Kerala's two woman VCs to retire soon

Kochi: Two woman Vice-Chancellors of the state will complete their term this month, adding two more varsities to the list of the headless universities in the state. They are Cochin University of Science and Technology VC Dr J. Letha and NUALS Vice Chancellor Prof Rose Varghese. Already headless are Kerala Technological University, Kerala University, MG University and Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU).

Dr Letha will cease to be VC from October 17 while Prof Rose’s term ends on October 22. Both bid adieu to two versatile universities on a happy note being able raise their standards.

A faculty of law at Jamia Millia Islamia Central University, New Delhi, where she rose to the post of Dean of the Faculty, Prof Rose is set to return to where she belongs. She will retire from there in February. Dr Letha, the first woman to head Cusat and a former Director of Technical Education, is among the probable for the post of Vice-Chancellor of KTU.

During Dr Letha’s tenure Cusat got NAAC A grade, up from the previous B grade, due to the upgradation in facilities, appointment of faculty and academic and research scale-up.

The university registered five patents in the four years when she was at the helm while a unique Technology Business Incubator too was set up where students hatched 25 companies using the infrastructure and facilities the university provided.

 A number of twinning programmes with foreign universities were undertaken. The initiative called Sastrayan where the fruits of research were taken to people and students is among highlights. The university became the lone one in the state to receive KIIFB aid of '240 crore because of its impressive project report.

Prof Rose Varghese was able to raise the number of centres of learning in NUALS from seven to 16 during her tenure apart from establishing a robust infrastructure for the university. Now the university has accommodation facility for all girl students while a new hostel complex is readying which will make the university a fully residential one. A sports complex also is getting ready.

Before her arrival the university was not eligible to receive UGC funds which she altered.  She came at a time when 35 students had registered for PhD but none took and now a total of 10 have taken PhD. Academic interace with lawyers where even judges are invited was introduced. Students represented the country in moot courts in Washington, Jakarta, Frakfurt and Singapore.  A legal aid clinic too was set up.