UGC too expresses happiness over this achievement
Amritsar, January 4 – The University Grants Commission authorities expressed their happiness over achieving the status of University with Potential for Excellence (UPE) by the Guru Nanak Dev University.
This is the highest status awarded to a University by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and this University is the only university of Punjab to achieve this status, a University press release said.
Out of a total number of 31 universities including 3 universities from Punjab sent their proposals and the Standing Committee on UPE shortlisted 10 universities based on the eligibility criteria as prescribed in the XI Plan Guidelines. And the Commission approved the recommendations of the Standing Committee for the award of UPE status to Guru Nanak Dev University. From Punjab State, Panjab University, Chandigarh and Punjabi University, Patiala was amongst the competitors.
An official communication addressed to Prof. A.S. Brar, Vice-Chancellor of the University here today by the UGC states, "Your University could achieve the UPE status due to the hard work done by you, your predecessors, teaching staff, students and non-teaching staff in the past and at present.":
It further added "….with the award of UPE status to your University, which will entail grants upto Rs 50 crores under the scheme, the University shall be in a position to achieve greater heights on the areas chosen by you in the focused area and for holistic development".
Prof. (Dr.) A.S. Brar, Vice-Chancellor said that the focused area of research would be Materials Science, Sports Medicine, Creation of useful materials and devices with desirable applications is the essence of technology which plays a key role in betterment of human life. He said that another thrust area for research would be Environmental Management (in respect of Punjab) with emphasis on environmental monitoring and remediation and biodiversity assessment and conservation. The study would focus on improving the status of environment in the State.
Earlier, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in his last accreditation report while giving the Guru Nanak Dev University a re-accreditation with CGPA of 3.5 out of 4 point scale at ‘A’ grade had observed that the Department of Sports Medicine, Department of Human Genetics and Centre for Genetics Disorders have to their credit established International recognition and visibility and added that the University has extraordinary facilities and potential and cultural activities in sports. Responding to the observations and recommendations of the Peer Team of the NAAC, the University moved to become a University with Potential for Excellence, the press note added.
