CHENNAI: In a brave move, a two-member syndicate committee constituted by the University of Madras has recommended the suspension of the existing proposals worth of Rs 25 crore under University with Potential for Excellence scheme (UPE) phase II. The committee has also resolved that the entire budget of Rs 25 crore under UPE phase II scheme be reviewed and funding re-allotted to the projects selected by the committee based on the transparent methods.
The extract of the two-member committee meeting minutes were included in the agenda of the university’s syndicate meeting scheduled on Friday. The syndicate will take a final decision on the committee’s recommendations, sources added. The two-member committee consists of syndicate members R. Thilagaraj and T.R. Gopalakrishnan. Earlier, the syndicate members and professors had raised some serious doubts over the allocation of funds under the UPE phase 2 scheme. Then a two member special committee was formed to enquire into the issue. The two-member committee, which consisted of R. Thilagaraj and T.R. Gopalakrishnan scrutinised all existing proposals under the scheme.
“Our basic concern is when we do not have enough funds for existing departments why should we start new centres?” asked one of the members of the committee. He also said many proposals had basic issues like lacking justification for the funds they sought and some proposals were reconsidered after they were rejected by the expert panels. The committee in its recommendations also suggested following explicit and transparent criteria for selection of the project under this scheme.
It has suggested that the circulars should be sent to individual faculty members well in advance, inviting proposal under UPE phase II and preference to be given to proposals from centres and departments who have not received funding from UPE phase I. Further it recommended to give preference to innovative proposals that reflects excellence and it should not replicate existing research activities.
“The committee has suggested freshly to call for new UPE proposals. It is up to the syndicate, whether accepting it or not. The syndicate after the discussion may accept it in total or reject it in total or partially accept it,” said P. David Jawahar, registrar, University of Madras. “The UPE funds are limited. We have to rationalise and give it based on justification. So, the two-member committee has brought down the allocation for some proposals,” he said.
