Another three years for Prof. Jaspal Singh Sandhu as Vice Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University

GNDU fraternity in jubilant mood

5 Dariya News

Amritsar 03-Jun-2020

V.P. Singh Badnore, the Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University and Governor of Punjab has extended the term of Prof. Jaspal Singh Sandhu as Vice Chancellor of Guru Nanak  Dev University for another three years vide notification no. 5/9/17-GNDU-2G-PRB/2099 dated 03-06-2020, here today. The augmentation in the services of Prof. Sandhu was due  to his dedicated commitments in the field of higher education. It is pertinent to mention that since his joining as Vice Chancellor on August 16, 2017, the University excelled not  only in research, sports, international and national ranking but also took major initiatives including signing of MoUs at national and international levels, students centric activities,  starting of new departments and courses, placement achievements and to start Incubation Centre and Department of Computational Statistics and Data Analytics with the vision to  meet the global challenges. University at the very onset of the lockdown due to Covid pandemic adopted the method of online teaching, viva-voce examinations of Ph. D. thesis,  projects & seminars so as to ensure that the curricular interactions with students are not hampered. The faculty, scholars and students were engaged in webinars where a series  of such events were coordinated during the lockdown period. e-office is being introduced in the university for movement of files using paperless filing system.  University also  developed low cost sanitizer and one of its departments is stitching masks to be distributed to the needy on no-profit basis.  Prof. Sandhu was in constant touch with the heads of  all the teaching departments through WhatsApp and zoom meetings. The university plans to ensure that the teaching activity continues according to the academic calendar in the  interest of the students. These are some of the initiatives being taken by him during this pandemic which were appreciated by all. The Senators and Syndics of the University,  Ministers, District Administration, University fraternity, prominent personalities and local dignitaries congratulated Prof. Sandhu for his achievements during the last three years.  Prof. Sandhu thanked all his well wishers. He gratefully thanked the Chancellor & Governor of Punjab and Capt. Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister Punjab who have shown faith in  him. He assured to do his best for further development of the University under their guidance.

During the tenure of Prof. Sandhu, the University ranking improved not only at national but at international level also. In the interim, University Grants Commission has granted  “Category One” status to Guru Nanak Dev University, the only university to get this elite status in the region of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. This will give more  academic autonomy to the university. This is a premier university of North India with a score of 3.51 on 4.00 scale of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (accredited at  highest level i.e. A++ as per the new modified criteria) and it has also been conferred with the status of “University with Potential for Excellence” by UGC. Due to his best efforts,  the Government of India allotted 4 Centres of Excellence in Sports to GNDU (Athletics, Fencing, Cycling & Swimming) and sanctioned Rs 17 Crores for the same. GNDU has been  awarded the prestigious Maulana Abul Kalam Azad trophy for overall excellence in sports for record 23 times. In Youth Festivals - during year 2019-20 GNDU was Overall 1st  runners up for North Zone Inter-University Youth Festival and GNDU won the Music Trophy in Inter-University National Youth Festival.With his personal interest in environment,  the University campus stands at number one position declared as the most ‘Swachh Campus’ out of the multispecialty public universities having big campuses.  Overall it has  been ranked 2nd in the country amongst all government universities big and small campuses put together by Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India under  Swachh Campus Ranking-2019. GNDU won the same award for the year 2018 also.University is continuously improving its NIRF ranking for consecutive last three year by  securing 55th positions in NIRF ranking in 2019. The H- Index of the University has jumped from 63 in 2017 to 103 in 2020. The WEEK- Hansa Research Best University survey  2019 has placed Guru Nanak Dev University at 7th rank in North Zone Multi-Disciplinary Universities and at 14th rank in All India Multi-Disciplinary Universities.  GNDU is Ranked  17th in India, announced by India Today (MDRA) survey 2019. Placed among top 9% Universities of the world by Centre for World University Ranking (CWUR). Admission of  Students in the campus Increased upto 29% in last two year i.e. during 2017 to 2019.

