Visvesvaraya College of Engineering is not shifting anywhere

Rana SIddiqui Zaman | NT

Bengaluru: Ever since the Karnataka government declared that it is planning to shift the heritage University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) from K.R. Circle campus to Jnanabharathi campus of Bangalore University, there have been intense reactions from both the alumni, vice chancellors, and those who hail the university for its nostalgic, academic value as well as low fee, proper hostel facilities and it being at the heart of Bengaluru.

For the uninitiated, UVCE was established in 1917 by Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya. It has been affiliated to Bangalore University since 1964.

The state Government had declared UVCE an autonomous university in 2021 with the aim of developing it on the model of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). It also brought a separate UVCE Act 2021 in this connection.

Though then Karnataka CM Bommai had publically assured that the UVCE will be free from outward interventions and that it would be granted a complete autonomy, the alumni didn’t seem satisfied.

Though a few reason it out saying there is not enough space in the K. R campus to establish the university as well as accommodate the academic departments at different locations.

A few expressed concern over students hopping to different departments from hostels and vice-versa, which is time consuming saying it affects the quality and performance of the students but ex-students and academia do not seem to be in a mood to accept these reasons.

Interestingly, the opposition to the shifting of the campus is largely on nostalgic grounds, its age-old make, historical significance, its architecture, its greenery, ecology and proximity to public transport system/ metro.

There is a public outcry on the internet on the subject. An alumnus protests in a public post: “Its greatest advantage is its proximity to different government establishments and public transits.”

Another voices the allegations that “This is a way to eat up new funds.” Now, a new development has taken place.

NT spoke exclusively with some important figures at UVCE and the ministry and there seems to be a complete U-turn from the news about shifting the campus.

Instead, it is claimed that a talk on shifting never took place. It was just about making new departments in new spaces.

A professor from UVCE said on condition of anonymity, “All this shifting news is propaganda of BJP-RSS led people to bring a bad name to the Congress Party and the government. He names Mr. Venugopal as the carrier of such news and adds, “The heritage campus cannot be shifted. However, three new departments viz, Civil, Architecture and Space Technology would be structured at a new place which is just one kilometre away.”

A quick telephonic interview with Mr. Venugopal, an ex-student and former Vice Chancellor of the UVCE, reveals another dimension. He says, “I have studied from UVCE. I joined the campus when I was 18 and now I am 68. I love the campus. The campus will remain. However, we should realise that now in the new age, physical ground doesn’t matter. There would be new departments but they would be virtual. Across the globe now there are virtual campuses and people are working from across a thousand miles together without any hindrance. This should be supported, not opposed. However, all this may take 10 years to come up. Where is the land, where is the money, where is the concept?”

However, he also adds in the same sentence that “money can be generated. It is not a problem.”

He also argues that multiple colleges have more than one campus such as IIT Delhi and IIM, so multiple campuses should not be taken as an issue.

Meanwhile, in an interesting development today, The World Bank team came visiting UVCE today noon (Tuesday 19 September) for awarding MERITE (Multi-Disciplinary Education Research in Technical Education) the presentation of which was given by Mr. H N Ramesh, Principal UVCE.

The dean and chairpersons of all the departments were invited for the meeting. Said a representative from the campus seeking anonymity, “They were impressed with the presentation and UVCE is listed as number one college for awarding MERITE in the state of Karnataka and with the legacy of the alumnus, CBCS Scheme interdisciplinary approach in the form of electives consultancy and the placements, apart from the UVCE’s humane approach towards rural and economically backward students. For us, it is a matter of pride.”

So, for now, all the news about shifting the heritage campus is being put to rest.