Bharathidasan University yet to get a V-C

Bharathidasan University yet to get a V-C

Commissioner of Collegiate Education E. Sundaravalli is heading the panel in Bharathidasan University as well as Madurai Kamaraj University

C. Jaisankar

TIRUCHI  28.03.2025

The delay in appointing the new Vice-Chancellor for Bharathidasan University, one of the largest universities in the State in terms of its jurisdiction and the number of affiliated colleges, has caused concern in academic circles.

M. Selvam, who was the Vice Chancellor of the university for four years that included one year of extension, demitted office on February 5.

A three-member VC Convenor Committee was subsequently constituted to perform the duties of the Vice-Chancellor of Bharathidasan University. The Committee is empowered to discharge manyduties of the Vice-Chancellor until an appointment is made to the post.

Commissioner of Collegiate Education E. Sundaravalli is the Convener of the Committee. Syndicate members R. Sakthi Krishnan and V. Rajesh Kannan are the other two members of it. A

ll important files related to the day-to-day administration of the university are referred to them. Ms. Sundaravalli, who functions from Chennai, has to handle all files of the university in addition to her regular role as the Commissioner of Collegiate Education. Moreover, she is also the Convener of the VC Convenor Committee of Madurai Kamaraj University because of the vacancy of its VC.

According to sources, though Ms. Sundaravalli visits Tiruchi occasionally to oversee the supervision of the university, the officials have to make frequent visits to Chennai to get the files cleared as she has to handle her regular works too.

The jurisdiction of the Bharathidasan University extends from Tiruchi to Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam. It has about 153 affiliated colleges. In addition to them, it has to handle all academic and non-academic activities of 38 departments.

A faculty member said that the VC search committee would normally be constituted months prior to the end of tenureof Vice Chancellor. However, even eight weeks after Mr. Selvam demitted office, the VC search committee has not been constituted yet. Going by the strong discord between Governor R.N. Ravi and the State government on including a UGC nominee in the search committees, it was observed that it would take time for the constitution of VC search committee to receive applications from the aspiring candidates for the post of Vice-Chancellor.

Academics air equivalency worry over UGC’s new role in foreign degree recognition

Prof Furqan Qamar, the former secretary-general of the AIU and former vice-chancellor of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, said recognition of academic degrees is not done by any government agency globally

Basant Kumar Mohanty Published 23.03.25, 05:47 AM

The grant of certificates equivalent to degrees awarded by foreign universities to Indian students will be handled by the University Grants Commission (UGC) instead of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), according to a government decision that has been decried by academics.

Academics have expressed concern over the transfer of responsibility from an independent body like the AIU to a government-controlled agency like the UGC in violation of global practice.

The education ministry is learnt to have communicated its decision to the UGC to take over the work. However, the UGC is yet to set up a wing with experts to handle the task.

Since its inception in 1925, the AIU has been granting equivalence certificates to foreign degree holders to enable them to pursue higher studies and jobs in India. The ministry of human resource development (MHRD), now the education ministry, had in 1995 issued a notification to recognise the work undertaken by the AIU.

However, the UGC, headed by M. Jagadesh Kumar as its chairman, proposed to take over the responsibility in 2023 and unveiled draft regulations. The education ministry has since then held a series of meetings with UGC and AIU officials, sources said.

“The government has decided that the UGC is the appropriate body to perform this responsibility. The government took the decision on the ground that the AIU is a private body and it cannot be allowed to discharge this responsibility,” a UGC official said.

The AIU gets financial assistance from the government for the promotion of sports and games in universities. Currently, 1,004 universities are members of the AIU.

For the AIU to grant equivalence certificates, the foreign university should be recognised in that country, the course should be a full-time, regular (on-campus) degree programme and the programme duration should be the same as Indian universities.

The AIU does not grant equivalence certificates to pathway degrees that help students transition to the second year of an undergraduate course in a university after pursuing a one-year diploma course in another institute.

The UGC may allow equivalence to pathway degrees, according to its draft.

Prof M.M. Salunkhe, the former president of the AIU, disapproved of the government’s decision.

“There have been no allegations against the AIU. It has performed its work professionally for 100 years. It has the expertise. Most importantly, it is truly an independent agency. I believe that an independent agency should handle this work,” Salunkhe said.

Prof Furqan Qamar, the former secretary-general of the AIU and former vice-chancellor of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, said recognition of academic degrees is not done by any government agency globally. For example, the European Network of Information Centre and National Academic Recognition Information Centre handles the recognition of academic degrees in European countries.

Qamar said the UN’s education arm Unesco also preferred member countries to designate a similar independent agency for this work.

RGUHS students get same questions from prep paper of two colleges in final Ayurveda exam

RGUHS students get same questions from prep paper of two colleges in final Ayurveda exam

Mar 15, 2025, 23:23 IST

Read more at:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/119052907.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Bengaluru: A controversy has erupted over the Ayurveda exams conducted by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) after students discovered that their final examination paper was identical to the preparatory question paper of two colleges. The revelation has triggered outrage among students, who are now questioning the fairness of the examination process.

The Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) first professional Sahita Adhyayana-1 final examination was held on March 7, 2025. On Monday, the university received an anonymous mail, stating that the final exam question paper was identical to the preparatory question paper of SDM Ayurveda College, Udupi, and Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya and Hospital, Hubbali. Though the colleges had no role in the question paper that was distributed, the news spread and the students alleged foul play over the conduct of the exam. Thr incident has raised serious concerns about the integrity and fairness of the examination process. University exams are meant to assess students on an equal footing, but if the same questions appear in both a practice test and final exam, it puts some students at an unfair advantage, while leaving others at a disadvantage," alleged Likith Gowda N M, convenor of Jignasa Karnataka South.

"When we set a question paper, we call a group of experts from across Karnataka to prepare it. In June 2023, a set of examiners prepared around 12 question papers. Once they set the question paper, we take the confidentiality clause with them that whatever questions they have set should not be revealed or repeated. However, in this case, one of the examiners released it in Dec for the preparatory examination in their college," explained registrar evaluation of RGUHS, Riyaz Basha.

"Our system is computer-generated. From among the available sets of 10, one question paper was released on March 7. It turned out to be the same paper this examiner used three months back in his college. The same paper was shared between two colleges," he added. "It is not a question paper leak, but it is a fault of the paper setter. There is a clause of confidentiality and a sense of ethics that he has broken. After we were informed of this on March 11, we asked them for an explanation. They have now sent an explanation. On Monday, a committee will go through it. Depending upon how many people have been impacted and the quantum, a call will be taken on the future of the case," he added.

Can’t pay you: Govt to Madras varsity ‘Not Bound To Provide Salaries’

Can’t pay you: Govt to Madras varsity ‘Not Bound To Provide Salaries’

Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com 14.03.2025

Chennai : A letter from state govt stating that it is under no obligation to provide salary or pension grants to the University of Madras has sparked a controvery. Educationists want the govt to adopt a holistic approach to resolve the financial crisis and save the struggling state university. The letter was sent in reply to the member-secretary of Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority asking the govt to depute an officer to appear at the counselling centre on March 12 in connection with a pension-related case. 

“As per University of Madras statutes, there is no obligation on the part of the govt to provide salary or pension or any grant to the university. Previous sanctions were made as a special grant to meet the payment of pension and family pension arrears,” G K Arun Sundar Thayalan, special secretary to govt, said in his letter to the Madras University Registrar on March 11.

“Hence, the university is liable to pay pension arrears, family pension arrears, and DCRG arrears. Above all, the govt does not sanction pensions for the university officials,” he further stated in the letter. Former vice-chancellor of the university P Duraisamy said whatever was stated in the letter is correct as per the statutes. 

“At the same time, the state govt should allow the increase of fees to boost the revenue of the university. The govt should take a holistic approach to solve the financial crisis,” he said. Another former ViceChancellor, S P Thyagarajan, said if the state govt does not provide the funding, it would be disastrous. “University of Madras is not offering any professional courses. The admission to PG programmes in university departments is also less. The state govt should provide the grant so the poor and downtrodden will have access to higher education,” he said.

The govt can adopt any model to provide the grant, he added. “This is the first university established in the state. Not allowing the university to increase the fees periodically also affected it. So, the state govt cannot say it has no obligation. It should immediately release the grants meant for the university,” said C Murugan, general secretary, Madras University Teachers 'Association.

New RUHS VC takes charge amid protests by med assn First Pharmacist To Hold VC Post At Any Govt Health Varsity

New RUHS VC takes charge amid protests by med assn First Pharmacist To Hold VC 

Post At Any Govt Health Varsity 

Intishab.Ali@timesofindia.com 06.03.2025

 Jaipur : Dr Pramod Yeole assumed the role of Vice Chancellor of Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS) on Wednesday, succeeding Dr. Dhananjai Agarwal, amidst ongoing protests led by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and various teaching associations across the state. 

Dr Yeole's appointment, made by Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde, has stirred significant unrest, as he becomes the first pharmacist to occupy the VC position at any govt health university in India. Following his induction, Yeole expressed his intention to leverage his extensive experience of over 30 years in university administration, having served as Vice Chancellor in five universities, to elevate RUHS to new heights.

Despite his assurances, the appointment has been met with fierce opposition from medical practitioners in Rajasthan. Critics argue that appointing a non-MBBS degree holder to lead an institution that oversees 30 medical colleges undermines the integrity of medical education. IMA’s Rajasthan chapter has issued a warning of state-wide demonstrations if the decision is not reversed, citing the critical need for strong medical leadership to uphold educational standards and foster research within the university. 

Dr Yeole, who holds a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, maintained that his appointment adhered to the regulations stipulated by the university Act and the guidelines set forth by University Grant Commission. "Since the selection committee followed the provisions in the university Act, I believe this protest will not be an issue. The administration operates on a committee-based model, and we will work collaboratively to benefit the university,” he said in an interview with TOI. 

With a leadership background that spans four decades, including significant roles at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University and Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Yeole emphasized his commitment to teamwork and inclusive governance. IMA, however, remained unconvinced. 

