Mangaluru: Mangalore University (MU) has decided to replace external commercial contractors with its postgraduate students for major institutional events, including the annual convocation and academic seminars, to cut costs and provide practical training.Students from the MBA, MCom and tourism departments will handle audiovisual arrangements, catering coordination, floral decoration and guest hospitality.Vice chancellor Prof PL. Dharma said an annual convocation typically costs the university Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh and the new arrangement could cut expenditure by 30% to 40%.“Organising an annual convocation typically costs the university between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7 lakh. By entrusting these tasks to our own students, we eliminate commercial contractor profit margins and heavy GST bills, slashing total expenditure by 30% to 40%,” Prof Dharma explained.“Why should private agencies take away two to three lakh rupees from university funds? Channelling those responsibilities to our students ensures they receive authentic professional experience on campus.”The university also plans to recognise students’ work at institutional events as part of academic learning.“If students manage university events, the Board of Studies will evolve mechanisms to award them academic credits and internal assessment marks for their field performance,” he said.The initiative is coupled with a formal collaboration with event agency WedWing to introduce skill-based diploma and certificate courses in event and hospitality management under the university’s ‘Earn while you learn’ model.“When there is an urgent need to introduce job-oriented programs under the ‘Earn while you learn’ model, WedWing approached us offering placement assistance for certificate and diploma courses,” Prof Dharma said. “The agency operates internationally, and our Board of Studies has structured the curriculum around practical exposure rather than mere classroom theory.”
