The New Delhi-based IIMC is recognised as the topmost institute for media-related courses. Its only branch as yet is at Dhenkanal in Orissa.
Union information and broadcasting (I&B) minister Ambika Soni had announced plans to set up four new IIMCs in Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Vidarbha and Aizwal in Mizoram. The state government had invited NU and AU to stake claim for the same.
State education secretary Mahesh Pathak confirmed to TOI that they had forwarded AU`s proposal to I&B ministry for establishing IIMC as they were better prepared.
"Both universities were asked to present their cases. While AU authorities said land was available for the new institution, NU officials put some conditions for setting up the IIMC branch," he said.
He added that the new IIMC will, in all probability, start functioning from the next academic session in the AU campus. Later, it would shift to its new home as infrastructure comes up.
"IIMC would have world class facilities and would greatly help aspirants in the region," Pathak said.
AU VC Kamal Singh and the then NU VC SN Pathan attended the meet called by chief minister Ashok Chavan.
After getting a letter from the state education ministry, AU had approached Amravati collector for the land.
"He agreed to provide seven acres at Badnera. We then approached the government to consider Amravati for the IIMC since we don`t have a dedicated department for media-related courses," director of the board of college and university development (BCUD) of Amravati Sharad Tankhiwale said.
Former NU BCUD director and now officiating pro-VC Arvind Chaudhary refused to comment, saying he was not part of the team that presented NU`s proposal.
Soni had announced the new IIMC branches during the college`s 42nd convocation.
0 comments:
Post a Comment