IMA Rajasthan secretary Dr PC Garg expressed concerns regarding the implications of appointing a pharmacist as VC of a health university. “Health universities play a crucial role in setting high standards for medical education and advancing research. The VC must possess comprehensive knowledge of clinical practices and public health challenges,” Garg asserted. In his first actions as VC, Dr Yeole met with Governor Bagde and interacted with RUHS statutory officers

Non-MBBS VC for medical university faces Rajasthan doctors' opposition

Non-MBBS VC for medical university faces Rajasthan doctors' opposition

Mar 5, 2025, 2:29 IST

Haribhau Bagde.

JAIPUR: Rajasthan's medical fraternity reacted with outrage Tuesday to governor Haribhau Bagde appointing someone with a doctoral degree in pharmaceutical sciences as vice chancellor of Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS), terming it "unacceptable" and threatening a statewide agitation if the decision wasn't revoked, reports Intishab Ali.

The state chapter of IMA has written to Bagde, saying Pramod Yeole being asked to take charge of RUHS was at odds with the institution's responsibility of setting high standards in medical education, and improving public health outcomes. Thirty medical colleges are affiliated to the university. Yeole was previously VC of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University in Aurangabad and pro VC of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University.

NAAC purges 900 assessors after corruption allegations

NAAC purges 900 assessors after corruption allegations 

Before Sacking 20% Of Inspectors, It Had Stopped Physical Inspections

Hemali.Chhapia@timesofindia.com 25.02.2025

Mumbai : The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) took a dramatic step, cutting nearly a fifth of its peer reviewers — almost 900 of them — after allegations of corruption surfaced in the grading process. The purge followed a tip-off to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that assessors visiting Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, a deemed university in Andhra Pradesh, solicited a bribe in exchange for the highest accreditation grade. At a moment when NAAC was already reassessing its accreditation framework, the mass removal of reviewers signalled a deeper shift. 

Letters from the NAAC director to the remaining peer reviewers made clear that their work was more than procedural; it was a “nationally important assignment”. “We were reviewing our processes for over a year. We were also looking at the assessors on board and while we removed many, we were also looking at onboarding some senior academicians, vicechancellors, deans, and directors of reputed insti tutes,” said professor Anil Sahasrabudhe, chairman of the NAAC executive committee. 

In a move aimed at eradicating corruption and streamlining accreditation, after the KLEF case, NAAC abruptly halted physical inspections of colleges. Evaluations, it said, would now be conducted entirely online, eliminating campus visits for colleges. Universities, though, would see a hybrid approach—most assessments would be remote, but select reviewers would still conduct on-site visits to ensure oversight. “Integrity is not a line item—it is the very foundation of trust in the system. 

We dropped more than 900 assessors. In some cases, the data about these assessors was insufficient; in others, we reviewed their assessments and found them lacking. Some were removed based on feedback we received, and in others, we analysed how they wrote their reports,” NAAC director Ganesan Kannabiran told TOI. “In some cases, we compared the two assessment reports and felt that certain assessors’ performance did not meet NAAC’s requirements,” Kannabiran added.

Fake faculty row: Anna univ to inspect all 440 colleges

Fake faculty row: Anna univ to inspect all 440 colleges 

Before Nod For Affiliation This Academic Year

Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com 24.02.2025

Chennai : In the wake of last year’s fake faculty row, Anna University has decided to inspect all 440 engineering colleges in the state for granting affiliation for 2025-26. During the check, it will look into the permanently affiliated courses to rule out any malpractices. It will check various parameters including qualifications of the principal, faculty members, library, classrooms, labs, and admissions. Last year, top colleges were exempted from physical inspection. 

In a recent circular, the university asked colleges to submit biometric details of faculty members after authenticating them with Aadhaar through the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency and Unique Identification Authority of India. It also asked them to verify all certificates, including PAN and Aadhaar details, with originals. College chairpersons or secretaries of trusts were directed to submit an affidavit stating that all details submitted are true. It also mandated AICTE Faculty ID for all members. “Faculty qualifications, experience, scale of pay, and cadre ratio should be strictly followed as per AICTE norms to grant affiliation,” the circular from registrar J Prakash said. “Those pro grammes which have not fulfilled the stipulated affiliation requirements will be suspended or withdrawn without any further notice.” For the first time, the university sought details of all permanently affiliated courses to verify them.

“Anna University used to give permanent affiliation to courses if the college is offering the course for 10 years with better admission record and no prior punishment. However, it was found that some colleges misused the permanent affiliation and showed them as faculty members in other departments. So, it was decided to verify these courses also,” a source said. The last date for submission of applications for affiliation with a late fee for 2025-26 is Feb 28. AICTE Approval Process Handbook for 2025-26 allowed institutions to appoint up to 20% of faculty as Professors of Practice (PoP) — industry professionals with varying qualifications, including PhDs or BTech with significant industry experience. The university is yet to act against 2,500 faculty members found faking identities and working in multiple colleges at the same time. Some 30 colleges were involved. “There is a court case regarding POP qualifications. University is yet to action against the faculty members and colleges. Then only the physical inspection for 2025-26 will commence,” a source added.

