Andhra University to set up a PCTL, offer MBA programme of IIM standards

Hyderabad: Two unique initiatives of Andhra University (AU) is all set to add up another feather in the cap of Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. According to university sources, the university is going to be the first in south India to establish a pharmaceutical and chemical testing laboratory (PCL).

Speaking to The Hans India, AU Vice-Chancellor Prof G Nageswara Rao said, "The new PCL main objective was to act as a centre to certify the standards of the products from the Pharmaceutical and Chemical industries." A university setting up such a laboratory to extend dedicated services to the industry is first of its kind in the southern states, he added.

As per the plan of action decided the university will be developed a 30,000 square feet of building exclusively meant for the PCL. Further, the centre would function as an independent centre. But, the existence of such a centre at the university to test the quality standards of the industrial products will be a key addition to the good name earned by the pharmaceutical and chemical departments of the university. It will further improve the infrastructure and capacity building of the university.

A committee appointed will be going through the deployment of the instruments, machinery and other materials. It is expected to submit the report within a week or ten days. Once the report is submitted then the process of construction of the buildings and sourcing of other requirements will be executed.

That apart, the university is all set to follow suit an Indian Institute of Management (IMM) style of offering a programme from the academic year 2019-20. As per the decision was taken by the university it will be introducing a new Global MBA programme, for which notification would be issued soon. However, the programme will not be part of the existing Department of Commerce and Management (DCM).

The Global MBA would be offered by a separate department similar to the standards being followed by the IIMs in the country. For this, action plans have been prepared to develop suitable infrastructure.

"Currently, we have identified a building near AU Out Gate and it would be renovated to establish classrooms and office space to start the programme in the academic year 2019-20. And, the fullfledged infrastructure of the programme will be developed," the VC said.

Notification for the programme is expected to be given soon and the admissions will be based on the Common Admission Test (CAT) scores and 50 per cent of the seats will be open for the students from across the country. The remaining 50 per cent seats will be filled with students with CAT score from Andhra Pradesh, he said.