Mysore/Mysuru: Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belagavi,  Vice-Chancellor Prof. S. Vidyashankar said that administrative reforms have been undertaken and more focus has been made on research in order to enhance the academic standards of the University.

He was speaking after inaugurating Kuvempu Multi-Media Centre, Physics and Chemistry Lab and Digital Marketing Laboratory at VTU Mysuru Regional Centre at Sathagalli here on Sunday.

Pointing out that the VTU has set up 4 research cluster centres for raising academic standards, Prof. Vidyashankar, who had earlier served as Vice-Chancellor of Mysuru-based KSOU,  said cluster centres in respect of Computer Science, Mechanical, Civil and Electronics branches of Engineering will soon be established at Mysuru, Bengaluru, Kalaburagi and Belagavi. These cluster centres will be provided Rs.25 lakh grant each, he added.

“A high-level Telecom Centre of Excellence will be started at VTU Bengaluru Regional Centre. This will be the first such centre in the country. If everything goes as per plans, the research clusters and Telecom Centre will be opened on June 24,” he said adding that VTU has plans to bring the Engineering Colleges under it to within 30th rank.

Continuing, Prof. Vidyashankar said that the VTU plans to introduce the IISc., model for M.Tech course, for which the Varsity is sourcing the curriculum from 10 International Universities and 10 IITs and NITs across the country.

Stating that the VTU is in talks with 40 top industrialists for helping fresh research students to establish start ups, he said that the VTU will do its best for promoting start ups.

“The University has set up a 10-member expert committee for enhancing research quality. The VTU has awarded Ph.D degrees to over 2,500 research students after I took over as the VC one- and-a-half-years ago,” he noted.

Mysore University Vice-Chancellor Prof. N.K. Lokanath, in his address, said that the VTU has been giving many facilities to technical students. The students must make best use of this opportunity to excel in academics, research and career, he added.

VTU Registrar B.E. Rangaswamy, Registrar (Evaluation) T.N. Srinivas, Finance Officer M.A. Sapna, VTY Mysuru Regional Director T.P. Renukamurthy and others were present.