July 22, 2011:
Here is some good news for students who want to do post-graduation in (GIS-RS) or Atmospheric Sciences. Vikrama Simhapuri University, which was offering about nine courses, proposes to start M.Sc. (Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing) with the support of Indian Space Research Organisation.
The university management has already sent proposals to ISRO for starting M.Sc. (Atmospheric Sciences) and the institution officials are waiting for response from the scientists. Once the university shifts into its own capacity, VSU plans to launch more courses which have good employment opportunities, say the university officials.
Though the new university is having potential and scope for entering the domain of partnerships with Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Krishnapatnam Port Company Limited (KPCL) and other major industries, the management has slowed down due to lack of permanent buildings and own campus. Department of Science and Technology (DST) Secretary Dr. T. Ramasami who visited VSU recently inaugurated M.Sc. (micro-biology). The institution will take 30 students into the new course from this academic year.
VSU Vice-Chancellor C.R. Visweswara Rao said the university has submitted proposals requesting ISRO to set up an Automated Weather Station which is very much crucial in the region in view of the newly coming thermal power plants, port and other major industries coming up in Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district.
The university has plans to start M.Sc. (bio-informatics) and M.Sc. (Material Sciences) in the coming years. Registrar V. Narayana Reddy said the courses were designed to meet the requirements in the industries coming up in Nellore district. The State government has allotted nearly 82 acres of land at Kakuturu village in Venkatachalam mandal and Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy will lay foundation stone for construction of academic building, administrative block and a women's hostel, estimated at a cost of Rs. 12.5 crore.