Anna University plans to merge constituent colleges with poor enrolment rate

University data for the past four years show that not a single college out of the 16 (13 constituent colleges and three regional campuses) managed to fill 100 per cent of their seats. 

Anna University is planning to merge many of its colleges as seven of its 13 constituent colleges could not fill even 50 per cent of their seats during engineering counselling this year, The Hindu reported. The university has 13 constituent colleges, also known as University College of Engineering (UCE), in interior TN and has three regional campus colleges in Madurai, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli. 

Though the constituent colleges have not been performing well for several years now due to poor infrastructure and faculty shortage, this year’s enrolment has been abysmal. As such, the university has chalked out a plan to merge constituent colleges with poor enrolment rates, sources said. 

University data for the past four years show that not a single college out of the 16 (13 constituent colleges and three regional campuses) managed to fill 100 per cent of their seats. Only the regional campus college in Coimbatore and UCE in Kancheepuram managed to fill 90 per cent of their seats. Regional campus in Madurai filled 84 per cent, followed by UCE in Tiruchy, which filled 83 per cent. UCE in Tindivanam filled only 55 per cent while UCE in Arni filled just 52 per cent. 

Similarly, UCE in Panruti filled only 740 of its 1,620 seats while UCE in Dindigul filled only 624 seats. UCE in Thoothukudi filled only 615 of its 1,560 seats while UCE in Pudukottai filled only 602 of its 1,620 seats and UCE in Ariyalur only 428. 

UCE in Thirukkuvalai, Ramanathapuram worst-performing colleges 

Thirukkuvalai and Ramanathapuram are the worst performers as they managed to fill only 26 per cent and 22 per cent of their seats, respectively. Vice-Chancellor R Velraj said he would soon submit a proposal to the higher education department. “Merger of constituent colleges is a solution but only after discussions with the higher education officials can I get a clarity as to how we can proceed,” said Velraj. 

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