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{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox person
|alma_mater = [[University of Kerala]]<br />[[Cochin University of Science and Technology]]<br />St. Albert's College, Ernakulam<br />[[Union Christian College, Aluva]]
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1947|1|18}}
|birth_place = [[Thodupuzha]], Kerala, India
|education = D.Sc (Doctor of Science), PhD – [[University of Kerala]]<br />Masters – [[Cochin University of Science and Technology]]
|spouse(s) = Shyla. P.A
|children = 2
|occupation = Former Vice Chancellor at [[University of Science and Technology Meghalaya]], [[Aligarh Muslim University]] and [[Cochin University of Science and Technology]]
|image = P.K. Abdul Azis.jpg
}}

'''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,.<ref name="hindu2007">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/19/stories/2007051912010700.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070914095129/http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/19/stories/2007051912010700.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 September 2007 |title=Abdul Azis VC of Aligarh Muslim varsity |date=19 May 2007 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=4 November 2012}}</ref> He has been the Vice-Chancellor of [[Cochin University of Science and Technology]]<ref>https://cusat.ac.in/former_vc.php</ref> and [[Aligarh Muslim University]]. He is also the former Vice-Chancellor of the [[University of Science and Technology Meghalaya]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ustm.ac.in/showNews.asp?id=21 |title=Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis joined as VC of USTM |publisher=University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya |date=11 April 2013 |accessdate=21 April 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130702093355/http://www.ustm.ac.in/showNews.asp?id=21 |archive-date=2 July 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=apr0913/oth07 |title=New VC Joins USTM |newspaper=The Assam Tribune |date=9 April 2013 |accessdate=21 April 2013}}</ref> He is also the chairman of the Expert Committee for Revision of Curriculum for School Education, appointed by the Kerala government.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://mg.glpublications.in/newsview.aspx?eddate=04/10/2013&pageno=3&edition=9&prntid=8514&bxid=113126812&pgno=3 |title=Prof Azis takes charge of USTM |newspaper=The Meghalaya Guardian |date=10 April 2013 |accessdate=21 April 2013}}</ref>

== 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]].<ref name="hindu2007"/>

He led the Department of Ecology and Marine Biology at the [[Water supply and sanitation in Saudi Arabia#The Saline Water Conversion Corporation|Saline Water Conversion Corporation]] Research and Development Centre, [[Kingdom of Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabia]] as chairman during 1993–2002.<ref name="Aligarh Muslim University">{{cite web |url=http://www.amu.ac.in/vcdesk.htm |title=Vice Chancellor Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis |publisher=Aligarh Muslim University |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104041929/http://www.amu.ac.in/vcdesk.htm |archivedate=4 January 2012}}</ref>

He was a Professor at [[Kerala University]] and [[Kerala Agricultural University]] before becoming [[Vice Chancellor#Vice-Chancellor|Vice-Chancellor]] of the [[Cochin University of Science and Technology]].

He was the Vice-Chancellor of [[Aligarh Muslim University]] from 11 June 2007,<ref name="Aligarh Muslim University"/> to 17 January 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/aligarh-vcs-tenure-ends/article2809595.ece |title=Aligarh V-C's tenure ends |newspaper=The Hindu |date=18 January 2012}}</ref> During his term he initiated a "crackdown" against squatters and put into place ID cards for all students.<ref name="intoday1">{{cite news |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-today-universities-rankings-2012-aligarh-muslim-university/1/189328.html |title=Back Where It Belongs: AMU at 5th spot on India Today Universities Rankings 2012 |last=Rahman |first=Shafi |magazine=India Today |publisher=Living Media India Limited |date=18 May 2012 |accessdate=4 November 2012}}</ref> The university also signed MoUs{{clarify|date=November 2012}} with Wisconsin University, Cleveland University, Atlanta University, Johns Hopkins University and New York University and began clearing a backlog of PhD submissions.<ref name="intoday1"/> ''India Today'' cited his efforts as leading to a "remarkable turnaround" for the university.<ref name="intoday1"/>

