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Osmania University, established in 1918, is the seventh oldest in
the Country, third oldest in south India and the first to be
established in the princely State of Hyderabad. Though the
need for the university for the Hyderabad State was felt, both by
the intelligentsia and the people for a long time, the initiative
came from a civil servant, Sir Akbar Hydari, who was then the Home
Secretary to the State Government. Sir Hydari, in a memorandum
to the Education Minister in Early 1917, emphasized the need to
establish a University of Hyderabad with 'Urdu' as the medium of
instruction "as it is the language of the widest currency in India,
official language of the State, and it is a language which is
understood by a vast majority of the population of the State."
He believed that higher education must have its foundations deep in
national consciousness. The
propitious moment, however, came a few months later on 26th April,
1917 when a Firman was issued for the establishment of the
University. The Firman also detailed the 'Mission' and
'Objectives' of the University.
The University, like any corporate
body, is governed by an Act, which stipulates the authorities and
functionaries of the University and their roles and
responsibilities. Over the years, the University has expanded and
its administration has become very complex. External factors like,
the constitutional framework, the educational policies of Central
and State Governments, the University Grants Commission as well as
internal factors influence its working. Briefly, the policy-making
bodies of the University and administrative setup comprise a number
of institutional structures charged with the governance of the
University. The Academic Senate, the Executive Council, the Finance
Committee, the Standing Committee, Faculties, Boards of Studies, and
Departments are the important institutions of the University which
are bestowed with powers of decision-making and implementation.
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