The two central universities in the city,English and Foreign Languages University (Eflu) and University of Hyderabad (UoH),are in an expansion mode with new courses,hostels and better faculty for the next academic year,officials said.While the new academic year is expected to start in June-July this year,the administrative offices of these universities are already buzzing with activity,fixing tenders and releasing admissions and appointment notifications.

Eflus two schools have called for faculty appointments in six departments including the School of Distance Education,an official said.The university is also looking to add two new hostels with around 200 to 300 single rooms,they said.A married couples hostel for researchers is also in the pipeline,which is a rare good news for teachers.
The UoH,on the other hand,can expect a 5% rise in its student strength in the next academic year as new courses will be introduced.The university also plans to complete the process of faculty recruiting,which has been pending for long time,before the beginning of the next academic year,sources added.
The varsity has in fact introduced two new courses for the new academic year including Masters of Public Health (MPH) in collaboration with Indian Institute of Public Health and an Integrated Masters in Earth and Space Sciences,officials said.The varsity will also develop the department of mathematics and computer sciences into two distinct schools,one for mathematics and statistics and another for computers and information sciences,officials said.Once the schools are established,the faculty strength will increase by 50% and we are already planning to issue notifications, said an official from UoH administration.
Eflu will develop its off-state campuses in the next year.Land has already been acquired for the new campus in Malapuram,Kerala.There is much hope associated with this project and officials expect the buildings to be constructed soon, said Harish Vijra,proctor,Eflu.
According to university officials,the university has also introduced new short-term language courses for people who want to learn foreign languages for official purposes.These courses are designed keeping in view the requirements of working professionals.We are also thinking of increasing the frequency of these courses, said Vijra.
Both the varsities are looking at collaborative projects with foreign universities in the new academic year.Currently there are several faculty and student exchange programmes in the university and we are thinking of improving the foreign university collaboration so that more students could benefit from these programmes.The purpose is to allow meritorious students a chance to study abroad even while doing their research or MA programmes in Hyderabad, said a senior official of UoH.
Even while expanding its capacity,UoH has imposed some restrictions on scholarship schemes offered by it.Though till last academic year,all MA students used to get a scholarship of Rs 1,000 per month,starting this year,the varsity said they will offer the same only to the top meritorious and needy students.
Eflu,however,will continue with its scholarship schemes for M Phil and PhD students.

UoH has decided to introduce two new courses - Masters of Public Health (MPH) and Masters in Earth and Space Sciences from next academic year The varsity also plans to develop the Dept of Maths and CS into two distinct schools,one for mathematics and statistics and another for computers and information sciences Eflu will develop its off-state campus in the next academic year.It has already acquired land in Malapuram,Kerala for its new campus Both varsities plan to improve hostel facilities and recruit faculty this year