P.L. Dharma, vice chancellor of Mangalore University, addressing a press conference in Mangaluru on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: H.S. MANJUNATH
Mangalore University will propose to the State government that its under-construction Advanced Science Research Centre building at Belapu in Udupi district be converted into a sports academy as it lacks the funds to complete and operate the proposed research centre, according to university Vice-Chancellor P.L. Dharma.Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, he said the university had written to Thulasi Maddineni, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, on the matter.Setting up the centre would require a huge amount of money, he said, adding that the university does not have the funds either to complete the building or to establish the research centre. Mr. Dharma said the government has so far invested ₹38.16 crore in the building. If the government invests another ₹23 crore, the structure would be fully built and the facility can be used as a sports academy, which the coastal belt lacks.It may be mentioned here that then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had laid the foundation stone for the research centre in May 2015, when K. Byrappa was the vice-chancellor of the university. The estimated cost of the centre then was ₹141.30 crore.Vacant postsMr. Dharma told reporters that 158 of the 273 sanctioned teaching posts at the university are vacant. In addition, 387 of the 547 sanctioned non-teaching posts are also vacant. The university has 25 departments offering 46 programmes. The government will have to take a call on filling the vacant posts, he said.Admission to PG coursesMr. Dharma said the university has invited applications for admission to its postgraduate programmes for the academic year 2026-27. The last date to submit applications is August 17.It did not admit students to six postgraduate programmes — Statistics, Material Science, Electronics, Marine Geology, Biochemistry, and Environmental Science — during the last academic year due to a low student turnout.UG, PG resultsHe said that of the 17,347 students of the sixth and eighth semesters who appeared for undergraduate examinations held in June and July, 17,076 students (98.47%) have passed. The results of 261 students are yet to be announced due to technical issues.The results of 34,614 students in the fourth and second semesters are yet to be announced.Mr. Dharma said the results of 3,939 postgraduate students who appeared for examinations during the same months this year are under process. Published - July 30, 2026 06:14 pm IST
