Saturday 10 May 2014

Panjab University

Panjab University :

The Panjab University has a long tradition of pursuing excellence in teaching and research in science and technology, humanities, social sciences, performing arts and sports. The University supports excellence and innovation in academic programmes, promotes excellence in research, scholarship and teaching and is committed to attracting and supporting the best students and faculty who excel at teaching and research. For more than a century, it has served various societal needs with distinction. The glorious traditions of the University established during the period of more than a hundred and thirty years of its long service to the nation since its inception in 1882 at Lahore (now in Pakistan) are a source of inspiration for the present generation of faculty members and students. By virtue of its age, experience, achievements and philosophy, the Panjab University is a University of national character and stature and draws both faculty and students from all over the country and abroad. Its faculty includes some of the most distinguished scientists and academicians. It continues to attract celebrated scholars who interact with the faculty and students. Over the years, the reputation of the Panjab University has grown into one of innovative teaching, research and community outreach.

After the Partition in 1947, the University was constrained to function for almost a decade without a campus of its own. The administrative office was located at Solan and the teaching departments functioned from Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Delhi and Amritsar. In 1956, it was relocated at Chandigarh. Pierre Jeanerette designed the red sandstone University campus under the general guidance of the legendary Le Corbusier. Till the re-organisation of Punjab in 1966, the University had its regional centers at Rohtak, Shimla and Jalandhar and its affiliated colleges were located in the States of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

With the re-organization of Punjab, the University became an Inter-State Body Corporate catering to the newly organized States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Gradually, the colleges of Himachal and Haryana were affiliated to the Universities in the respective states and the Panjab University was left with the affiliated colleges in the Union Territory of Chandigarh and some parts of Punjab. The Consultative Committee of the Government of India approved, in 1976, the ratio of 60:40 for the sharing of the maintenance deficit of the Panjab University by the Central Government (through the Chandigarh Administration) and the Government of Punjab, respectively. Initially, the Government of Punjab restricted its share of maintenance grant to Rs.16 crore, but subsequently revised it to Rs.20 crore, irrespective of its actual share on the basis of the above stated ratio. To re-examine the ratio of funds between the Government of India and the Government of Punjab as well as to determine the optimum ratio of funds for the Panjab University, a new internal ministerial Consultative Committee was constituted by the Government of India. The Committee recommended that the Central Government may fund the University through the UGC after adjusting the funds provided by the Government of Punjab and the surplus from the self-financing courses. The annual budgeted expenditure and income of the University for the Financial Year 2012-13 amounted to Rs.302.83 crores and Rs 149.24 crores, respectively.

The Panjab University, with its 75 teaching and research departments besides 15 centers/chairs for the teaching and research on the main campus at Chandigarh, has more than 192 affiliated/constituent colleges spread over Punjab and Chandigarh besides Regional Centres at Muktsar, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Kauni. In addition, there is the Vishveshawaranand Vishva Bandhu Institute of Sanskrit and Indological Studies (VVBIS&IS) at Hoshiarpur.
THE CAMPUS
The Panjab University is located in Sector 14, with a newly developed South Campus in Sector 25. The total land area is almost 550 acres.

The layout of two parts of the University has been conceived to meet the academic, administrative, sports / recreational, residential and other requirements of a growing University. To make it self-contained, infrastructural facilities like its own Shopping Centre, Health Centre, Bank, Post office, Swimming Pool, Gymnasium, Botanical Garden, well maintained parks, Open Air Theatre, Guest Houses, Faculty House, Seminar Complexes, Alumni House, Community Centre and School have been provided.

The main University Campus in Sector 14 has fairly well-marked zones like teaching, administrative, sports/recreational and residential. A cluster of prominent buildings like the Gandhi Bhawan, the Fine Arts Museum, the University Library and the Student Centre form the hub of social interaction. The three-winged structure of the Gandhi Bhawan is the most artistic building, known as the pride of the University. The Fine Arts Museum, with its series of small galleries arranged around a courtyard, each gallery having a hyperbolic paraboloid roof (umbrella shaped), is not only an architectural but a structural marvel as well. The University Library, another key building, of the Sector 14 Campus is an RCC framed structure with red sandstone veneers. The Student Centre with its circular base and a ramp pulsating around its cylindrical body is another land mark building.

The South Campus of the Panjab University in Sector 25 encompasses an area measuring approximately 175 acres. The layout of this part of the Campus was basically initiated as an extension of its existing residential complex in the main campus. Later on, Institutes like the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET), Dr. Harvansh Singh Judge Institute of Dental Sciences, the University Institute of Applied Management Sciences (UIAMS), Emerging Areas in Sciences, a new block for Basic Medical Sciences, and hostels were added.
TEACHING DEPARTMENTS/CENTERS
The seventy-five Departments and fifteen Centers/Chairs on the campus and the four Regional Centers are grouped under the Faculties of Arts, Science, Languages, Law, Education and Fine Arts, Business Management and Commerce, Engineering and Technology, Medical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Dairying, Animal Husbandry and Agriculture. Most departments have their own specialized libraries, and the working period runs for at least 180 days in a year.

