Noida: AKTU planning new rules to fill vacant seats

The Dr Abdul Kalam Technical University administration is planning to introduce new rules for vacant seats after the counselling session

Ahead of admissions to undergraduate courses in affiliated institutes of Dr Abdul Kalam Technical University, the university administration is planning to introduce new norms for vacant seats after the counselling session.

The administration of Dr Abdul Kalam Technical University is planning to introduce new norms. (HT Photo)

In a meeting held between representatives of affiliated institutes and the university administration, a proposal was floated by AKTU with regard to filling up vacant seats of colleges post the counselling process.

“The university has suggested that from this year, the seats that remain vacant after the counselling process will be given only to such students who have appeared in Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) or any equivalent state level entrance that year itself,” said Aashish Mishra, spokesperson, AKTU.

A total of 841 institutes are affiliated to the AKTU and a total of 93 colleges in Ghaziabad and 75 in Gautam Budh Nagar are also affiliated to the varsity that has its main campus in Lucknow. For undergraduate admissions in courses such as mechanical engineering, computer science, management, fashion designing, pharmacy, architecture and medical science, the university conducts a national-level Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Examination (UPSEE). Every year, more than 1 lakh candidates from across the country appear for the entrance test. The entrance test is followed by a counselling process where students are allotted colleges according to their preference and marks.

This year, the university administration has decided to not allow ‘direct entry’ to students for vacant seats in colleges. Many believe that such a step has been suggested by the university administration since many private colleges used to ‘sell’ the vacant seats by allowing direct admissions. Direct admission also affected the quality of education in the affiliated institutes as students were given admission without any test or interview.

“In the meet, the representatives of affiliated colleges suggested that government-aided institutes affiliated to AKTU should conduct counselling process in several stages but private colleges must have only one phase of counselling. They further suggested that the vacant seats should have direct entry and the colleges must be given the liberty to choose their merit list in the counselling session,” Mishra said.

The university administration is expected to come up with a decision regarding counselling norms in the next academic meet to be organised in the last week of March.