The various departments of the University received huge amount as grants from various funding agencies due to earnest efforts of Prof. Sandhu. The grants received under  various projects including Centre for Interfaith Studies, RUSA-II, MYAS-GNDU Centre for Sports Sciences, Khelo India, Botanical Garden, Women Hostel, FDC, Baba Sahib Bhim  Rao Amedkar Chair, School of Education, PURSE Scheme, Hostel's Cleanliness and for others.University has installed a Rooftop Solar Energy Plant of 3 Mega Watt capacity  under Government of India’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM). The University is zero waste discharge institution. It has in house waste water treatment plant  (ETP), Rooftop water harvesting & underground water charging units. GNDU is now a Vehicle Free University. With this, entry of four wheelers has been banned in the campus.  Two parking lots have been constructed at both entry gates for the convenience of students at very nominal parking rates, Golf carts / e-rickshaws/ bicycles are being provided at  very reasonable charges from both parking lots to all departments. Encouraging students to plant at least one plant and nurture it for 6 months on the advice of consultant  (horticulture) and Head, Botanical Sciences. A group of volunteer students is continuously working for the same. Every year GNDU celebrates Spring Festival of Flowers and  Plants.To Promote Research, the University established the Directorate of Open and Distance Learning on its campus from the current academic session. Establishment of Centre  for Data Analytics and Research (CDAR) to provide necessary support to the researchers and academicians to enable them to submit the proposal to Federal Funding Agencies  and for sending research papers to high impact journals. To give suggestions for the improvement of the functioning of the University the “Innovation and Development Board”  has been constituted. GNDU constituent colleges are now eligible to enroll PhD students.Increased the Internet Bandwidth Scheme of GNDU Campus from 10 MbPS to 1GbPS  which will ensure fast and high quality internet connectivity for the students of GNDU. GNDU has taken various digital initiatives by introducing new E-portals to provide better  services like: Centralized Stock Register, Online purchase System, Employee/Student Portal, IT related Services, etc.  Publishing a regular e-Magazine “Pixels” on University  Website. Mobile network boosters have been installed in the Campus to ensure uninterrupted mobile signals. An SMS system has been introduced to keep parents of the campus  students updated about their Attendance. GNDU has made its appearance on Social Media Like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and are being constantly monitored and  updated. “Centre for IT Solutions” is providing IT solutions to General Public also on payment basis. New Punjabi version of Guru Nanak Dev University official website launched.

Students Centric Activities increased during the presence of Prof. Sandhu. More International Students are joining GNDU since last session under “Study in India” programme. An  Amphi Theatre named 'Golden Expressions' has been constructed at the prime location near fountain, to provide a platform to all the students to express themselves.  Establishment of six open Gyms with a cost of 30 Lakh and Golden Jubilee Fitness Centre for the fitness of students as well as staff members.  Appointment of Psychology  Consultant for providing Psychological counseling to students as mandated by the University Grants Commission. Tele-Psychological Counseling is being provided to students  during Covid Pandemic. Following Student-Run-clubs have been constituted in the university to promote students’ social and cultural activities : Dance Club, Drama Club,  Photography Club, Food & Fitness club, Nature and wildlife club, Literary club, Social Service club, Music club, Science club, Movie Making club, Fine Arts club and Go Green  club. Establishment of Movie Club for the entertainment of students at a nominal amount. Celebrating 550th Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, an International Interfaith  Confluence on the theme “IK-NOOR” was organized on 9th November in which HH Dalai Lama, Swami Shuddhidananda, Maulana Syed Athar Hussain Dehlavi, Giani Joginder  Singh Vedanti, Revd. Bishop Samantaroy & Gaini Tanveer Ahmad Khadim participated. With a reverent intention to acquaint the younger generation with their cultural roots,  GNDU has published a magnificent coffee table book, Amritsar and Guru Nanak Dev University: The Contours of Inheritance.Vice Chancellor established Deptt. of Agriculture,  Deptt. of  Mass Communication and Deptt. of Tourism & Hospitality to widen the spheres of higher education in the University. For this academic session the new departments of  Computational Statistics & Data Analytics and Incubation Centre will be functional from this academic session. The placement Department of the University receives warm  response from leading MNCs and others.