Dynamic in its approach to make this institution of higher learning a globally competitive leader, the University has achieved many recognitions.

Centers of Excellence
Acknowledging excellence in teaching and research, the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) have recognized a large number of Departments under various Programmes such as the Special Assistance Programme/Departmental Research Support (SAP/DRS), Centre for Advanced Study (CAS), Funds for Improvement of Science and Technology (FIST) and the Department of Special Assistance (DSA). The Departments covered under various UGC and DST Programmes are:

Special Assistance Programme/ Centre for Advanced Study (SAP/CAS) Departments of Anthropology, Chemistry, Geography, Physics, Geology, Mathematics, Sociology and Zoology and the University Institute of Pharmaceutical Science (UIPS)
Special Assistance Programme/ Departmental Research Support (SAP/DRS) Departments of Biochemistry, Biophysics, Botany, Biotechnology, Economics, Education, English and Cultural Studies, Microbiology and Political Science and the University Business School (UBS) and the SSB University Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology (SSBUICET)
Department of Special Assistance (DSA) Department of Statistics
Funds for Improvement of Science & Technology (FIST) Departments of Anthropology, Biophysics, Biotechnology, Chemistry and Physics and SSBUICET and UIPS
University with Potential for Excellence
The University has been recognized by the UGC as the "University with Potential for Excellence in Biomedical Sciences" with facilities for Stem Cell Research and Drug Development. During the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012), it was awarded the following two Centres of Excellence by the UGC under the Scheme of Centre with Potential for Excellence in a Particular Area (CPEPA):
Centre of Excellence in "Application of Nano Materials, Nano Particles and Nano Composites", with a grant of Rs. 3.55 crore and
Centre of Excellence in "Cultural Fixation on Honor: A Gender Audit of Punjab and Haryana", with a grant of Rs. 1.85 crore.

PURSE Award:
The Department of Science and Technology, Government of India has selected the Panjab University as one among the 14 top Universities in India for further funding under the Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (DST-PURSE) programme. Under this prestigious scheme, Panjab University will receive Rs.34.8 crore for the development of research infrastructure, which could be utilized in the period from 2014 to 2018.
INTERNET AND COMMUNICATION FACILITIES
The Computer Center of the University has established Gigabit technology to provide high speed connectivity to various Departments through the National Knowledge Network (NKN) and the National Mission of Education through Information and Communication Technology (MEICT) network. Almost all the Departments are connected through optical fibre. All hostels and the Academic Area of Sector 14 have been made Wi-Fi and the students can access free internet through the hardware firewall installed at the Computer Centre with three wide area network links of 2 x 1 Gbps and 155 Mbps.

The Computer Centre has hosted network based computing software for Scientists and Social Scientists. The latest storage device, e-mail Server and Web Server have been hosted at the Computer Centre.

In addition to the above, the University has made significant progress in office automation. It has successfully deployed a computerized diary-dispatch system, HR module and financial module from the year 2011-12. The University, by developing its own software, is facilitating online admission to various courses.

Access to internet and an optimal use of Information Technology by all the faculty members and students has been initiated by providing more than 2000 nodes/internet connection points (excluding Wi-Fi access) in various Departments and the University Library. The University Library is connected through the Inflibnet network with all Departments on the campus that avail the facility of online journals provided through the UGC Inflibnet.

From time to time, the Computer Centre offers short-term awareness courses for the faculty, non-teaching staff and research scholars free of cost. These courses have been very useful for encouraging the faculty, staff and research scholars to make an effective use of Computer Information Technology and other support services.

Further, the University has provided computer systems along with internet facility to the teaching Departments for their use in research/administration as well as for training of students.

The University has its own Website to host date-sheets, results, examination forms and online entrance and admission forms for the convenience of students/public.
OTHER FACILITATING CENTERS
Regional sophisticated instrumentation centre
The University has a DST-supported Regional Sophisticated Instrumentation Centre along with the Central Instrumentation Laboratory (CIL) and the University Science Instrumentation Centre (USIC) to serve the scientific community on the campus and in the region.
Centre for Industry Institute Partnership Programme
The Centre for Industry Institute Partnership Programme (CIIPP) has been active in promoting formal and effective academic-industry interface.
Coaching Centre for the Civil Services Examinations
The University has a Coaching Centre for the Civil Services Examination as well as other competitive examinations.
Energy Research Centre
The Energy Research Centre was established in 1983 to promote research, development and extension activities in the emerging field of renewable energy. It has emerged as a major focal point of R&D and extension in energy and environment at national and international level. Pioneering work in the areas of solar/thermal energy storage, solar detoxification, biomethanation of agricultural/industrial/forest wastes, biomass combustion and gasification, indoor air quality, energy and environmental conservation & management and hydrodynamics of polymeric solutions is being carried out at the Centre.

