Ambedkar University Faculty Group Raises Concerns Over Unhealthy Environment, Poor Infra, Harassment
The Wire | 18 August 2023
Ambedkar University Delhi campus. Photo: aud.ac.in
New Delhi: Worsening work environment, targeted harassment, erosion of a culture of dialogue, stagnant careers, and shabby infrastructure are some of the concerns raised by the B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi Faculty Association (AUDFA), in a statement dated August 17.
Raising the concern of a considerable decline in the number of applications, the AUDFA said: “Since 2020, applications to AUD’s UG and PG programmes have shrunk alarmingly. Interdisciplinary PG programmes that consistently received over 400 applications now receive a few dozen applications. Even the most popular programmes have seen reduced numbers of applicants.”
It added that externally funded projects have dried up. “AUD faculty and Centres regularly undertook projects and consultancies worth around Rs 5-7 crores a year. This number barely reaches Rs 1 crore today.’
Since 2020, more than 15 faculty members, including seasoned academics, have resigned from the university. Some have transitioned to private institutions, while others have departed from AUD without securing new positions due to the existing challenging work environment.