On Tuesday, government rolled out its plan, to grant more autonomy to some central, state and private universities.As per the UGC’s plan, these 60 institutions will now be allowed to start new¬†courses, offer competitive salaries and set up off-campus centres without any prior approval.
Under this ‘graded autonomy scheme’ two central universities, Jawaharlal Nehru University and University of Hyderabad are graded in the top category along with state universities such as,¬†¬†Jadavpur University (Kolkata), Algappa University (Karaikudi) and Nalsar University of Law, Telangana. O P Jindal Global University, Sonipat, and Pandit Deen Dayal Petroleum University, Gujarat are the private institutes which are mentioned in the list released by UGC.
Prakash Javadekar, the HRD Minister said, these universities will still remain under the purview of University Grants Commission, but now they will have the freedom to start new courses, off-campus centres, skill development courses, research parks and other new academic programmes.In addition to that, now also they will be able to hire foreign faculty, enroll foreign students, provide incentive-based emoluments to faculty, enter into academic collaborations and run distance learning programmes.
These new regulation by the University Grants Commission, grants autonomy to¬†¬†five central universities, 21 state universities and 26 private universities.Autonomous status has also been given to 8 colleges¬†under the autonomous colleges regulation.Universities having score¬†of 3.26 and above, now can start a new course without UGC’s approval, provided no demand for funds from government is made.
Javadekar said, “The government is taking steps towards granting autonomy to institutions performing well. It started with the passing of the IIM bill granting complete autonomy to B-schools”
Colleges, who have been granted the autonomy, now will be free to set their own syllabus, hold examinations, carry out evaluation as well as declare results. In this case, only the degree will be awarded by the respective university.
These selected universities will not have to come to the regulator repeatedly to seek permission since they have scored and maintained their NAAC ranking, as per the HRD minister.
The UGC also decided to issue show-cause notice to three deemed to be universities for not meeting the required standards.
