Chancellor Vijay Bhatkar said his mantra of success is to work in consultation with teachers and students
The newly appointed Chancellor Vijay Bhatkar of Nalanda University (NU) says construction of a permanent campus and commencement of research programmes are immediate priorities of the University.
Talking exclusively to DNA, Bhatkar, who laid the foundation stone for commencement of the construction work of the phase I of the University building on Wednesday, said, "It has already been quite delayed due to various reasons. I have asked the construction companies to expedite their efforts now," he said.
The Rs 2,727 crore project, which is coming up in a sprawling 455-acre around 10 kilometres from the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara, was originally scheduled to be complete by December 2015. However, the work for phase I construction of academic, administrative and all non-residential blocks of NU was awarded to Hyderabad based M/s NCC Limited in January this year.
"The new University is being developed on the designs of the ancient Mahavihara. It will also be world's largest net-zero campus that shall be self-reliant as far as demand of energy, water and other natural resources is concerned," Bhatkar said.
The Chancellor also held open interactions with the students, teachers and non-teaching staff of the University. "They have told me about the problems they face and their expectations from NU. They have requested for research programmes here and we will look into it at the earliest," he said, adding, "I must say, the pupils as well as the mentors are on par with any top national institution."
The newly appointed Chancellor has lot to prove to live up to the expectations. As in February 2015, then Chancellor Amartya Sen had resigned citing lack of cooperation from the NDA government. Sen had a nine-year-long association with the Nalanda University, first as a Chancellor and later as a member of the governing board. After Sen, former Singapore minister George Yeo took the reins of the University but resigned in November 2016 due to 'lack of autonomy'.
Bhatkar who is the third chancellor said, "In the academic world, other continents have dominated in the last two decades. But, the time for Asia has arrives now. We, at Nalanda will be a part of it."
Bhatkar visited the ruins of the ancient Nalanda and said it was a great and enriching experience for him. He also called Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday evening and discussed about the progress of the Varsity.
NU, which commenced its operations with about 11 faculty members and 15 students from a rented government building in September 2014, presently has 25 faculty members and 130 students.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "COMMENCEMENT_OF_CONSTRUCTION_CEREMONY")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}