SMVDU qualifies to become IIM, IIT: Prof Bansal

Jammu, Apr 23 (UNI) Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) has qualified to become IIT or IIM on the national pattern, Vice Chancellor Professor N K Bansal here today said.

Addressing a press conference this morning on the eve of the ensuing visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to deliver the first convocation address on April 25 at SMVDU, Prof. Bansal said, ''in an oblique reference to the announcement by the Centre that each State of the country would have a central university, IIT and IIM, the SMVDU possesses all the requisite ingredients to be declared as such.'' The University is already treading the path of becoming academically at par with IIT and in fact, we are moving a step further by launching a Medical College also by 2010-11,'' Prof Bansal said.

Giving details about the University, Prof Bansal said, ''SMVDU has four colleges, representing faculties of engineering, science, management and philosophy culture and languages and each college has several constituent schools (equivalent to departments) in specialised area within the college.'' ''The University has expanded its reach and signed MOU's with leading national and international institutions,'' he said asserting, ''the campus spreading over 400 acres has academic and administrative blocks, hostels, faculty and staff residences, covering an area of 6,30,000 ft.'' ''We are honoured to have with us Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to deliver the first convocation address and he will be awarding degrees to 101 scholars besides three gold medals, 2 of them bagged by our girl scholars,'' the Vice Chancellor said.

UNI VBH AE AS1815