Pvt varsities rope in service providers for degree programmes

Pvt varsities rope in service providers for degree programmes

Sruthy Susan Ullas

Feb 19, 2025, 23:48 IST

Bengaluru: Several private universities in the state have started taking the help of service providers to conduct degree programmes, especially in new-age fields where their existing faculty don't have expertise. These programmes range from computer science engineering to BBA to BCom.

Face Prep, for instance, which was into campus placement training for over 16 years, started the business of taking over and running degree programmes in 2023, and is expected to touch 28 colleges in the country for the academic year 2025-26. The courses it handles consist of BCA or BSc in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Machine Learning, BCom in FinTech with Artificial Intelligence, and BBA in eCommerce with Digital Marketing.

"We act as knowledge partners, providing end-to-end solutions for colleges. What makes our programmes different from the conventional curriculum is that students will learn hands-on," said Karthik Raja, CEO of Face Prep. In the model Face Prep offers, it forms the curriculum, which is vetted by the college, sets the criteria for admission, and helps in recruiting and training faculty for the programme.

The CEO of another company providing similar services in healthcare courses said: "These are specifically for new-age programmes that universities are not best poised to either invest in developing curriculum for, training faculty, or setting up skill labs. So, they appoint a service provider. We're a training partner that produces industry-aligned modules and provides placement support and internships. For that scope of work, universities appoint us. The exams, assessment, and award of degrees are done by the colleges."

"For skill-based education, UGC (University Grants Commission) specifically allows universities to appoint a training-cum-placement partner. We help them in curriculum development by bringing industry-side modules, bringing experts from the industry, and setting up skill labs at our own cost," he added.

‘Undervalued profession'

The fact that universities are forced to take the help of service providers is mainly on account of lack of expert faculty, said Rajesh Kumar, CEO and co-founder of Kalvium, which runs computer science engineering programmes in 17 universities, with 13 more in the pipeline for the next academic year.

"The reliance of universities on service providers emerges from the fact that teaching and learning as a profession is extremely undervalued, and the quality of teachers has dipped. This is particularly true in cases like engineering because of the job potential it holds. Hence, there is this move towards partnering with third parties to offer programmes. While PG programmes by service providers have been in practice for some time, UG is just picking up pace now," he said.

"While UGC doesn't permit outsourcing programmes, these service providers act as skill providers, which is permitted by law. This is the space that is being explored by the companies," explained another company CEO working in the domain.

One of the reasons these premier institutions partner with us is the kind of curriculum we've been able to design, which is fairly evolved and advanced compared to what the traditional university system is able to offer

— Rajesh Kumar | CEO & co-founder, Kalvium

Ragging in Karnataka medical college; Kashmiri MBBS student ‘beaten’, given death threats by seniors Second-year student Hamim at Al-Ameen Medical College made to sing, dance, perform 'Al-Ameen' salute, beaten in hostel room. JKSA wants accused suspended.

Ragging in Karnataka medical college; Kashmiri MBBS student ‘beaten’, given death threats by seniors Second-year student Hamim at Al-Ameen Medical College made to sing, dance, perform 'Al-Ameen' salute, beaten in hostel room. JKSA wants accused suspended.

Ragging in Karnataka medical college; Kashmiri MBBS student ‘beaten’, given death threats by seniors... 

Read more at: https://news.careers360.com/ragging-in-karnataka-medical-college-al-ameen-kashmiri-mbbs-second-year-student-beaten-given-death-threats-seniors-jksa

NEW DELHI: 19.02.2025

Amid multiple reports of ragging incidents in colleges across the country, another case has now surfaced in Karnataka wherein a Kashmiri MBBS student has been allegedly ‘brutally’ ragged and assaulted at a medical college. Second-year student Hamim was beaten up by senior students of the 2019 batch at Al-Ameen Medical College in Bijapur, according to the Jammu Kashmir Students Association (JKSA). 

Calling it a ‘deeply disturbing incident’, the student body has sought state chief minister Siddaramaiah’s intervention to ensure strict action against the accused students and to safeguard the rights and safety of students, especially non-locals. It also demanded expulsion of those found guilty from the college.

According to the national convenor of JKSA, who spoke to the victim, the ragging had been going on for months, over a probable clash of power between the senior students and the MBBS student who is the captain of the cricket team of 2023 batch. 

Power clash, death threats 

The student belonging to Anantnag was beaten, humiliated, and severely ragged by seniors, JKSA alleged. Narrating the incident, the association said that the issue came up during a cricket match between the 2019 and 2022 batches on February 18. Initially, Hamim was asked to stay out of the boundary of the playground by the seniors, to which he complied and started watching the match from a distance. When he refused to stay afar, asserting his rights, the seniors allegedly confronted him. What initially was a verbal altercation, quickly turned into bullying, with a group of seniors asking Hamim to perform an "Al-Ameen salute”, sing songs, and dance for their amusement.

