VC calls upon teachers to become inspirers

December 30, 2011

Mangalore, December 30: Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof T C Shivashankar Murthy called upon the teachers to become inspirers looking at whom the students will aspire to be good human beings and asset to society.

He was speaking after inaugurating a two-day seminar organised by Mangala Alumni Association (MAA) at University College, here on Thursday.

Upholding that teaching is a noble profession, he reminded that teachers should always be good at their work because if they fail to be so, then they will not command respect from their students and from the society.

The VC also said if the belief that India will become a $85.86 trillion economy in 2050 has to materialse, then India has to invariably scale upon its higher education.

Mangalore University Registrar Dr Chinnappa Gowda said that negative approach among teachers can be detrimental because teachers deal with young minds, shaping their thinking and thought process every second.

Commenting that most teachers bank on books in the college libraries for themselves to prepare notes, he said that it is imperative for every teacher to have library of their own so that they can be in the position to lend books to students and suggest books for advanced learning.

Lamenting over the existing scenario in the area of research, he said that it has become devoid of hard work.

He said that there is vacancy of 30 to 40 per cent in higher education. “Even if these vacancies are filled, there will be question left unanswered over the quality of hands recruited,” he said elaborating on the difficulty faced by Mangalore University in specific to even recruit good visiting faculty.

Honorary President of MAA Ananthakrishna said that the aim behind organising a training programme for teachers was to translate work experience into teaching skills.

Office-bearers of MAA Dinesh Kumar Alva, Dr AM Khan and others were present.

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Mangaluru’s KPT becomes India’s first autonomous govt polytechnic

News Network

January 23,2026

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Government Polytechnic (KPT), Mangaluru, has achieved autonomous status from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), becoming the first government polytechnic in the country to receive such recognition in its 78-year history. The status was granted by AICTE, New Delhi, and subsequently approved by the Karnataka Board of Technical Education in October last year.

Officials said the autonomy was conferred a few months ago. Until recently, AICTE extended autonomous status only to engineering colleges, excluding diploma institutions. However, with a renewed national focus on skill development, several government polytechnics across India have now been granted autonomy.

KPT, the second-largest polytechnic in Karnataka, was established in 1946 with four branches and has since expanded to offer eight diploma programmes, including computer science and polymer technology. The institution is spread across a 19-acre campus.

Ravindra M Keni, the first dean of the institution, told The Times of India that AICTE had proposed autonomous status for polytechnic institutions that are over 25 years old. “Many colleges applied. In the first round, 100 institutions were shortlisted, which was further narrowed down to 15 in the second round. We have already completed one semester after becoming an autonomous institution,” he said. He added that nearly 500 students are admitted annually across eight three-year diploma courses.

Explaining the factors that helped KPT secure autonomy, Keni said the institution has consistently recorded 100 per cent admissions and placements for its graduates. He also noted its strong performance in sports, with the college emerging champions for 12 consecutive years, along with active student participation in NCC and NSS activities.

Autonomous status allows KPT to design industry-oriented curricula, conduct examinations, prepare question papers, and manage academic documentation independently. The institution can also directly collaborate with industries and receive priority funding from AICTE or the Ministry of Education. While academic autonomy has been granted, financial control will continue to rest with the state government.

“There will be separate committees for examinations, question paper setting, boards of studies, and boards of examiners. The institution will now have the freedom to conduct admissions without government notifications and issue its own marks cards,” Keni said, adding that new academic initiatives would be planned after a year of functioning under the autonomous framework.

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