Some more Univ-improving academic activism

I am going to try a new approach to promote my activism. I'm trying a non-violent Gandhian method to help change the BCS syllabus. Let's see if this idea works out. :-)

Purpose: The BCS/MCS syllabus is undergoing revision this year. All those who love to call it crap, and go around boasting how they would change it if they got the opportunity, etc.; this is your opporutunity. This mail will show you how, where, when, and to whom to approach to get it changed the way you want - but there's a catch - you must be accountable for it, and so will I.

Need:
Let's first establish whether there really is a need to change the syllabus or not. I'm not beginning with the presumption that there _is_ a need today. Since so many of you contact me on messenger claiming that you feel the need, this mail is going to show you how to react to your urge.

1. Is the syllabus crap?
If you said, no, then the problem ends. No turning back. No criticising the syllabus, etc. for your lack of placements. You must stand up to those "industry experts" who claim it's bad. Basically, either it's good, or it's bad.

If you said yes, then we proceed.

2. Will you be accountable for it?
Many go around saying "This should be needed" and "that should be needed". Either you must be accountable and responsible for it, or you keep your mouth shut. Write a duly signed and authenticated letter to the BoS. Right now is the time. Take liability for it. If you suggest something, and people don't get placed, or a company later says this shouldn't have been there, you must stand up and face the music. The faculty do this daily in colleges. Now you know why they get to decide the syllabus. We as "industry experts" love to boast we know everything. Time to put our reputation where our mouth is.

3. Let's bring in some objectivity. Too many alumni. Too many parties who have their personal interests at stake. Let's bring in "experts" who never studied at Pune Univ. Not saying all of them. But some of them. Bring in people who don't care. People who're well-off and don't need certification by the Univ (and hence are not under control). I volunteer to bring in such people. I'm sure you all will too. Let's keep ourselves out of the picture. I would necessarily not want my juniors to do better than me, since I won't be able to boast about my pay package. Hence, let's keep "me" out of this. Let's pull in people who're making tons of money and are in positions where juniors can't hurt them ever.

4. Let's bring in some "real" industry experts. People who'll come officially. Today, if a person from company "X" goes to the BoS, does he go officially as a representative of the company? What if the syllabus turns out to be crap? Can you say that "representatives of company "X" gave the syllabus?" Again, I volunteer on my side to do that. I can arrange representatives from my company to do it, and so can all of you. They'll come on business hours on duty. Not in the evening or on weekends. The company will take liability for their behaviour, comments and actions.

The reason I'm mailing you now, is because over the last few years, I've talked with people from many companies. They're both willing and eager to participate in changing and contributing to the syllabus - "officially" (that's the key). Meaning, if it sucks in the end, we can say, "Hey, they suggessted it!"

The Univ always claims that they don't get enough "industry experts" to help them. I am ready to commit to that (at least from Microsoft for now). I'm ready to get the experts. Now what we need is peer pressure. Which you can provide. There's a reason I kept using the word "accountable". We shall be accountable from our side.

Let's provide them with experts. Let's provide them with resources. Let's remove their argument that "nobody helps us". Let's be accountable from our side to begin with, instead of egoistically waiting for "them to approach us".

Why now? Because I don't want to be in a position, where someone says, "You should have suggessted this in time.". Now is that time. If you want to be part of a group that wants to say, "Told you so.", two years from now, join in. Start acting. Gather evidence that we tried to help all we can from our side, instead of just talking.

What next? So far I know of no e-mail address for the "BoS' yet. The best option is for you to write a physical snail-mail letter addressed to "The Chairman, BoS, Computer Science", volunteering your support in the syllabus revision. Let's try a Gandhian approach. It will also be a validation for ourselves to see how many of us talkers are really interested in the changes that we talk about so much. Please be cordial. Please be polite. We're all on the same team here. If you can find an e-mail address, then send out a mail.

If you feel you agree with my approach, feel free to spread the mail. If you feel it's still a bit on the aggressive side, help me tone it down (I know I can get too aggressive at times, and apologise for that). Whatever the case, this is our opportunity and we shall all be guilty if we do nothing now, and again next year go around claiming BCS syllabus is bad.

Yours sincerely,
Archis

E-mail: archisgore@yahoo.com
Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/archisgore