MSU to review decision on 400% PhD fee hike

VADODARA: MS University's syndicate members on Monday decided to review the fee hike imposed by on PhD students. A six member committee was formed by the syndicate members to review the fee structure.
The syndicate's earlier decision of imposing 400% fee hike has met resistance from research scholars of all faculties who have opposed university's decision.The scholars, through a silent rally, had also taken to streets demanding immediate rollback of the fee hike which they said was unjustified as the university does not provide any special facilities to them.
The six member committee includes professor Uma Iyer, syndicate members Jigar Inamdar, Dr Ashok Mehta, Hemal Mehta, professor Arun Pratap and dean of Faculty of Science professor A C Sharma.
"We have decided that those PhD students whose family income is less than Rs 2.25 lakh per annum will get benefit of the poor students welfare fund (like regular students) and their fees will be completely waived off," said Inamdar. "Also, the committee will review the fee hike and rationalize it wherever necessary. If there aren't facilities, new facilities will be created," he said, adding that the committee will meet research scholars of all faculties before submitting its recommendations to the syndicate members.
The syndicate embers also cleared the proposal of setting up a new institute - the Institute of Leadership and Governance. Inamdar, who has been appointed as honorary director of this proposed institute, will submit a detailed proposal in the next syndicate meeting.
A proposal by MSU's pro vice-chancellor professor Parimal Vyas to webcast all the annual convocation ceremonies on MSU website has received nod from the members . The 64th annual convocation ceremony is scheduled on January 29.
A contentious proposal to appoint temporary programme officers at IQAC, registrar's office, H M Library, exam section and communication cell has also been cleared.