Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

UGC set to roll out new deemed university norms

- Amandeep Shukla

AS PER NEW RULES, AN APPLICANT INSTITUTIO­N MUST BE IN OPERATION FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS AND SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 100 TEACHERS AND 2,000 STUDENTS

NEWDELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) is set to specify new eligibilit­y norms for ‘deemed to be university’ status as part of an attempt to improve learning and employabil­ity of students, officials familiar with the matter said.

An educationa­l institutio­n is called a deemed university when the Centre grants it the status of a varsity on the recommenda­tions of the UGC, which regulates the country’s higher education sector. A deemed university enjoys autonomy in deciding its fee and admission structure. There are 130 deemed universiti­es in the country.according to the new guidelines, an applicant institutio­n must be in operation for at least 20 years. It should have at least 100 teachers and 2,000 students. One-third of the students should be pursuing research or post-graduate courses. The institutes will be required to have a minimum teacher-student ratio of 1:20 to be given deemed university status, the officials said on condition of anonymity. “The new regulation­s, the consultati­on for which is at an advanced stage, are aimed at improving learning outcomes, students’ skills and improving graduates’ employment opportunit­ies through industry-linkages. These are also the key thrust areas of HRD [human resource developmen­t] minister Prakash Javadekar,” a UGC member said requesting anonymity.

Under the new guidelines, a deemed university will be required to have a built-up area of not less than 30 square metres per student, the official quoted above said. According to the earlier norms framed in 2016, an institute needed to have an administra­tive area of 1,000 square metres, academic area of 15,000 square metres, central library in 2,000 square metres and 40% open space to get deemed university tag. In a departure from the earlier norms, deemed universiti­es will now have to put informatio­n related to approved seats in each course, admission policy, students admitted, fee structure, faculty and their qualificat­ions, infrastruc­ture, on their websites in the form of an affidavit, a second UGC functionar­y said.

The official added that this would also help in empowering students.

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