Lucknow University gives false information on students’ placement?

LUCKNOW: Getting students placed with good organisations speaks of a university’s popularity with hirers, but the newly set up placement cell of the University of Lucknow (LU) seems to have taken things too far.

Students have been taken in by organisations for internships - LU in turn claims they have been placed.

The placement cell on April 25 issued a press statement claiming that 249 students had been placed in various organisations.

It said 24 students from the department of journalism and mass communication had been hired by a private TV news channel.

The fact, however, was that the students of journalism had been interning with the TV news channel without receiving any offer letter or pay packages. Other students too have been similarly taken in by companies as interns, not employees.

The director of counselling and placements, Prof Madhurima Lall, when contacted, told this correspondent: “Normally students who are interns in different organisations are absorbed and get final placement there. We are hopeful that many of our bright students will be recruited there soon.”

By Prof Lall’s own submission, out of the 249 students who she claimed were placed, there were 40 students who were interns.

“The number of students who are doing internship are much less. Majority of the students got placement in good companies and are doing very well,” she said.

When informed about the matter, Prof SP Singh, university vice chancellor, said he would speak to the placement director. He was of the opinion it was unethical to claim that students who were interns had actually been placed. “I will ensure that in future university should pass on correct information about final placements,” he said.

LU has been without a good placement cell for quite some time. The newly set up unit is headed by Prof Lall, who is also head of applied economics department, LU.

An April 25 press statement of the placement cell said LU had produced high quality students every year. “At present, dozens of companies are waiting to take up more and more of our students.

Placements at various organisations are taken up as a costly affair but here at LU, we are able to assist our students in getting jobs/internships without incurring any extra fees or charges from the students.”

The statement also said that students from all streams were being targeted for proper place- ments in their respective areas. “The campus placement has been done for those departments where so far placement had not happened.”

LU had said that two placements had been done from anthropology department, while 12 students from psychology, 60 from applied economics and commerce, 70 from business administration, 24 from journalism and mass communication, nine from IMS, 11 from social works, 13 from MSc QTM, nine from MSc chemistry and 11 from BEd had been placed.

But the matter of fact remains that nearly 20% of the students have been interning with companies which have so far made no commitment to retain them.

The number of students who are doing internship are much less. Majority of the students got placement in good companies and are doing very well

PROF MADHURIMA LALL, director of counselling and placements