UGC set to roll out new deemed university norms
According to the new norms, applicant institution must be in operation for at least 20 years, have 100 teachers and 2,000 students, a minimum teacher-student ratio of 1:20 to get deemed university status.
NEWDELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) is set to specify new eligibility norms for ‘deemed to be university’ status as part of an attempt to improve learning and employability of students, officials familiar with the matter said.
An educational institution is called a deemed university when the Centre grants it the status of a varsity on the recommendations of the UGC, which regulates the country’s higher education sector. A deemed university enjoys autonomy in deciding its fee and admission structure. There are 130 deemed universities in the country.According to the new guidelines, an applicant institution must be in operation for at least 20 years. It should have at least 100 teachers and 2,000 students. One-third of the students should be pursuing research or post-graduate courses. The institutes will be required to have a minimum teacher-student ratio of 1:20 to be given deemed university status, the officials said on condition of anonymity. “The new regulations, the consultation for which is at an advanced stage, are aimed at improving learning outcomes, students’ skills and improving graduates’ employment opportunities through industry-linkages. These are also the key thrust areas of HRD [human resource development] minister Prakash Javadekar,” a UGC member said requesting anonymity.
Under the new guidelines, a deemed university will be required to have a built-up area of not less than 30 square metres per student, the official quoted above said. According to the earlier norms framed in 2016, an institute needed to have an administrative area of 1,000 square metres, academic area of 15,000 square metres, central library in 2,000 square metres and 40% open space to get deemed university tag. In a departure from the earlier norms, deemed universities will now have to put information related to approved seats in each course, admission policy, students admitted, fee structure, faculty and their qualifications, infrastructure, on their websites in the form of an affidavit, a second UGC functionary said.
The official added that this would also help in empowering students.
“This provision will also have to be followed by the existing varsities,” the University Grants Commission functionary added.
Educationist and former University Grants Commission member Inder Mohan Kapahy said the revised regulations will help streamline the process of granting deemed university status.“These modifications in regulations shall de-bureaucratise processes of granting status and prevent endemic delays involved. However, an effective but non-intrusive monitoring system must be evolved,” he said.
He said that the proposed eligibility norms were “largely reasonable”. But Kapahy added the condition related to 30 square metres of built-up area per student may be a bit excessive particularly in overcrowded metropolitan cities.
In another departure from the earlier guidelines, the new norms do not allow deemed universities to set up offshore campuses.
They will be allowed to establish off-campus centres after HRD ministry’s approval without a University Grants Commission inspection, the second official said. The new norms cement a deemed university’s autonomy as it would no longer need a University Grants Commission nod in starting new courses.
Source | Hindustan Times | 7th January 2019
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