Deemed universities: UGC draft rules to regulate fees threaten autonomy
TNN | Dec 4, 2019, 04.42 AM IST
BENGALURU: The ministry of human resource development has notified the draft rules for regulation of fee in deemed universities in the country. While the draft rules are out in the public and suggestions are invited for the same, deemed varsities in the state have expressed fears that increasing government intervention will affect their autonomy.
According to the draft University Grants Commission (Fees in professional education imparted by private aided and unaided institutions deemed to be universities) Regulations, 2019, fees in deemed universities must be decided by a fee fixation committee that will have a
University Grants Commission (UGC) nominee apart from educationists.
The committee will take into account faculty salaries, administrative expenses, capital expenditure on infrastructure, maintenance of library/laboratory and a reasonable surplus of 10-15% while fixing fees. It will have the responsibility to ensure there is no profiteering. The institution should propose the fee six months before admission season and the amount decided by the committee should be communicated much ahead of the admission season. No capitation fee can be levied.
The committee must be chaired by a UGC nominee and should include three other UGC nominees and one nominee of the statutory national regulatory authority.
Karnataka has 15 deemed universities, with several of them running medical and engineering courses. While some of them are fine with the regulation, several others have raised concerns. “The issue of fee fixation in deemed universities is already in the Supreme Court under a case filed by Education Promotion Society for India. In such a scenario, how can the Centre come up with a new set of rules to regulate fees in these institutes? On the one hand, the government talks about setting up high-quality higher educational institutions, and at the same time it tries to regulate it. Is a Harvard or an Oxford regulated by the government,” asked S Kumar, chancellor, Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research, a deemed-to-be university in Kolar.
The deemed universities have raised concerns about some points in the draft rules. “When the government is not providing us with any money, how can they interfere in our administrative matters? The rule says we must manage two accounts — one for maintenance and the other for development. They are purely administrative matters. A university is a professional institution and we have our ways of doing it. The government has no business in it,” said Fr Abraham VM, vice-chancellor, Christ (deemed-to-be university).
Yenepoya (deemed-to-be university) has already prepared a feedback for the UGC. “Every state has its own fee fixation committee. But never have they visited institutes to find out the ground reality and the cost of education. We are suggesting that the committee do physical assessment before the fee is fixed. Apart from the matter of maintaining two accounts, we also are highlighting the fact that not all costs are covered under the draft rules,” said pro-chancellor Mohammed Farhaad.
TNN | Dec 4, 2019, 04.42 AM IST
BENGALURU: The ministry of human resource development has notified the draft rules for regulation of fee in deemed universities in the country. While the draft rules are out in the public and suggestions are invited for the same, deemed varsities in the state have expressed fears that increasing government intervention will affect their autonomy.
According to the draft University Grants Commission (Fees in professional education imparted by private aided and unaided institutions deemed to be universities) Regulations, 2019, fees in deemed universities must be decided by a fee fixation committee that will have a
University Grants Commission (UGC) nominee apart from educationists.
The committee will take into account faculty salaries, administrative expenses, capital expenditure on infrastructure, maintenance of library/laboratory and a reasonable surplus of 10-15% while fixing fees. It will have the responsibility to ensure there is no profiteering. The institution should propose the fee six months before admission season and the amount decided by the committee should be communicated much ahead of the admission season. No capitation fee can be levied.
The committee must be chaired by a UGC nominee and should include three other UGC nominees and one nominee of the statutory national regulatory authority.
Karnataka has 15 deemed universities, with several of them running medical and engineering courses. While some of them are fine with the regulation, several others have raised concerns. “The issue of fee fixation in deemed universities is already in the Supreme Court under a case filed by Education Promotion Society for India. In such a scenario, how can the Centre come up with a new set of rules to regulate fees in these institutes? On the one hand, the government talks about setting up high-quality higher educational institutions, and at the same time it tries to regulate it. Is a Harvard or an Oxford regulated by the government,” asked S Kumar, chancellor, Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research, a deemed-to-be university in Kolar.
The deemed universities have raised concerns about some points in the draft rules. “When the government is not providing us with any money, how can they interfere in our administrative matters? The rule says we must manage two accounts — one for maintenance and the other for development. They are purely administrative matters. A university is a professional institution and we have our ways of doing it. The government has no business in it,” said Fr Abraham VM, vice-chancellor, Christ (deemed-to-be university).
Yenepoya (deemed-to-be university) has already prepared a feedback for the UGC. “Every state has its own fee fixation committee. But never have they visited institutes to find out the ground reality and the cost of education. We are suggesting that the committee do physical assessment before the fee is fixed. Apart from the matter of maintaining two accounts, we also are highlighting the fact that not all costs are covered under the draft rules,” said pro-chancellor Mohammed Farhaad.
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