BENGALURU: Akkamahadevi Women's University in Vijayapura is likely to lose its distinction of being the state’s only women’s university soon as the state government is planning on opening this 18-year-old instituion to men too and also restrict its jurisdiction only to Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts.
A proposal in this regard is under consideration and a final decision is likely soon, a senior official said. The move is also for administrative convenience, the official added.
Currently, the university has 140 constituent women colleges spread across 13 districts in North Karnataka, including Chitradurga. "A staffer from a women’s college in Hubballi will have to travel all the way to Vijayapura for official work. If the college becomes co-educational, then they can be affiliated to nearby universities. A vast jurisdiction also poses other challenges like conducting exams. This is why we are mulling this proposal," said an MLC who is in the know of the development.
However, educationists say it is part of the government’s long term plan to have a multidisciplinary university in every district as prescribed in the National Education Policy. Other universities like the folklore university near Haveri and music university in Mysuru are also likely to be restructured, a source said.
The plan to open the varsity to men has not gone down well with its staff. “It was established after decades of struggle. Barring four to five departments, the other 32 have full student strength. The varsity has the highest number of women PhD students. Such being the case, restructuring is uncalled for,” said a lecturer who did not want to be named. BK Tulasimala, vice-chancellor of Akkamahadevi university, said she was not aware of the government's plan to go co-educational. “We have not heard anything about it from the government so far,” she said.
