficult.Making the Professional colleges which should be centers of academics and research (and not tuition centers ) into inefficient centers have to be prevented.For this mammoth task ahead Anna Uty is searching for an effective academician-cum-administrator as Vice chancellor .The Uty needs to have the cleanest and efficient vice chancellor –someone who can take the bull by the horns-and whose words and leadership would be respected .The appointment has to be solely on merit devoid of corruption or political interference.It will be an acid test ,says academics of the Uty .
When the Uty and its faculty is having more work to perform in the administration and in the process of affiliation of all colleges,conducting examinations in time etc ,the academics and research takes a back seat .

Eminent academician and IIT Kanpur chairman M.Anandakrishnan comes up with a solution:- Uty can have 500 professional colleges affiliated. For that create mentoring centers ,at least 10 ,to begin with ,each in charge of 100 colleges .Provide people who can act as mentors for these centers. They may be given powers of a pro-vice chancellor but within the Uty’s control.All the colleges have to do real quality work and should be academic and not mere tuition centers.

The current problems that the prestigious Medical Uty of Kerala face can be solved if we resort to a goal-oriented systematic approach .

THE VICE CHANCELLOR - ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH ( PROFESSIONAL FROM MEDICAL SIDE )
ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD – IAS CADRE OF CHIEF SECRETARY
HEAD OF INSTITUTE OF HUMAN VALUES IN HEALTHCARE

These 3 have their own designated duties and thus delegation of powers to each helps in bettering the functions of the institution. It should be a teamwork . The distribution of power is for efficiency . And it would be a decentralized power distribution under a centralised Uty scheme .
As suggested for the Anna Uty scheme by sri A.Ananthakrishnan, 10 mentors with pro-vice chancellor status under the Uty can function in the state and they should be given awareness of the vision and goal of academic and research enhancement before they are given the charge . Merit should be the only basis of selection.If it is difficult to get 10 mentors who are academicians/with leadership qualities ,the number may be restricted to 1 to 4 as required.( For Southern states as Travancore, for Cochin and for south and North Malabar respectively ).
If this is strictly followed with Uty and national goals of higher Education ,we can solve many of the problems encountered in the professional education .
Tamil Nad Governement has done an Audit on the valuation system of Anna Uty and found that there is a substantial change (increase) in marks given after revaluation of papers. (from 2005-2009).
The student remits Rs 400 for revaluation and for getting a copy of the new result Rs 700 which in total is 1100 Rs. If the revaluation is unsatisfactory ,student can ask for a further review. For it student has to pay Rs 3000 after securing permission from departmental head and principal. Then the answer sheet is evaluated by the Faculty members of the student in the college. In 2006 April , students applied for revaluation= 71173
In 2009 April it was 1.57 lakh –more than doubled. 30000 got marks changed in 2006.83000 in 2009. (from 46.21 % to 53.17%).There is a weakness in the evaluation system as pointed out by this scenario. Based on the report of CAG ,the higher education secretary has asked the Uty to review its valuation system.
One of the reasons for poor evaluation pointed out, is the pressure on the Faculty members/examiners to complete a particular number of transcripts with a prescribed period .
Another fault pointed out by the CAG is that many industries which signed out Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during 2005-10 did not facilitate any industry-related academic programmes but merely served the purpose of mobilizing funds for the Uty . MoU entitles the consortium partner of the industry to avail admission for one student in the relevant branch of study. In 2005-2006 Uty signed MoU with 18 industries but admitted 21 students in consortium quota .
2007-2008 : signed with 53 industries ,and admitted 2 more additional sponsored candidates. In 5 yrs Uty earned 22.75 crores and admitted 178 sponsored candidates. MoU only served the purpose of allowing admission to sponsored candidates on payment of 12-15 lakh per course (the amount for joining as consortium member).Industries considered unsuited to sign MoU by a team of Faculty members ,were approved by another team sent again. MoU envisage involving industries in setting curriculum and in organizing seminars ,conferences,research ,industry visits; staff exchange programmes with university and industry ;besides the admission of one sponsored candidate. The consortium members did not contribute to any of these .They just enjoyed one sponsored candidate .
Such studies show the flaws in our academic system and where we fail. The results should not discourage us.We have to think together and make solutions . For this , a good team is needed both at the helm and at the mentor level and all the faculty should have a broader vision on our goals of higher education .