Building Universities- Experiences of A Vice-Chancellor

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Foreword Professor Sheik All, who is wearing his ninety summers wothundimmed cheerfulness has the singular distinction of building two Universities, namely, Mangalore University and Goa University. He was requested by the respective governments to commence these Universities as the venerable professor possessed the required capacity to lay firm intellectual foundation by recruiting right people for both teaching and non-teaching domains. The Professor not only acquired himself Weill in both the assignments but he also placed talented people in charge of faculties. Thanks so his scholarship and long-term vision that enabled him to serve the cause of academia with equanimity and devotion.

The present work. Building Universities (Experiences of a Vice-Chancellor), reflects the risks involved in building universities and also the rewards one is sure to reap for doing a good job. Prof. Sheik Ali traces the saga of his fear in seven petite chapters including Introduction and Conclusion. The learned teacher is a believer in the truth that the wealth of a nation is determined by the superior minds that a nation possesses and also in the dictum on that the destiny of a nation is shaped in the class room.

Preface Universities are centres of higher learning which shape the future of our youth, hold the key for the welfare of man, act as the conscience of the community, and advance the culture of a land. The main function of a university is to generate, conserve, promote, diffuse and examine knowledge. It is said education is the controlling grace of the youth, the consolation of the old, the moment of the rich, and the wealth of the poor. This narrative is an experience of an individual who was somewhat involved deeply in the university system for quite long, first as a teacher, and then as a Vice-Chancellor to build two new Universities. What he has done here in this work is first to trace the history of the higher education in India, secondly to present the concept of university system, thirdly to sketch a picture of the functioning of a university system, fourthly to express his own experiences in building two new Universities, one in Mangalore and the other in Goa. Lastly he has come out with his own ideas as to what an ideal University ought to be.

First, a country of India's size, history, culture and diversity had a fascinating record of higher education, with its own universities of Taxila and Nalanda in the past which attracted students from foreign lands. A particular community specialized in higher thought and produced men of eminence in several sectors of life. The Pathasalas and the Maktabs existed in the country until the advent of the British who laid the foundation of modern system of education on the pattern of London University. Even the British made several experiments under Warren Hastings, Wilberforce, Charles Grant and Macaulay, until Charles Wood's Dispatch in 1854 which became the Magna Carta of higher education in India.

Secondly, Universities are conceived not only to generate and diffuse knowledge, but also to promote scientific and rational temper, develop work-ethics, enrich languages, foster basic human values, and train people in the art of living together in amity and concord. It is rightly said, "Universities are the organs of civilization, the intellectual pioneers of culture, and the sanctuaries of the inner life of a nation". Their main job is not only to cultivate the arts, broaden the humanities and imbibe the skills, but also to act as agents of a great social change in the promotion of attitudes and values, in the enhancement knowledge and culture, in the quest of new humanism and peace and in the integration of ethics and technology. They are t instruments that help man become master of the universe. They are the power houses that enable man to move from the orbit this earth to reach the moon and scan the sky. No wand Universities have given man such knowledge, skill and wisdom to rival God's creativity.

Thirdly, the functions of a University are very complex any institution is organized energy, universities too have to with numerous agencies such as teachers, students, parents, put and the government. The teaching community forms the key f in the system. They are the persons to generate and tran knowledge.

Introduction Having built two Universities in the country, one would agree with what Lord Ashby has said about the job of a Vice-Chancellor. "The Vice-Chancellor is at the centre of a web of conflicting interest groups. None of which could be fully satisfied. He is by definition almost always wrong. If he spends much time with students, he is neglecting the faculty. If he spends much time with the faculty, he is being dictated to by them. If he is away from the campus, he should be back minding the store. If he is on the campus, he should be out obtaining money and posts. If he pushes his pet educational thought, he is trying to run the show. If he does not, he is not interested enough in education. If he changes his mind on an issue, he is wishy washy. If he does not, he is pig headed. If his name is not in the paper, he is letting the University down. If it is, he is publicity hound. If he smiles a lot, he is naïve on the problems of the University. If he frowns, he has given up too soon."

Notwithstanding the validity of these statements, his is a great job, for he is in charge of a University which standing at the summit of higher learning, holds the key for the welfare of man.

**Contents and Sample Pages**