2 Haryana varsities get more autonomy

KURUKSHETR: Kurukshetra University and Guru Jambeshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, are among the 21 state universities in the country granted greater autonomy by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Stating this, Haryana education minister Ram Bilas Sharma said these universities have been given different degrees of freedom in academic and administrative decision-making.

Kurukshetra University has been ranked eighth with National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) score of 3.52 and granted grade-I autonomy.

Guru Jambeshwar University of Science and Technology has been ranked 21st with NAAC score of 3.28 and given grade-II autonomy.

The minister said out of the only two private universities, which have been awarded autonomous status, one is from Haryana — OP Jindal Global University, Sonepat, which has been ranked first among private universities with NAAC score of 3.26 and granted grade-II autonomy.

The minister said, “These universities have brought laurels to the state and we are proud of the efforts made by them for achieving new heights in the field of higher education”. There are 799 Universities in India as per the All India Survey on Higher Education 2015-16, he added.

Principal secretary, higher education department, Jyoti Arora said the state government has already made accreditation from NAAC mandatory for all the institutions of higher learning and necessary directions to all the vice-chancellors and college principals have been issued.

KU vice-chancellor Kailash Chandra Sharma congratulated the faculty, students and researchers on achieving this coveted recognition.