'Anna University's name shouldn't change after getting Institute of Eminence status'

CHENNAI: The name Anna University should not change after getting the Institute of Eminence (IoE) status, vice-chancellor of the university M K Surappa said on Saturday.
The higher education department has proposed to change the university's name to Anna Institute of Eminence after getting the IoE status. As per the proposal, Anna University and its four campuses will be separated from the rest of university and it will be known as Anna Institute of Eminence.The new technical university with affiliating powers will be known as Anna University.
"The application for IoE status was submitted in the name of Anna University, which originally formed with four institutes, College of Engineering, Guindy (CEG), Madras Institute of Technology (MIT), Chromepet, Alagappa College of Technology (AC Tech), School of Architecture and Planning (SAP) before the private colleges came into picture," he said while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the platinum jubilee celebrations of Alagappa College of Technology, one of the four campuses of Anna University.
"This is the opinion of our alumni, former vice-chancellors and faculty members. They are urging the university administration not to change its name," he said adding that the proposed university could be given any name. When asked for his opinion about the bifurcation, he said, "The move is fine, but, it has to be done properly by consulting all stakeholders. The earlier decisions of bifurcation and merger created a lot of problems and the same problems are still continuing today," Surappa said.
AC Tech was one of the pioneering institutions which offered courses on chemical engineering, leather textile and leather technology before independence. After presenting distinguished alumni award to 10 illustrious alumni of Alagappa College of Technology, governor Banwarilal Purohit appealed the alumni to support the Anna University on its journey as an institute of eminence. "Alagappa College of Technology was started in the year 1944 with just 43 students with one discipline. After 75 years, the college has nine undergraduate programmes and 13 post graduate programmes with the intake of 800 students every year," Purohit said.