== Vice-Chancellorship ==

Prof Azis first served as the Vice Chancellor of [[Cochin University of Science and Technology]] (CUSAT) from 2004 - 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cusat.ac.in/former_vc.php|title=Cochin University of Science and Technology-Vision|website=cusat.ac.in|access-date=2019-05-17}}</ref> During his tenure, he initiated an ambitious plan to upgrade CUSAT to the status of [[Indian Institutes of Engineering Science and Technology|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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/cusat-out-of-race-for-iiest-status/article4482520.ece|title=Cusat out of race for IIEST status|last=Krishnakumar|first=G.|date=2013-03-07|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-05-17|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/india-s-best-universities/2012/story/20120528-india-today-universities-rankings-2012-aligarh-muslim-university-758441-2012-05-18|title=AMU at 5th spot on India Today Universities Rankings 2012|last=May 18|first=Shafi Rahman|last2=May 28|first2=2012 ISSUE DATE|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-05-17|last3=May 24|first3=2012UPDATED|last4=Ist|first4=2013 16:30}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/pranab-rush-for-amu-in-bengal/cid/538118|title=Pranab rush for AMU in Bengal|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}}</ref> The [[AMU Malappuram Campus|AMU Malappuram Centre]] has been functioning since 2010, AMU [[Murshidabad]] centre has been functioning since March 6, 2011<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://updates.highereducationinindia.com/2011/amu-begins-classes-at-murshidabad-campus-6064.php|title=AMU Begins Classes at Murshidabad Campus|website=updates.highereducationinindia.com|access-date=2019-05-17}}</ref> and AMU [[Kishanganj]] Centre was inaugurated on January 2014 by UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Sonia-to-lay-foundation-of-AMU-Kishanganj-unit-today/articleshow/29571536.cms|title=Sonia to lay foundation of AMU Kishanganj unit today {{!}} Patna News - Times of India|last=Jan 30|first=Madan Kumar {{!}} TNN {{!}} Updated|last2=2014|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-05-17|last3=Ist|first3=2:08}}</ref>

During his tenure as VC of AMU, Prof Azis courted controversy, and was under the CBI scanner for alleged financial impropriety <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/CBI-finds-AMU-V-C-guilty-of-financial-impropriety/articleshow/11442378.cms|title=CBI finds AMU V-C guilty of financial impropriety {{!}} India News - Times of India|last=Jan 11|first=Akshaya Mukul {{!}} TNN {{!}} Updated|last2=2012|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-05-17|last3=Ist|first3=3:45}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/CBI-clean-chit-for-ex-Aligarh-Muslim-University-VC-Aziz/articleshow/21669090.cms|title=CBI clean chit for ex-Aligarh Muslim University VC Aziz {{!}} India News - Times of India|last=Aug 7|first=TNN {{!}} Updated|last2=2013|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-05-17|last3=Ist|first3=7:00}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arabnews.com/news/460971|title=India's CBI clears former AMU official of graft raps|date=2013-08-12|website=Arab News|language=en|access-date=2019-05-17}}</ref> Abdul Aziz's departure was cited by ''India Today'' as evidence of the "waning influence" of the "Malayali lobby" in Delhi.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/aligarh-muslim-university-p.-k.-abdul-azis-oommen-chandy/1/169225.html|title=Waning influence|date=17 January 2012|newspaper=India Today}}</ref> Even when the investigation had started, Abdul Aziz had refuted all the charges and had said that "the truth would eventually come out".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/uttar-pradesh/amu-vc-says-he-is-clean-truth-would-come-out_752606.html|title=AMU VC says he is clean, truth would come out|date=14 January 2012|newspaper=Zee News|accessdate=23 August 2013}}</ref> At the end of his term, Aziz said he had "no regrets" about the decisions he had made during his tenure at the university.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/have-no-regrets-says-outgoing-amu-vc/899658/1|title=Have no regrets, says outgoing AMU V-C|last=Edmond|first=Deepu Sebastian|date=14 January 2012|newspaper=The Indian Express|accessdate=23 August 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-aca}}
{{succession box
| title = [[List of Vice-Chancellors of Aligarh Muslim University|Vice-Chancellor of AMU]]
| years = 2007-2012
| before = [[Naseem Ahmad]]
| after = [[Zameerud-din Shah]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Aligarh Muslim University}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aziz, P. K. Abdul}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Scholars from Kerala]]
[[Category:Aligarh Muslim University faculty]]
[[Category:Mappilas]]
[[Category:Vice-Chancellors of the Aligarh Muslim University]]
[[Category:People from Idukki district]]
[[Category:University of Kerala alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian biologists]]

P. K. Abdul Aziz - Revision history

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