AUTT graduates jobs at stake

TIRUCHY: The delay in issuing certificates by the Anna University of Technology, Tiruchy, has left thousands of students, who have joined software and core engineering companies, stranded.Students, who have joined producing their provisional certificates, have received notices from the companies to submit their degree certificates.Besides, those who have joined higher education abroad too face similar problems. About 30,000 students passed out of the AUTT and colleges affiliated to it, besides colleges within its jurisdiction. Following the division of the Anna University of Chennai, the Anna University of Technology-Triuchy (AUTT) was constituted on February 1, 2007.However, students who completed their course in May-2011 are yet to receive their degree certificates. With just a month-and-a-half left for the completion of the academic year, the principals of the affiliated colleges approached the AUTT and stressed on planning for the graduation day. But so far no action was initiated, complained the principals of affiliated engineering colleges. The principals further said, the graduation day should have been conducted in February, as necessary arrangements were completed by the educational institutions long ago.On the other hand, the government is taking measures to merge all the Anna Universities of Technology.Considering the welfare of the students, AUT Coimbatore and Tirunelveli, have organised graduation day and have also issued degree certificates to its students. However, the AUTT alone is so stubborn in organising the graduation day in consensus with the Anna University, Chennai, said the principals. Though the colleges issued the students with temporary certificates, the provisional certificates which are valid only for six months. Students who toiled themselves to get a job and those students who have flown abroad for higher education, were not able to continue in their jobs and education respectively, as they submitted only the provisional certificates. A few software companies have also sent caution notice to those students who have not taken up the offer.Speaking to media persons in a recent function that was held on the Bharathidasan University-Khajamalai campus, TS Sridhar, additional chief secretary, higher education department, promised to look into the issue and resolve the same at the earliest. Though a month had been passed, no action was taken by the Higher Education department. When Express tried contact Dr P Devadas Manoharan, vice-chancellor, AUTT, his Personal Assistant said the vice-chancellor was out of station and that one could contact him only through his office number. He also asked why the media persons were always targeting Devadas and asked to contact Registrar Dr J Raja.