KTU Budget gives thrust to campus industrial park, bolstering edutainment sector and introducing social labs
The Hindu
KTU plans to establish AVGC-XR ecosystem, industrial research park, social labs, career portal, and enhance education quality.
APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) has set its sights on setting up an Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) ecosystem in line with a State government policy approved a few months ago. The plan finds place in the university’s annual Budget for 2024-25 presented on Thursday.
The Board of Governors of the university approved the ₹144-crore deficit Budget, presented by Syndicate member and chairperson of the finance committee P.K. Biju, which anticipates a revenue of ₹234 crore and an expenditure of ₹378 crore. The meeting was chaired by Vice-Chancellor in-charge Saji Gopinath.
The Budget allocated ₹10 crore for a Campus Industrial Research Park project that aligns with the government initiative aimed at cultivating entrepreneurial interest among engineering students.
The university plans to establish at least five ventures in partnership with the industry and thereby enhance academic-industry linkage, foster entrepreneurial spirit among students, and generate more employment opportunities through skill development.
The university has earmarked ₹1.4 crore to establish a Chair in line with the four new postgraduate departments being launched this year. The Chair will engage in a range of academic activities, including academic lectures, research, public lectures, seminars, symposiums, and community engagement.
As part of the measures to strengthen the edutainment sector, the KTU will provide thrust on developing state-of-the-art infrastructure and laboratories, and supporting innovation, research and skill training programmes in AVGC-XR with an outlay of ₹1.25 crore.
An international science trade exhibition centre will be established at Vilappilsala, near here. An initial instalment of ₹50 lakh has been allocated for the purpose.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has sought a report from the State government on a complaint that the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) had taken up works amounting to ₹387 crore in violation of rules in Varuna and Srirangapatna Assembly constituencies, allegedly on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s oral instructions.
“We are organising a health research convention, which comprises a couple of workshops, community-based learning, and also cardiac care. We also included a one-day seminar on medical education, how medical education has evolved in India and the U.K., and what we can learn from each other” said Dr. Piruthivi Sukumar Dean of the International Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Leeds during his interaction with The Hindu.