They even tried to force him into their car, in an attempt to harm him further. Calling such actions inappropriate and against college rules, the victim student refused and took out his phone to record the incident, further enraging the seniors. Later in the evening, some students barged into the Kashmiri student’s hostel room and inflicted physical assault on him, beating him repeatedly and forcing him to record a video apologizing. 

They also gave him death threats and warned him that he would not be allowed to play cricket for the next four years. “You have four more years here. We are locals—imagine how terrible we can make your life,” the seniors were quoted as saying by the student. “Such incidents highlight the alarming culture of unchecked ragging and abuse within educational institutions. This is not just an isolated case of violence—it is a failure of the system meant to protect students. Immediate legal action must be taken against the perpetrators, and both college authorities and law enforcement must intervene swiftly,” said JKSA. 

Stronger antiragging measures need to be implemented to ensure the safety and dignity of all students, especially non-locals and Kashmiri students, who often face additional discrimination, it added. 

Recently, a junior student at a government nursing college in Kerala’s Kottayam was subjected to ‘brutal’ ragging, an incident that triggered widespread public outcry in the state. Five third-year students who targeted first-year nursing students have been arrested. In similar cases, a government college student in Kerala made allegations of brutal ragging, and an Indore medical college student claimed ragging on social media. Follow us for the latest education news on colleges and universities, admission, courses, exams, research, education policies, study abroad and more..

 To get in touch, write to us at news@careers360.com.

SWAYAM courses suffer high attrition and low completion rates

SWAYAM courses suffer high attrition and low completion rates

 Lack of investments in digital infrastructure, tough exit exams and long classroom sessions with no guaranteed immediate benefit to the learner could be the key reasons 

Rajlakshmi.Ghosh@timesofindia.com 17.02.2025

Less than 4% of students enrolled for SWAYAM courses have completed the programme since 2017, revealed a parliamentary panel committee report released recently. With complaints including outdated content, inflexible teaching, and poor infrastructure being cited as key reasons, questions are being raised about the efficacy of the courses to upskill learners from class IX to the postgraduate level. Experts claim that the large number of dropouts and the low completion rates are due to the lack of investments in digital infrastructure, tough exit exams and boring classroom sessions that make tech intervention a dire necessity. What the courses entail All the courses are interactive and available free of cost, though general citizens wanting a SWAYAM certificate must register for the final proctored exams for a fee and attend in person at designated centres on specified dates. 

Eligibility for the certificate is announced on the course page, and learners will get certificates only if their criteria match. “However, post the UGC’s new framework for SWAYAM courses in August last year enabling universities to conduct exams for SWAYAM courses, students will now take exams at their universities without any cost. Once the students clear the exam, the credits of the courses can be used in their university programme. Should the students fail, a supplementary exam will be conducted by the university at no cost to the learners,” BJ Rao, vice-chancellor, University of Hyderabad, says. 

With the two key deterrents of certificate fee payment and absence of supplementary ex ams being ironed out, students are more likely to complete the courses, reaping the benefits of a flexible learning system. But then, not every academic is convinced. “Unlike in the IITs where the barrier is a tough entrance exam (JEE Advanced), in SWAYAM courses–90% of which are developed by IIT faculty–the challenge lies at the exit level where learners’ ability to grasp topics is tested through proctored exams which act as quality filters. Even though tens of thousands of learners may enrol for these courses, not many want to complete it, simply because they aim to gain knowledge and not necessarily to collect certificates, which is often the case with working professionals,” says V Ram Gopal Rao, vicechancellor, BITS Pilani Group and former director, IIT Delhi. 

According to the parliamentary committee report, teachers who are engaged in imparting lessons report inadequate training, low compensation, and technical issues while recording Swayam lectures. There is an urgent need to make the classes more interesting and prevent high dropout rates, adds Rao. “Leaners constantly complain about monotonous classes where PowerPoint presentations by professors may not help retain students’ interest. This makes the need for tech interventions involving 3D animations, AR/VR platforms all the more relevant, to clarify concepts and improve content delivery,” he says. Mapping recruiters with students The parliamentary commit tee further observed that digital initiatives in education would only provide a lukewarm response in terms of engagement unless the Union education ministry proactively helped learners with placement opportunities wherever possible or set up a platform associated with SWAYAM for connecting recruiters to students. 

With rapid development in technology and AI tools to prepare students for mock interviews and personality training, the idea of a platform to map recruiters with students can be achieved, says Rao. Dealing with the divide Linking the courses with job prospects is not a suitable idea as every course cannot be mapped to a job since pla cement is an integrated outcome of the learning and skilling of the student, says BJ Rao. Increasing internet penetration in the country will ensure better inclusivity and continuity of learning in the rural belt, he adds. PV Navaneethakrishnan, former professor and director of Entrance Exams and Admission, Anna University, Chennai, counters, “The low percentages of SC/ST (4%) and OBC (7%) students having internet-enabled computers according to Oxfam India 2022, and as pointed out by the parliamentary panel, is indicative that the digital divide still exists. Along with this, the urbanrural divide also contributes to the attrition among SWAYAM learners. Since the online

scheme is not familiar or easily accessible to the underprivileged, the system should include periodical offline classes and tutorials with subject experts at convenient locations. This will inculcate in them a sense of belonging and induce confidence in the usefulness of the pursuit. Admissions based on a formal aptitude test will also help reduce the dropout rate.” It is important to reconcile with the fact that not all registrants are serious about completing the courses, particularly since the programmes are free, cost nothing on dropping out, often long and with no guaranteed immediate benefit. “For many, the initial enthusiasm may wear out with the increasing stress of studies as the course progresses. This is an inherent drawback of many online courses, and not just SWAYAM,” Navaneethakrishnan adds

