VISAKHAPATNAM: The GITAM University has designed a new scheme, Research Start Grant for Young Faculty with a grant of Rs. 50 lakh. “The scheme supports the young faculty to develop independent careers and make the transition from working under a supervisor to being an independent researcher in their own right. This is an innovative step in the history of higher education in India”, Vice-Chancellor G. Subramanyam said after the university's Board of Management meeting on Monday.

The university has decided to allocate another Rs.15 lakh towards incentives for faculty members who get patent rights. University's existing laboratories are being upgraded to make them more suitable for undertaking research and development activities.

Top priority

Prof. Subramanyam said that the university was giving top priority to research and consultancy in addition to teaching. GITAM University was making sincere efforts to augment funds for research and supplement facilities by approaching various Central funding agencies. It is establishing a Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management and Nano-Technology Laboratories to develop new technologies.

Special funds

Major allocations in the university's budget for 2010-11 are in the areas of research, student merit scholarships and to strengthen libraries. The V-C said that allocating special funds for students' safety insurance policy was also an innovative step and helpful to the student community.

GITAM University, placed among the top five deemed universities in the country by a committee of Union Ministry of HRD in its recent report, would seen reach top position through its active research programmes, Prof. Subramanyam hoped.

University Grants Commission nominee S.P. Tyagarajan while appreciating the university authorities for their programmes, said that research activities would play a key role in higher education. Pro Vice-Chancellor D. Harinarayana, Registrar M. Potha Raju and board members participated in this meeting.