DEEMED VARSITY TAG TO YET-TOBE-ESTABLISHED INSTITUTIONS?
The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry, which is already under fire for ‘granting’ the Institute of Eminence tag to non-existing Jio Institute, may embroil into another controversy as the HRD Ministry has proposed to provide deemed university status to yet-to-beestablished institutions.
Even though the right to accept or deny the proposal of any such yet-to-be-established university for deemed university tag would be with the HRD Ministry, experts have opined that such moves would degrade the quality of education in the country.
However, this facility would be made available under the new category ‘de-novo, which has been included in the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2018. The UGC has issued a draft of this regulation and sought comments/suggestions from the stakeholders.
According to the draft rules, the sponsoring institution for Deemed University tag would have to submit a detailed project report (DPR) to the UGC after fulfilling all necessary conditions prior to the establishment of a new institution. The DPR would also have a 15-year work plan as well as a five-year implementation plan.
The report would be examined by UGC established com- mittee of experts. The report would be sent to HRD Ministry only after getting positive remarks from the committee; else the proposal would be sent back to the applicant.
Explaining about the draft, an official said, “The proposal is open for all such institutions that would offer courses in the subjects which are currently not available in the country and desired.
The purpose of introducing de-novo category is to make available all desired and professional courses in India only by granting Deemed University status to proposed institutions.”
Some of the conditions that are to be fulfilled at the time of declaration as deemed to be university include corpus fund of minimum Rs 40 crore, hostel facility for at least 25 per cent and in five years it has to be increased by 50 per cent.
The proposed institute must have a built-up area of minimum 30 square metres per student. The entire land should be available at the freehold or leasehold for at least 30 years for the institution.
Experts have opined that such moves would degrade the quality of education in the country