The AP Government has set the stage to begin admissions to Potti Sriramulu Telugu University and Dr. BR Ambedkar Open University from this year. The Higher Education Department has taken steps to appoint Muniratnam Naidu as special officers for Telugu University and Vijayabhaskar, Vice Chairman of the Higher Education Council, as special officers for Ambedkar University.
The staff working in the AP study centers of Ambedkar University have not received salaries for 10 months. Now steps are being taken to resolve this issue as well. Telugu University and Ambedkar Universal University, established in Hyderabad in the combined Andhra Pradesh, ceased their services in AP after completing 10 years on June 2 last year as per the AP Reorganization Act. In this order, a new Telugu University was established in Rajamahendravaram and a new Ambedkar Universal University was established in Eluru district.
For this, lands were inspected in two areas in Eluru district and a report was sent to the government. Ambedkar University will be established temporarily until the buildings are ready and admissions will be conducted. Potti Sriramulu Telugu University will expand its operations in Srisailam, Kuchipudi and Rajamahendravaram.
Due to the lack of admissions last year, there are currently only second-year students. University operations will start in modernized buildings in Rajamahendravaram. The university in Hyderabad currently has 22 departments and 40 courses. To start these here, 72 teaching and 115 non-teaching posts will be required. First, the courses in high demand will be started.
The initial budget to set up this university is Rs. 20 crore, and another Rs. 30 crore will be required for salaries and infrastructure. Ambedkar University, which is running in temporary buildings, is providing admissions to 16,000 students annually in diploma, degree and PG courses through 76 distance learning centers in Andhra Pradesh.
While the university gets an income of Rs. 21 crore in the form of fees through these centers, the government is spending Rs. 5.40 crore annually on staff salaries. Officials estimate that if a new university is set up in the state, it will cost more than Rs. 63.85 crore for teaching and non-teaching posts. It is estimated that 50 people will be required for teaching and 68 staff for non-teaching work.