To Discontinue M.Phil
The University of Hyderabad (UoH) will create a new School by conferring upon the existing Department of Communication the status of a School of Communication and Media Studies. It will discontinue the M.Phil. programme in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP).
These are among the important decisions made last night at the 88th Academic Council meeting of the University. The University approved the constitution of its 13th School of studies by recognizing the teaching and research laurels earned by the nationally top-ranked Communication department during the last over 30 years. The School will continue to offer two M.A. programmes in Media Studies and Media Practice, respectively, and a Ph.D. programme.
The Academic Council also approved the introduction of new programmes, including a new multi-disciplinary M.Tech in Modeling and Simulation to be offered by the Centre for Modeling, Simulation & Design; a Master of Performing Arts (MPA) programme in Music; the reintroduction of the 5-year Integrated MA in Urdu; and a Certificate course in Publishing to be offered, in collaboration with Cambridge University Press, by the Department of English that has recently returned to the top 300 global rankings; a Post-Graduate Diploma in Community Eye Health; and a Certificate course in Opthalmic Dispensing Optics.
The University has also accorded in-principle approval for joint Ph.D. programmes with top-ranking foreign universities, a provision made in the NEP. The University’s Office of International Affairs will work with the institution’s IoE Directorate to put in place modalities for admission, eligibility, and degree equivalence. This is expected to open up opportunities for Indian research scholars enrolled in the University to gain exposure and experience in leading international research laboratories and departments, while also permitting international students to work at departments and Schools of UoH. The Academic Council has also approved establishing working relationships with national laboratories so as to facilitate collaborative research, especially at the doctoral level.
The University will soon be establishing rigorous benchmarks, against the top 100 universities in the world, for assessing Faculty publications for all academic purposes, in line with the mandate given, along with the additional funding, as an Institution of Eminence.