HOW WILL YOU USE AUTONOMY? CENTRE TO ASK UNIVERSITIES

NEWDELHI: The Human Resource Development ministry will invite universities such as Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Hyderabad, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), and Benares Hindu University (BHU) that were given graded autonomy , to make a presentation on how they plan to use their new-found autonomy, to ensure that they do not sue their new-found freedom to hike tuition fees or make other student-unfriendly changes, according to a ministry official.

The universities, which were given freedom on several academic, operational, and administrative issues earlier this year will also be expected to present a five-year plan, this person added, asking not to be identified. The apex administrative body of universities, the University Grants Commission (UGC) took this decision at a meeting last month.

“During the meeting it was suggested that all the 35 universities that were granted graded autonomy (level I and II) in March should be invited to make a presentation on how they would use the autonomy. It will also give the ministry an idea about their action plan for the next five years,” said a senior HRD official.

A fresh meeting is likely to be held by the end of this month.

HRD ministry officials said varsities that have been granted autonomy will be free to launch new courses and departments, and enter into collaborations with foreign educational institutes, without seeking the UGC’S permission. They will also be exempt from UGC inspections, obtaining appraisals on the basis of self-reporting. Besides this, they’ll be allowed to hire global talent for 20% of their faculty strength .

“Although these universities will remain within the UGC’S ambit, they will have the freedom to launch new courses, off-campus centres, skill development courses and new academic programmes,” HRD minister Prakash Javadekar had said at the time of granting autonomy to the universities. Comments from the universities on the matter weren’t immediately available.