5-yr bar on PhD admissions at Raj univ; ‘high enrolment’ complaints

5-yr bar on PhD admissions at Raj univ; ‘high enrolment’ complaints

Yogita.Rao@timesofindia.com 15.02.2025

Mumbai : A university in Rajasthan, popular among Mumbai college teachers for securing PhDs, has been debarred by the University Grants Commission (UGC) from enrolling students in their PhD programmes for the next five years, starting 2025-26. Shri Jagdish prasad Jhabarmal Tibrewala University (JJTU) has also been asked to discontinue enrolling PhD students immediately. The private university from Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu is governed by laws of the Rajasthan state govt and was founded by Mumbai-based Shri Rajasthani Seva Sangh in 2009. 

The trust, which runs schools and colleges in Andheri, plans to appeal. One of the complaints against the university is they “awarded an unusually high number of PhDs during the period from 2016 to 2020”. The university awarded 1,830 PhD degrees in this period and 408 in 20-20. Another complaint alleged it appoints outside faculty as PhD guides. Teachers said several of its PhD guides earlier were from Mumbai colleges. 

The debarment notice came two days ago following the recommendation of UGC’s standing committee, which found that JJTU did not follow provisions of the commission’s PhD regulations. The university was given an opportunity to explain why it failed to comply with provisions of the UGC PhD regulations; however, the responses received from JJTU were not found satisfactory’. The  committee constituted to monitor whether universities are following the procedure and awarding PhD regulations is also to suggest corrective measures and recommend action to be taken against erring universities. A trustee, though, said there is always misconception about private universities. 

“The UGC has never capped the total number of students who enrol in PhD programmes; what it mentions is the research scholar per guide ratio, which is four for assistant professor, six for associate professor, and eight for professor. JJTU has been adhering to this norm. The only oversight on our part is that we did not submit the Rajasthan govt-appointed committee’s report from 2023 in the submissions to the UGC. The committee was given the list of guides from outside the university along with the in-house ones, and they raised no objection to the appointment of outside faculty,” said the trustee, adding they would submit the committee’s report and appeal to the UGC to reconsider the ban in the coming week. 

The Rajasthan govt set up the committee in 2023 after receiving complaints against the university for appointing higher numbers of PhD guides from outside the university, which was against UGC norms. The committee closed the complaints after an inquiry. JJTU is sought by aspiring college teachers and even those seeking promotions or better placement. 

A senior teacher said the university rose to popularity as there is higher demand from aspirants in Mumbai colleges. “Earlier, Mumbai University’s selection process and approvals from the research and recognition committees (RRC) used to take a longer time, and there were fewer guides for commerce subjects, and JJTU was seen as an easier alternative,” said the teacher, adding the university claims to follow all UGC norms. PhDs from JJTU, on some occasions, were not considered for Maharashtra’s career advancement schemes, said a Mumbai University official.

Bennett Univ launches School of Design

Bennett Univ launches School of Design 

04.02.2025

Bennett University has launched the School of Design, which will offer a four-year Bachelor of Design (B Des) programme with three specialized tracks in Fashion Design, Communication Design, and Game Design. In a statement, the university said the school will foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and handson learning with industry leaders. Workshops and labs like Metal Workshop, Wood Workshop, VR Lab Design and Gaming Studio, Media Lab, Fashion–Pattern Making & Garment Construction Studio and Ceramic Studio will provide hands-on practical environments where students merge theory with practice. The statement added that the school’s advisory board includes several industry leaders. “This collaboration between industry and academia ensures that students receive cutting-edge knowledge, hands-on experience, and global industry exposure, equipping them to excel in the dynamic world of design,” it said. TNN

UGC serves notices to colleges for failing to comply with anti-ragging regulations

UGC serves notices to colleges for failing to comply with anti-ragging regulations

TNN | Feb 4, 2025, 03.59 AM IST

Chennai: The University Grants Commission (UGC) served show-cause notices to 18 colleges in the country, including two each in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, questioning why appropriate action should not be initiated against them for failing to comply with the anti-ragging regulations, 2009.

UGC secretary Manish R Joshi said the institutions failed to obtain anti-ragging undertakings from students as required by the regulations.

He directed them to submit their written explanations detailing the reasons for the lapse and the steps to be taken to rectify it.

The commission, apart from the four colleges in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, sent notices to three colleges each in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, two colleges each in Assam and Delhi, and one college each in Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Recall notification on MKU V-C Search Committee, says R.N. Ravi

Recall notification on MKU V-C Search Committee, says R.N. Ravi

The Higher Education Department issued a G.O. notifying the search committee on January 9.

