TS, AP varsities miss mark SC ALLOWS AP BODY TO HOLD EXAMS

Centre’s GIAN project only for ‘A’ grade accredited institutions

Only about half a dozen state universities in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh will be eligible for the Union HRD ministry-pioneered Global Initiative for Academic Networks (GIAN).

Guidelines prepared by the government for the GIAN mandate that only premier institutions, like the IITs, NITs, IISERs and Central and state universities, can participate in the programme.

Only “A” grade accredited state varsities are eligible in the first phase, which eliminates most of the universities in TS and AP. GIAN allows institutions to hire acclaimed foreign faculty to teach subjects for a limited period and the Centre will pay for it. GIAN courses will also have to be recorded and uploaded online.

The Narendra Modi-led government had introduced GIAN aimed at inviting international faculty members to teach at Indian universities. Fields Medal winner Prof. Manjul Bhargava was the first internationally-renowned faculty to be roped in for the GIAN. Prof Bhargava is also an adjunct professor at the University of Hyderabad.

The guidelines mandate that initially all IITs, IIITs, NITs, IISc, IISERs, IIEST, National Law Schools, IIMs, Central and state universities that have received “A” grade accreditation will be considered “approved institutions”.

As per these criteria, only Osmania University, Kakatiya University, Andhra University, SV University and JNTU-Hyderabad will be eligible. There are 34 state universities in the two states. However, other varsities may gain access to international faculty under this programme later. International faculty have to be invited by each institution after a Central selection committee approves the hiring of the academician. Creditsharing systems for this are yet to be developed. The Supreme Court on Wednesday suspended a part of the judgement of the Hyderabad High Court where it ruled that the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education ceased to exist.

The apex court held that the APSCHE can continue to hold entrance examinations in AP on its own. The SC directed both parties to file counter affidavits within four weeks.

Admitting the special leave petition filed by the APSCHE, the two-member bench passed an interim order keeping part of the Hyderabad HC judgement, where the latter had ruled that the APSCHE has ceased to exist, in abeyance.

The SC said it will take a call on the institute’s funds later.