A detailed project report (DPR) for ASCENT (Advancing Standards for College Empowerment and Transformation) project of the University of Calicut (CU) is expected to be submitted to Vice-Chancellor (V-C) P. Raveendran by the first week of September.

ASCENT has been conceived by the university authorities as a special mission to enhance the academic and administrative standards of its affiliated colleges spread across five districts in Keralam.

The project, according to the officials, is aimed at fortifying the network of the 445 affiliated colleges. Suggestions had been sought from college authorities to prepare a framework for the project. Principals and management representatives of affiliated colleges can email their inputs to the university. A circular has already been sent to the college authorities in this regard.

N. Mohammedali, director of the college development council, which will implement the project, told on Wednesday (August 19) that the DPR preparation was progressing. An expert committee would conduct its primary evaluation and later submit it before the Syndicate, he added.

The authorities said that the initiative would focus on digitising the existing administrative frameworks in phases to facilitate streamlined and accessible service delivery for the affiliated institutions. The proposed mission is designed to establish a robust structural alignment between the university and the colleges. The officials claimed that its primary objective is to cultivate academic excellence, administrative efficiency, and holistic institutional development through collaborative initiatives.