The Hindu Bureau  31.01.2025

CHENNAI

Governor-Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University R.N. Ravi has called on the State government to recall the notification it has issued on the constitution of a Vice-Chancellor Search Committee for the university.

In a statement, the Raj Bhavan said the government’s notification “is in difference to the search committee” the Governor had constituted and sent for issuing notification. Mr. Ravi had constituted a committee that included the University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman’s nominee, besides those of the Chancellor, the Syndicate, and the Senate of the university, “as per the provisions of the Madurai Kamaraj University Act, 1965, and as per the prevailing regulations of the UGC, 2018, which is held to be mandatory by the Supreme Court.”

He had directed the State government to notify the constitution of the committee through a letter dated December 16, 2024, consisting of four members, with the Chancellor’s nominee as the convener. The Higher Education Department, however, issued a Government Order (G.O.) on January 9, notifying the search committee but “deliberately excluded the UGC Chairman’s nominee, in violation of the Supreme Court judgment,” the statement said.

It cited the case of Prof. (Dr) Sreejith P.S. vs. Dr. Rajasree M.S. and others (Civil Appeal numbers 7634-7635 of 2022, SLP(c) Nos, 21108-21109 of 2021) that any Vice-Chancellor appointment made on the recommendation of a search committee constituted without adhering to the provisions of the UGC Regulations shall be void ab initio.

Surge in NEET-UG cut-off marks: More students opt for Indian medicine courses

Surge in NEET-UG cut-off marks: More students opt for Indian medicine courses

Pushpa.Narayan@timesofindia.com 21.01.2025

Chennai : Gaining admission to undergraduate courses in Indian medicine and homeopathy was tougher this year as the NEET-UG cut-off — the marks of the last student to enter the course — rose by an average of 100 marks in most categories, and by up to nearly 300 marks in select categories. While all seats in undergraduate courses for unani and siddha across colleges were taken, five in ayurveda and 19 in homeopathy were vacant after nearly five rounds of counselling, officials at the selection committee for Indian medicine said. The committee admits students to ayurveda, siddha, unani and homeopathy courses based on merit in NEET scores and the rule of reservation. 

“This year, we saw an increase in students interested in these courses,” said committee secretary Dr M Krishnaveni. The top student to join the bachelor’s course in siddha medicine had a NEET score of 592/720. The score was 585 for ayurveda, 551 for unani and 547 for homeopathy. These students weren’t exceptions, Krishnaveni said. “The difference in marks wasn’t huge.”

Offers galore for Ayush 

Krishnaveni said the last candidate to join siddha had a score of 539. “Barring unani, where the cut-off was 433, all others had a cut-off above 500,” she said. In 2023, the cut-off for siddha was 423, followed by 412 for ayurveda and 405 for homeopathy. The unani cut-off was 231 in 2023 compared to 433 in 2024. Barring unani, the cut-off for all courses in reserved categories was above 400 this year, while students with scores as low as 120 joined these courses last year. 

Experts say the rise in cutoffs was expected as the MBBS cut-offs have increased several fold over the past few years. In 2024, the cut-off for MBBS in the general category for govt medical colleges was 650, while for self-financing colleges it was above 600. In reserved categories, it was around 470. “Many students who have written NEET-UG several times are tired. They don’t want to wait and try another year as it gets tougher with each passing year,” said Manickavel Arumugam, who counsels students. Students and parents agree. “My nephew missed MBBS by two marks. He passed out in 2020 and most of his friends have graduated. We know we can’t afford to pay fees in private colleges. So, he decided to join siddha this year,” said Rajkumar E, who works for a pharmaceutical company. “Many AYUSH graduates now have offers from clinics, pharma companies and govt,” he said.

Appointment of non-academic VCs may dishearten senior faculty

Appointment of non-academic VCs may dishearten senior faculty 

Allowing candidates with proven credentials to become vice-chancellors aligns with NEP 

Sonal.Srivastava@timesofindia.com 20.01.2025

The UGC recently released the draft Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations 2025 to allow candidates with proven credentials and significant contributions from industry, public administration, and public policy to become vice-chancellors. 

The move intended to make Indian universities globally competitive could throw up multiple challenges for non-academicians in the university administration and dishearten academics aspiring for a promotion in their universities. M Jagadesh Kumar, chairman, UGC, says, “Allowing candidates with proven credentials and significant contributions from fields such as industry, public administration, and public policy to become vice-chancellors is a forward-thinking step that aligns with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 vision of stimulating innovation and transforming higher education. By bringing diverse perspectives, leadership experience, and expertise in solving real-world challenges, these candidates can catalyse interdisciplinary research, strengthen industryacademia collaboration, and drive entrepreneurial initiati ves. This inclusive approach ensures that universities are not only centres of academic excellence but also societal progress and innovation engines, fully embracing the transformative aspirations of NEP 2020.”