The Energy Research Centre has professional contacts with a number of reputed international Institutes such as the University of Florida, USA; the University of Cincinnati, USA; the SRI International, USA and the Lakehead University, Canada. A number of students from developing and developed countries have undergone training in the area of energy and environment at the Centre. The Centre has also helped the States of Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, J&K and the North- Eastern States in solving problems associated with energy planning, management and environmental protection.
Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy
The Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy has been set up with the support of the UGC where the focus of research and teaching would be on inclusive growth.
PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH
The University is participating in the prestigious International High Energy Research Programmes at Fermilab (USA), KEK (Japan) and CERN (Switzerland). At present the University is involved in a big way in CMS and ALICE Experiments at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) Switzerland and Neutrino Programme at Fermilab, USA. The CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid) project at Large Hadron Collider is for the discovery of Higgs boson and other new particles. To participate in the CMS project, the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Atomic Energy has provided grant of Rs. 12 crores during the 11th Five-Year Plan and about 19 Crores for the 12th Five-Year Plan. Panjab University has fabricated and tested Plastic Scintillator counter detectors for the CMS project. These detectors were commissioned by the University team at CERN and are going to be used for next 20 years for various potential Physics discoveries. Through the participation in the CMS Project, the Panjab University has become a part of a major discovery of the century i.e. Higgs boson which was announced on July 4, 2012 at CERN and, in 2013, Nobel Prize has been awarded to Briton Peter Higgs and Belgian Francois Englert for the "theoretical discovery"of the sub-atomic particle. Under these International Research programs, the University had earlier been involved in the Top Quark Discovery (1995) and CP-violation discovery (2001).

International exchange programmes
The University shares an international exchange programme with many countries, including Sweden under the auspices of the European Law Students' Association (ELSA) and an exchange programme with the British Council in the field of Public Administration. There exists an ongoing international exchange programme with the Universities of Manitoba and Kyrghyzstan as well as the Simon Fraser University, Canada. The Dean of International Students looks after the academic affairs of overseas students from over fifteen countries. Working directly with the Regional Director of the ICCR, the Dean helps to facilitate the admission of foreign students.
PLACEMENTS & GUIDANCE BUREAU
The University Employment Information & Guidance Bureau provides employment information and advice to the University alumni. There is also a unit of Information and Advisory Bureau which guides students with regard to their studies abroad. Central Placement Cell has been established through which students of professional and non-professional courses are placed in reputed companies through centralized placement drives.
HOSTELS
There are seventeen hostels, eight for boys and nine for girls, to accommodate nearly six thousand students. There also exists one working women's hostel with a capacity to accommodate seventy persons.
BHAI GHANAIYA JI INSTITUTE OF HEALTH
Bhai Ghanaiya Ji Institute of Health caters to the medical needs of about 40,000 employees and their dependents, students of all the departments, all boys and girls residing in hostels, daily wagers, contractual employees, mess and canteen workers, University conferences, seminars, Syndicate/Senate meetings, sports events and many other health related activities including medical examination of students and employees. Free medical checkups and investigation camps, seminars, lectures, etc. are organized on a regular basis. This Institute of Health also provides Yoga classes and general and specialist consultations in different fields of medicine through a strong team of regular, part- time and contractual doctors. A round-the-clock emergency service alongwith 24x7 ambulance is available. The Institute has a fully equipped modern clinical laboratory, latest computerized ECG machine, a fully computerized digital 500mA mammographic compatible CR unit and an X-Ray machine.
SPORTS
The University has playgrounds for all major sports, a gymnasium hall and a swimming pool of high standard for its sports activities. In 2014, three new infrastructures will come up, i.e., a blue field hockey Astroturf, a 25 m shooting range and an all-weather swimming pool. The University has been awarded the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) trophy fourteen times for excellence in games and sports at the all India Inter-University level.
DETAILS OF COURSES BEING OFFERED ON THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, REGIONAL CENTERS AND CONSTITUENT COLLEGES
Ph.D Courses
Faculty of Arts
Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology, Economics, Geography, Defence & National Security Studies, History, Human Rights and Duties, Mass Communication, Psychology, Police Administration, Political Science, Public Administration, Social Work, Sociology
Faculty of Science
Anthropology, Botany, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environment Studies, Geology, Human Genome Studies & Research, Microbiology, Microbial Biotechnology, Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Nuclear Medicine, Physics, Statistics, Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, System Biology and Bioinformatics, Zoology
Faculty of Law
Laws, UILS
Faculty of Languages
English & Cultural Studies, French, Hindi, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit , Tibetan / Buddhist Studies, Urdu
Faculty of Design & Fine Arts
Fashion and Technology, Fine Arts, Indian Theatre Music
Faculty of Business Management and Commerce
University Business School, UIAMS
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
UIPS
Faculty of Education
Community Education and Disability Studies, Education
Faculty of Engineering and Technology
UIET , SSBUICET

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