SPPU senate to discuss budget and academic issues

Pune's Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) will hold its annual senate meeting on Saturday. The meeting will focus on the fiscal budget and various academic issues. Some of the key topics include mistakes in marksheets, delays in transcripts, and the need for a central kitchen for the university canteen. Last year, the university approved a budget of Rs 627 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal year. A major concern raised by senate members is the lack of guidance for PhD students. When both the chief and assistant guides retire, students are left without any support. One suggestion is to appoint mentors from other research centers to assist these students. Senate member Karishma Pardeshi highlighted challenges in the PhD admission process. She noted that teachers struggle to announce available seats due to complex rules and the division of subjects. To improve the situation, she called for more flexibility in the allocation of vacant seats based on teacher preferences and reservation categories. Another senator, Sunil Lokhande, recommended creating a clear timeline for approving proposals related to research centers. This could streamline processes for research guidance and teacher recognition. Additionally, Neeta Mohite emphasized the importance of timely exam results. She pointed out that delays in issuing marksheets can harm students' futures. Mohite suggested that the university needs to improve its examination department to prevent these issues.