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P. K. Abdul Aziz
P. K. Abdul Aziz
Born	18 January 1947 (age 77); Thodupuzha, Kerala, India
Education	D.Sc (Doctor of Science), PhD – University of Kerala; Masters – Cochin University of Science and Technology
Alma mater	University of Kerala; Cochin University of Science and Technology; St. Albert's College, Ernakulam; Union Christian College, Aluva
Occupation(s)	Former Vice Chancellor at University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, Aligarh Muslim University and Cochin University of Science and Technology

P.K. Abdul Aziz (born 18 January 1947), also known as P. K. Abdul Azis, is a scientist in ecology and biodiversity and an academic from India who has published 77 research papers,.^[1] He has been the Vice-Chancellor of Cochin University of Science and Technology^[2] and Aligarh Muslim University. He is also the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya.^[3]^[4] He is also the chairman of the Expert Committee for Revision of Curriculum for School Education, appointed by the Kerala government.^[5]

Early education and career

He received a D.Sc in Ecology (2002) and a PhD (1978) from the Department of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, University of Kerala.^[1]

He led the Department of Ecology and Marine Biology at the Saline Water Conversion Corporation Research and Development Centre, Saudi Arabia as chairman during 1993–2002.^[6]

He was a professor at Kerala University and Kerala Agricultural University before becoming Vice-Chancellor of the Cochin University of Science and Technology.^{[citation needed]}

He was the Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University from 11 June 2007,^[6] to 17 January 2012.^[7] During his term he initiated a "crackdown" against squatters and put into place ID cards for all students.^[8] The university also signed MoUs^{[clarification needed]} with Wisconsin University, Cleveland University, Atlanta University, Johns Hopkins University and New York University and began clearing a backlog of PhD submissions.^[8] India Today cited his efforts as leading to a "remarkable turnaround" for the university.^[8]

Vice-Chancellorship

Prof Azis first served as the Vice Chancellor of Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) from 2004 - 2007.^[9] During his tenure, he initiated a plan to upgrade CUSAT to the status of IIEST (Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology), but the project could not materialise due to a lack of understanding with the successive state governments and eventually, had to be shelved.^[10]

Prof. Azis then served as the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) from 2007 - 2012. He was widely credited with bringing a turnaround in the academic fortunes of the university and got AMU to the 5th spot in the India Today rankings.^[11] He was instrumental and the key initiator in the launching of AMU centres in Murshidabad (West Bengal), Malapparum (Kerala) and Kishanganj (Bihar). The former President of India and the then Finance Minister Shri. Pranab Mukherjee announced the launch of the centres in his 2009 Budget speech.^[12] The AMU Malappuram Centre has been functioning since 2010, AMU Murshidabad centre has been functioning since March 6, 2011^[13] and AMU Kishanganj Centre was inaugurated in January 2014 by UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi.^[14]

During his tenure as VC of AMU, Prof Azis courted controversy, and was under the CBI scanner for alleged financial impropriety ^[15] related to 'travel concession for family, income tax payment from University funds and purchase of luxury cars". He was later cleared of all charges by the CBI with submission of its closure report at the Patiala House Court.^[16]^[17] Abdul Aziz's departure was cited by India Today as evidence of the "waning influence" of the "Malayali lobby" in Delhi.^[18] Even when the investigation had started, Abdul Aziz had refuted all the charges and had said that "the truth would eventually come out".^[19] At the end of his term, Aziz said he had "no regrets" about the decisions he had made during his tenure at the university.^[20]

References

^ ^a ^b "Abdul Azis VC of Aligarh Muslim varsity". The Hindu. 19 May 2007. Archived from the original on 14 September 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
^ Director, CIRM, CUSAT; Director, CIRM, CUSAT (22 August 2016). "Cochin University of Science and Technology-Vision". cusat.ac.in. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis joined as VC of USTM". University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya. 11 April 2013. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
^ "New VC Joins USTM". The Assam Tribune. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
^ "Prof Azis takes charge of USTM". The Meghalaya Guardian. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
^ ^a ^b "Vice Chancellor Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis". Aligarh Muslim University. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012.
^ "Aligarh V-C's tenure ends". The Hindu. 18 January 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c Rahman, Shafi (18 May 2012). "Back Where It Belongs: AMU at 5th spot on India Today Universities Rankings 2012". India Today. Living Media India Limited. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
^ "Cochin University of Science and Technology-Vision". cusat.ac.in. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
^ Krishnakumar, G. (7 March 2013). "Cusat out of race for IIEST status". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
^ Shafi Rahman (18 May 2012). "AMU at 5th spot on India Today Universities Rankings 2012". India Today. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
^ "Pranab rush for AMU in Bengal".
^ "AMU Begins Classes at Murshidabad Campus". updates.highereducationinindia.com. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
^ Kumar, Madan (30 January 2014). "Sonia to lay foundation of AMU Kishanganj unit today". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
^ Mukul, Akshaya (11 January 2012). "CBI finds AMU V-C guilty of financial impropriety". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
^ "CBI clean chit for ex-Aligarh Muslim University VC Aziz". The Times of India. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
^ "India's CBI clears former AMU official of graft raps". Arab News. 12 August 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
^ "Waning influence". India Today. 17 January 2012.
^ "AMU VC says he is clean, truth would come out". Zee News. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
^ Edmond, Deepu Sebastian (14 January 2012). "Have no regrets, says outgoing AMU V-C". The Indian Express. Retrieved 23 August 2013.