Top varsities now get special UGC benefits

No need for prior permission to set up departments if they have NAAC accreditation for three consecutive years

Noting that the University Grants Commission (UGC) has in the recent past taken a number of measures for facilitating the growth of private sector in higher education, UGC chairman Ved Prakash said now universities that obtain the highest accreditation grade for three consecutive terms stand to get certain benefits.

“Universities that obtain the highest accreditation grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council for three consecutive terms need not approach the UGC to set up new departments. The validity of the accreditation period will be doubled and the institutions will not be subjected to NAAC accreditation after every five years,” he said.

In addition, the UGC, he said, would not review the institution as a deemed-to-be university, and it can carry out its own review and this will be accepted by the UGC.

Funds sought

He was speaking at VIT University Day and Annual Sports Day on Sunday. Mr. Prakash was replying to VIT University chancellor G. Viswanathan, who earlier said that UGC should allot funds to performing institutions.

The UGC chairman later told reporters that the Commission has been able to implement the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) in all Central universities.

Varsities reluctant

“We have been talking about CBCS for a very long time. Somehow, the university system was not embracing it,” he said.

He added that the disbursement of grants was now done through RTGS, and scholarships were now directly deposited into the accounts of individual scholars.

To a question on National Institute Ranking Framework, he said the second such ranking of institutions would be announced on April 4. “This creates a healthy academic competition. We are moving towards making it mandatory for institutions,” he added.

Caste issues

UGC has a regulation in place to prevent caste-based discrimination on campuses, he said, adding that each institute should have anti-discrimination officer and action was being taken against those involved.

He denied that the move to set up National Higher Education Finance Corporation would affect the financial autonomy of UGC. “Here, the government will commit to some resources, and get some funds from the corporate sector. It will provide loans to different educational institutions to help improve infrastructure or start new programme,” he said.

Nurturing talent

Earlier, speaking at the programme, he said institutions should sharpen the tools for recruiting best students. “If the best student comes from districts such as Cuddalore, Nellore or Guntur, or from non-scholarly family, or from a marginalised section, it is the duty of the university to work on that student so that the talent is appropriately nurtured and transformed into a real asset,” he said.

Mr. Viswanathan requested the Central government to introduce liberalisation in education so that institutions performing well would be recognised.

“We have to run from pillar to post to construct a building in Chennai and get 14 No Objection Certificates from the village panchayat to Airports Authority of India. The government should come up with a single window system like those offered to industries,” he said.

He urged the government to take steps to attract foreign students to India.

On the occasion, educational scholarship worth Rs. 11.69 crore was disbursed to 2,870 students on the occasion.