New norm may cost Anna univ IoE status
TNN | Updated: Aug 16, 2019, 4:10 IST
Chennai: It may not be easy for Anna University to get the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Institute of Eminence (IoE) status despite it being ranked among the top 10 engineering institutes in the country. This is because of a last-minute condition that the state government should allot up to 50% of funds, which will amount to Rs 500 crore.
A public institution will receive a grant of Rs 1,000 crore over five years as part of the eminence tag. But, as per the new condition, the UGC will give only Rs 500 crore to the two state universities which were short-listed for IoE status. Jadhavpur University is the other state varsity to get into the list.
“Anna University was short-listed for eminence tag last July. From application to short-listing, it was not mentioned that the state university needs to get up to 50% of the allocation from the state government. The new rule will affect the state universities which are already starved of funds,” said a university official.
The state government has convened a meeting next week to discuss the implications of the condition. “University officials will discuss the issue with government representatives. We will make a detailed presentation on IoE status next week,” said the official.
The university has competed with IITs, NITs and central universities to get the status. “We were short-listed purely on our merit and research output. But now the UGC is treating us differently,” said some professors.
Academicians called the move by UGC “unfair”. “The two state universities should be treated on a par with central universities since they have capabilities to become Institutes of Eminence,” said IIT Kanpur former chairman M Ananthakrishnan. “Despite the financial handicap, these universities competed with other central universities. Now, differentiating them as state and central universities is unfair and uncalled for.”
Anna University former vice-chancellor E Balagurusamy said the condition could possibly eliminate state universities from the list. “Anna University is a top university ranked above many IITs. The Union government should fund it fully without any condition to make it a world class institution,” he said.
The Institute of Eminence scheme is aimed at developing 20 world class institutions in the country.
Those selected will be given greater autonomy and freedom to decide fees, course duration and administrative structures.
TNN | Updated: Aug 16, 2019, 4:10 IST
Chennai: It may not be easy for Anna University to get the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Institute of Eminence (IoE) status despite it being ranked among the top 10 engineering institutes in the country. This is because of a last-minute condition that the state government should allot up to 50% of funds, which will amount to Rs 500 crore.
A public institution will receive a grant of Rs 1,000 crore over five years as part of the eminence tag. But, as per the new condition, the UGC will give only Rs 500 crore to the two state universities which were short-listed for IoE status. Jadhavpur University is the other state varsity to get into the list.
“Anna University was short-listed for eminence tag last July. From application to short-listing, it was not mentioned that the state university needs to get up to 50% of the allocation from the state government. The new rule will affect the state universities which are already starved of funds,” said a university official.
The state government has convened a meeting next week to discuss the implications of the condition. “University officials will discuss the issue with government representatives. We will make a detailed presentation on IoE status next week,” said the official.
The university has competed with IITs, NITs and central universities to get the status. “We were short-listed purely on our merit and research output. But now the UGC is treating us differently,” said some professors.
Academicians called the move by UGC “unfair”. “The two state universities should be treated on a par with central universities since they have capabilities to become Institutes of Eminence,” said IIT Kanpur former chairman M Ananthakrishnan. “Despite the financial handicap, these universities competed with other central universities. Now, differentiating them as state and central universities is unfair and uncalled for.”
Anna University former vice-chancellor E Balagurusamy said the condition could possibly eliminate state universities from the list. “Anna University is a top university ranked above many IITs. The Union government should fund it fully without any condition to make it a world class institution,” he said.
The Institute of Eminence scheme is aimed at developing 20 world class institutions in the country.
Those selected will be given greater autonomy and freedom to decide fees, course duration and administrative structures.
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