Addressing media persons after taking over as the V-C, S. K. Gupta said examination results of all regular and entrance exams of the university would be computerised soon, besides computerisation of various university departments, including the Directorate of Distance Education. He said a committee has already been set up in this regard and software would be introduced within a year.

The Directorate of Distance Education, students and employees would also be exposed to informative technology, where specialised short-term computerised courses would be started for them, he said.

The V-C also aimed at modernising the university, providing it facilities like internet, visual satellite and E-mail, to which the library would also be connected. Besides, Gupta said to help internationalise the university, HPU would be linked to other universities, including some foreign ones, to enable more interaction for exchange of views of both students and teachers.

Gupta said efforts are being made to introduce two new courses in Master of Computer Applications (MCA) and M.Sc (electronics) at the university regional centre at Dharamsala, during the new session, while plans are afoot to introduce L.L.B and Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharma) courses by next year.

He added that a new gymanasium of high standards would be set up at the university with the help of the state government and UGC funds.

The new V-C said to help improve the financial position of the university and help implement the modernisation plans, funds from the state government and UGC would be sought. However, while generating resources, the social angle must be taken care of, he said.

Calling for de-politicisation of the campus, which he felt was a difficult task, Gupta said efforts should be made to separate politics from academics, which, he felt, was the need of the hour.

Gupta added that to help restore the prestige of HPU, efforts would also be made to remove the feeling of indifference among teachers and help improve teacher- student interaction. More research grants would also be brought in, he said, adding that plans to open a new centre for the Distance Education Department at Delhi were also afoot.