UGC calls for deemed varsity status to IIMC Institute functions under the I& B ministry

The University Grants Commission ( UGC) has recommended the HRD ministry to grant deemed university status to the Indian Institute of Mass Communication ( IIMC). The institute, one of the prestigious journalism schools in the country which functions under the ministry of information and broadcasting, offers post- graduate diploma courses in journalism, advertising and public relations.

The UGC had last year formed a four- member committee headed by B. K. Kuthiala, the vicechancellor of Makhanlal Chaturvedi University, Bhopal, to analyse the proposal by the IIMC. The panel was later disbanded and two committees — one headed by Sachidanand Joshi, member secretary, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts ( IGNCA) and other headed by M. S. Parmar, vice- chancellor, Kushabhau Thakre University of Journalism — made the recommendation.

“Based on the committee’s recommendation and inspection team’s feedback, the UGC has recommended that the ministry should issue a Letter of Intent ( LoI) to the journalism school under the ‘ De Novo’ category.

The status will enable the institute to grant degrees instead of diplomas,” a senior UGC official said.

‘ De Novo’ refers to an institution which focuses on teaching and research in emerging areas of knowledge.

IIMC director- general K G Suresh said: “We are looking forward to the LoI. Deemed university status would enable us to offer post graduate courses, including Masters, MPhil and PhD and thereby we would be able to prepare students for the academia as well.”