Aliah University, the first university for minorities in the state, has been able to attract very few students in its second year. This despite the university starting a number of integrated courses.

These include integrated five-year courses in engineering, science, English, geography and economics. Besides, there is also a masters’ programme in geography and English.

Last year, 172 students got enrolled in four disciplines — MSc in computer science, MCA, MBA and MSc in media sciences run in collaboration with Techno India.

But this year, for 17 disciplines, the number of students enrolled is just 292 and this too when the university has ventured in engineering, science and social sciences as well.

According to university officials, lack of awareness among people regarding the new courses is the reason behind less number of students opting for the university. Only 600 students had appeared for the entrance tests this year. While in the engineering streams, about 20 students were admitted, 17 have been admitted in five-year integrated courses like mathematics, chemistry (12) and physics (15). While in five-year MSc (statistics) only five students were admitted, none had taken admission in MSc economics.

“Ours is a new university, students taking admission at Jadavpur University will not come here. There is also lack of awareness and infrastructure constraints which we will tide over in the coming years,” said Vice-Chancellor Syed Shamshul Alam.

Entrance examination for the next session will be held on May 9, 2010. The university has so far appointed 35 new faulty members and a hired a number of retired teachers on part-time basis.

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