To counter UGC move to stop free
subscriptions to e-resources
The Higher Education Department is planning to launch a
State-level consortium for e-journals involving universities and other higher
educational institutions.
The proposal has found place in the Governor’s policy
address to the Assembly. The move is to counter the decision by the University
Grants Commission (UGC) to stop free subscriptions to e-resources under its
Information and Library Network Centre (INFLIBNET) initiative.
“The consortium is inevitable for higher education
institutions, especially universities, for maintaining and accelerating the
pace of research and innovation in line with the global trend in knowledge
production and dissemination,” said Rajan Varughese, Member Secretary, Kerala
State Higher Education Council.
The council, which had mooted the idea, observed that the
UGC decision would cause a huge expenditure for the institutions and the
government. Universities would have to shell out crores in order to provide
access to e-resources to the academic community, it said.
“Almost all journals and databases in the relevant
disciplines can be subscribed at a negotiated cost fully funded by the
government/universities, with the council acting as a nodal agency in the State
with the participation of all universities. Other higher educational
institutions in the State could be provided access to the e-resources based on
a fee,” said Dr. Varughese.
Mandatory accreditation
The policy address said that accreditation would be made
mandatory for all institutions. The government would ensure decent service-wage
benefits to teachers and non-teaching staff in self-financing institutions.
Universities will conduct examinations and declare
results in a unified manner and on time from the coming academic session, with
the use of technology.
The Governor said that the government was ready with a
Bill to be presented at the Legislative Assembly aimed at ensuring the
democratic rights of students to form associations and get an early training in
democratic decision making.
Regards
Mr. Pralhad Jadhav
Master of Library &
Information Science (NET Qualified)
Senior Manager @ Knowledge
Repository
Khaitan & Co
