The newly formed Sir JJ School of Art, Architecture and Design deemed university (under de-novo category) has landed in a peculiar situation in its first year. For lack of infrastructure and teaching faculty, the university’s undergraduate architecture course (BArch) is yet to get the Council of Architecture’s (CoA) recognition. To fulfil the council’s requirements, the institution has started the teachers’ recruitment process.
The CoA, after a recent inspection, pointed at glaring shortcomings in the architecture school and has held back the extension of affiliation. CoA member Vijay Garg, who visited the JJ campus for inspection in June, confirmed that the council's recognition for the BArch course is pending.
“They have been given a showcause notice. There are glaring deficiencies in terms of faculty and infrastructure. They have not hired staff for over a decade. There are no hostel facilities for students. There are not enough computers,” said Garg. These deficiencies, though, are part of Mumbai University’s programme. As far as the council is concerned, the de-novo university still does not exist on paper, he said.
“The new university has not applied to us for recognition of any of their courses, neither for BArch nor for their new Masters’ programmes. None of their new courses are recognised by us. The extension of affiliation application for BArch was also filed by MU. So, we hope MU fulfils all the conditions before the state elections. The council may have to reduce the intake capacity based on the available infrastructure and manpower,” said Garg.
Questions have been raised on the recruitment process being conducted by Mumbai University, including a few alumni and a former university official. As per government officials, while new admissions to BArch will be under the new university, students admitted to the course till last year are still under MU, therefore these appointments are being done by MU. “This appointment process was approved last year, and the advertisement was released now. Also, to get approval from CoA to run the course, the institute will have to give an undertaking to the council. If the de-novo university started the appointment process now, it would have taken more time affecting this year’s admissions.”
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