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Of UGC, and New Rules For Deemed Universities: Viewpoint

The document summarizes new rules established by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for deemed universities in India. The key points are: 1) The new rules greatly reduce the control that sponsoring trusts/societies have over deemed universities, transferring control to boards of management with university employees and government nominees. 2) The rules are criticized for discouraging private investment in education and reducing autonomy of universities. 3) The extensive regulations established by the UGC are seen as threatening innovation and quality in higher education by restricting programs, admissions, fees and more.

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52 views

Of UGC, and New Rules For Deemed Universities: Viewpoint

The document summarizes new rules established by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for deemed universities in India. The key points are: 1) The new rules greatly reduce the control that sponsoring trusts/societies have over deemed universities, transferring control to boards of management with university employees and government nominees. 2) The rules are criticized for discouraging private investment in education and reducing autonomy of universities. 3) The extensive regulations established by the UGC are seen as threatening innovation and quality in higher education by restricting programs, admissions, fees and more.

Uploaded by

GANESH
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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VIEWPOINT Dheeraj Sanghi

Of UGC, And New Rules


For Deemed Universities

H
igher education in India other than the Registrar and the society’s nominee,
must be academicians. Under the new rules, pro-
continues to be over- moters will not enjoy a freehand in appointing the
regulated. The University Vice Chancellor. There will be a selection commit-
tee comprising a nominee of the Chancellor, the
Grants Commission (UGC) Government and the Board (remember that the
has notified new rules for board is not controlled by the promoters), that will
any college that desires to select the Vice Chancellor. Lest the promoters try to
control the board by appointing dummy Deans and
be a university under Section 3 of the UGC Act- Professors, who are then nominated onto the
1956—“UGC (Institutions Deemed to be board, the rules clarify that Deans and Professors
will be members of the Board by rotation. The
Universities) Regulations-2010”. Chancellor’s post itself cannot be occupied by the
Bear with me as I explain some of the rules. Among other things, if these are president of the society or relatives. It is expected
implemented, then it would mean that a trust (or society) that sets up a college that the society will nominate someone who is a
will have pretty much no control over it—once it is declared as a “deemed-to-be” distinguished public figure. Though well-meaning,
university. The university would be run by a board of management, which will I see far too many problems with this model.
have all power. Half of that board would be employees of the university: including
the Vice Chancellor, two Deans, two Professors, Registrar, and Pro Vice Chancel- Making Sense
lor (if there is one). The sponsoring society can have only one nominee. The First of all, is it fair to ask promoters to relinquish-
Centre will also have an Academician. He or she will be one among the three control of a university that they have created with a
“eminent” academicians who may be nominated by the Chancellor to the board. lot of care? Would it be fair to ask the Birla family to
The second aspect of the rule is that there will be no one from the industry on have nothing to do with BITS, or the Thapar family
the board (unless the sponsoring society nominates one). There shall be no to wash their hands off Thapar University—inciden-
alumni on the board, (a rule that is incidentally against the current best prac- tally, two of the best Indian institutions.
tices for good governance of universities across the world). Board members, Second point: is it fair to assume that a Board,

14 EDUTECH  February 2011


Dheeraj Sanghi VIEWPOINT

consisting of exclusively academics, will have Rules also mandate that a deemed university
sufficient experience to manage a university? must be residential. While most famous universi-
Again, when world-class universities are ties of the world are so, it is by no means a
contemplating about appointing their alumni and requirement to achieve excellence. So, why has
industry people on board, India is moving in a this rule been drafted?
completely different direction. Also, deemed universities will no longer remain
Also, rules state that a Vice Chancellor (VC) has autonomous to decide which programmes to run
to be the board’s “Chairman”. Question arises: who or discontinue. Anytime a new department is to
then evaluate the VC? Having an executive head, be set up, UGC permission will be needed. If uni-
whose performance cannot be evaluated, is not versities wish to grow beyond their current size,
good governance. Fourth, if the Centre believes UGC permission will be needed.
that this is indeed the best model, why is it not Why can’t a university decide its own course?
bringing this model of governance for universities New rules also forbid joint programmes
that it has promoted? Over the past decade, there between deemed universities, without UGC
have been numerous demands for more autonomy approval—even if it is between two Indian univer-
by IITs and IIMs. Such demands have been reject- sities. Regulations also bar the use of the word
ed by the Centre—it has specified that as a “pro- “university” in a name—unless an institution has
moter”, it must have control over these institu- been using that word and has a stay from a court
tions. If the Centre feels that IITs and IIMs cannot permitting it. Under the new rules, a deemed uni-
be given autonomy simply because it has funded versity will have to have a minimum of five disci-
these institutions so far, why does the same logic plines. There have been examples of successful
not apply to privately-funded universities? institutions that are focused—ISB for example,
The UGC rules go on to specify even small details: which can’t be a deemed school now.
a 15-day notice requirement for holding a board These rules also threaten to take away a univer-

T
meeting or a quorum of eight members. I have never sity’s freedom to determine its fee for courses and

he message is clear. Innovation is


not to be allowed in India. Will it
be fair to ask the Birlas to have
nothing to do with BITS?
heard of a quorum requirement of eight in a board of makes Central regulations mandatory. One of the
10 people. The panel also specifies membership most important reasons why a deemed university
functions of a council, lists the standing committees has been able to provide quality education (com-
of the board and their functions. The message is pared to the affiliated colleges across the country)
clear. Innovation is not to be allowed in India. is because they are free to charge higher tuition
fee. Quality education costs money.
Shutting Doors
Beyond governance, the UGC rules take away A Looming Disaster
most of the autonomy that universities enjoy. Overall, the rules are a disaster for higher educa-
Dheeraj Sanghi
When the new rules are implemented, admis- tion. They remove the role of promoters from uni-
Dr Sanghi is the former
sions will become depended on pan-India tests. versities, discouraging companies and individuals director of Laxmi Narayan
Deemed universities often offer direct admission from investing in education. They take away Mittal Institute of Informa-
tion Technology, Jaipur. He
to board toppers for their undergrad courses, autonomy from universities and strengthen the is a professor of computer
which will now be illegal (though research shows role of a regulator to an unacceptably high science at IIT, Kanpur.
that Class XII results are a better indicator of suc- degree—destroying islands of quality in a sea of Dr Sanghi has a BTech in
computer science from
cess). Similarly, having a limited number of seats mediocrity. IIT Kanpur and an MS and
under “sports quota” will become illegal. a PhD from University of
Maryland, USA . He can be
Incidentally, none of these rules will apply to the Subscribe to the daily electronic newsletter from EDU at reached at dheeraj.sanghi@
government universities. http://edu-leaders.com/content/newsletters edu-leaders.com

February 2011  EDUTECH 15

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