The Tribhuvan University (TU) has directed the Maharajgunj-based Institute of Medicine (IoM) to come up with plans to shift its undergraduate programme to Kirtipur.

Issuing a letter on Wednesday, the TU said it has formed two different committees to conduct detailed study in order to shift the IoM’s undergraduate programme to a different location. The other letter has directed the IoM to study on developing it into a post-graduate institution.

At present, entire medical programmes, including MBBS, MD and others, are run in Maharajung-based campus.

The TU has designated IoM Dean Dr Rakesh Shriwastav to study the task of developing IoM as a post-graduate institution while Dr Jagdish Agrawal of the institute to look into the relocation of the undergraduate programme.

The IoM has already written to the TU stating that it did not understand the purpose of the study and sought clarity on the separation of the academic programme to different location.

TU Registrar Chandra Mani Poudel said they plan to develop the present set-up of IoM into a post-graduate institution and run its undergraduate programme at another location. “This is preliminary idea. First, the study has to be conducted and the government has to approve the plan and allocate resources accordingly. This is a long process,” he said.

The TU Senate in September had decided to seek plans for the programme relocation. The meeting had also asked IoM to come up with an autonomy plan by November.

Many IoM faculties said that the university’s decision comes amidst denial to grant affiliation to new private medical colleges. “We have started working on the autonomy plan. However, TU seems more interested in separation of our academic programmes. Apparently, this will weaken our institution and will help fulfil TU’s vested interests in granting affiliations,” a senior IoM professor said requesting anonymity.

Dr Govinda KC, a senior orthopaedician of TU Teaching Hospital who staged fast-unto-death thrice against the political intervention in the IoM, said undergraduate programme is the main essence and attraction of the institution. “TU is not interested in the problems our institute is facing. It is using its entire power to separate our undergraduate programme, govern it by separate institution and then grant affiliations,” Dr KC said, stating that the IoM will not accept the TU decision.

source: Manish Gautam, the kathmandu post, 12 oct 2014