MUHS goes for total academic revamp

By Vikas Vaidya

Most of the students be they of any education-medical, engineering, science, commerce, art-- lack in leadership skills, lack in communication skills, lack in efforts of self enhancement and most important they don’t have research aptitude. Considering all these aspects, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) has revamped academic structure of medical education. The change will not only compel students to do research, develop various skills but also provide them platform which was not available till now.
The change is made in four parts, namely: Capacity building; providing platforms to faculty, students to present themselves; Decentralisation of academic activities and collaborations.
Capacity Building
Dr Mohan Khamgaonkar, Pro-Vice Chancellor of MUHS who was in Nagpur elaborated the revamp while talking to ‘The Hitavada’. “Under the capacity building aspect we trained 300 people from all pathies for research, communication skill, leadership skills. We brought advancement in research methodology, medical education technology, health science education technology, study of international diseases and healthcare scenario. These 300 people are the trainers who will train more people when they go to their respective places,” explained Dr Khamgaonkar.
Till now MUHS had never organised conference dealing with particular aspect of medical education. For the first time MUHS will be holding conferences on several themes including ‘Allied health science’, ‘Ayush’,  for dentists, for healthcare administrators, for Medical Education Technology at different places.
Research journals
“These conferences will be the platforms where students, teachers and other from medical fraternity can present themselves to test their skills. Apart from this, we have started research journals. This is for the first time since the inception of MUHS that it has its own journal now. The research papers of the students will be selected through competition and winning entries would be included in medical journals,” explained Dr Khamgaonkar.
Academic Activities to be decentralised
Pointing out that decentralisation of academic activities was the dream of Vice-Chancellor Dr Dileep Mhaisekar, the Pro-VC Dr Khamgaonkar said, “ Medical Education Technology (MET) and Research Cell will be set up by every medical college in State. It will help the students, faculties in enhancing their skills.”
Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Khamgaonkar has himself not only attended 100 training sessions but he made it a point also to deliver motivational speeches there.
Initiating Collaborative activities
Up till now no efforts were taken by MUHS to initiate collaboration with other universities or institutions. But under the leadership of Dr Mhaisekar and Dr Khamgaonkar, they both have excellent coordination, MUHS wants to create international education hub. It has already collaborated with 30 national international universities for academic skill enhancement, teacher and student exchange, training and research.
“We are thankful to our honourable Vice-Chancellor for encouraging us to go for innovation. Because of visionary approach university is moving ahead by leaps and bounds. Now, Dr Mhaisekar wants to have university to be digitalised completely. Already we have achieved that feat to some extent as for smaller works the colleges don’t have to come to university. Most of the work is done on-line. All these research activities would continue but mainly we want to generate learning interest among students through teachers. Teachers should be able to attract students that is our motto,” revealed Dr Khamgaonkar.