 Non-academic outsiders might need a significant amount of time to understand the workings of universities and implement NEP provisions. PV Navaneethakrishnan, former professor and director of Entrance Exams and Admission, Anna University, says, “Even VCs hailing from academic institutions spend considerable time learning how to perform as VCs. When the post is made open to industrialists, more time will be needed for their orientation.” Appointing industry experts may dishearten academics as it may close the doors for senior academics to be appointed as VCs. “It is inappropriate to appoint an industrialist as vicechancellor, as varsities are where human character is cultivated, not where machines are produced. An individual lacking academic and research knowledge will execute tasks in a manner consistent with their background and experience. This will dishearten academics, as they recognise that regardless of the quality of their scholarly and research contributions, they will not be prioritised for the position of VC,” says Brajesh Kumar Tiwari, associate professor, ABVSME, JNU.

UGC Draft Regulation 2025: What PhD holders need to know

UGC Draft Regulation 2025: What PhD holders need to know

Assistant professor roles require a postgraduate degree with 55 per cent marks and NET/SET/SLET, except in Engineering and Technology

Jan 15, 2025

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced the UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment & Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025 on January 6, setting forth the minimum qualifications required for appointing and promoting academic staff in universities and colleges. While addressing discipline-specific criteria for faculty eligibility, these guidelines aim to uphold and enhance standards in higher education.

Qualification criteria

Candidates must hold a postgraduate degree with at least 55 per cent marks (or equivalent) and clear the National Eligibility Test (NET), State Eligibility Test (SET), or State-Level Eligibility Test (SLET), to qualify for an assistant professor role in disciplines such as Arts, Commerce, Humanities, Law, Social Sciences, Sciences, Languages, Journalism, and Management.

However, for positions in Engineering and Technology, a postgraduate degree (e.g., ME or MTech) with at least 55 per cent marks suffices, with no NET requirement, as per AICTE standards. Candidates holding a PhD in any discipline are exempt from the NET criterion, making them eligible for assistant professor roles.

Additional provisions for PhD holders If a candidate's PhD discipline differs from their undergraduate or postgraduate discipline (aligned with NCrF levels), the PhD discipline will determine their eligibility for academic appointments.

PhD holders who earned their postgraduate degrees before September 19, 1991, are eligible for a 5 per cent relaxation in marks.

A PhD is mandatory for promotions to Assistant Professor (Academic Level 12), Associate Professor (Academic Level 13A), and Professor (Academic Level 14).

For PhD candidates registered before July 11, 2009, the prevailing regulations of their awarding institution will apply, exempting them from NET/SLET/SET requirements for roles such as Assistant Professor, Assistant Librarian, or Assistant Director of Physical Education and Sports.

Report caste discrimination plaints, UGC directs colleges

Report caste discrimination plaints, UGC directs colleges

Nirupa.Vatyam@timesofindia.com 17.01.2025

Hyderabad : After the Supreme Court asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) about the data on caste discrimination complaints in higher education institutions, the commission directed colleges to submit details about complaints received, resolved, and pending since the 2019-20 academic year. 

“Higher education institutions are requested to establish an Equal Opportunity Cell and SC/ST Cell to ensure the effective and transparent redressal of grievances of the disadvantaged groups. To assist this initiative, the UGC is preparing a database of important aspects, which are crucial to the protection of the rights and interests of the disadvantaged groups and addressing their complaints and grievances. You are therefore requested to submit the requisite information in prescribed format,” read a circular sent by the commission. 

At the state level too, the Telangana SC/ST commission is not maintaining any such data as they told TOI that they get complaints from individuals or groups, but not from universities or colleges. While SC/ST cells at universities said they mostly deal with complaints about the allotment of rooms or guides for PhD students or service related issues from staff, colleges are now forming various cells so that they can send information to UGC. “We don’t get any data from universities or colleges about complaints received from SC/ST students or faculty,” said Telangana State Commission for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes chairman Bakki Venkataiah, adding that a majority of complaints they receive are related to land or service-related issues.

Officials from various universities also said that more than students complaining about caste discrimination, they receive more complaints from staff over promotions or being ignored for a post despite having the required qualifications

Questions raised over PhD offered by private universities in state

Questions raised over PhD offered by private universities in state

17.01.2025

Ahmedabad : There are reports indicating that numerous private universities in Gujarat are accepting PhD candidates without proper evaluation. Some institutions stand accused of selling doctoral degrees, while others have developed a reputation for inappropriately awarding PhDs. The UGC regulations stipulate that universities must conduct entrance examinations for PhD admissions, followed by additional steps including group discussions. Candidates holding MPhil degrees may be exempt from entrance tests, and institutions must implement reservation category guidelines. 

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has established detailed guidelines for PhD admissions across Indian universities, which require institutions to implement entrance examinations for admitting students. The UGC consistently monitors the doctoral admission procedures at various universities to ensure compliance. Following a recent investigation, the UGC discovered violations of regulations in PhD admissions at three private universities in Rajasthan, leading to the termination of their doctoral programmes. The UGC imposed a five-year ban on these institutions from conducting PhD programmes. The universities facing action include OPJS University, Churu, Rajasthan, Sunrise University, Alwar, Rajasthan, and Singhania University, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. TNN