UGC sets rules for pvt varsities to start off-campus centres

 UGC sets rules for pvt varsities to start off-campus centres

TNN | Mar 7, 2024, 05.16 AM IST

Ahmedabad: The University Grants Commission recently allowed private universities to establish their off-campus centres and announced rules for the same. The country’s private universities were not allowed to open off-campus centres so far in other states. Sources said that while this decision gives better alternatives to students, it may also result in further weakening of 16 public universities in the state.

In a meeting held on March 5, UGC decided to allow state’s private universities to open off-campus centres in any state in the country if they met the following criteria: A minimum of five years of establishment and operations and accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). However, it will not be required to have an A or a B grade in NAAC rankings.

The private university that wants to establish off-campus centres will have to meet the minimum staff, infrastructure and financial requirements set by the commission. The universities will have to provide approvals from the statutory and regulatory bodies.

The universities must present land lease documents to show they have sufficient land to establish their off-campus centres. The lease period should be a minimum of 30 years.

The universities will have to assure they will provide infrastructure, faculty and courses being offered at the main campus to the students in their off-campus centres. The universities will have to pay Rs 10 lakh as establishment fees to UGC. The commission will have the right to carry out inspections and take punitive measures against the university in cases of irregularities and complaints. The UGC may also order closure of a university’s off-campus centre if it breaches any of the regulations and in such case the university will have to facilitate shifting students to their main campus. The university will be allowed to take over an already operational college or institute in a state after procuring NOC from the university it is currently affiliated to.

Academic experts said that this decision may prove beneficial for students as they will get more options to choose from. However, it also means that the 16 government-run universities in the state will face more competition. More students may shift to these centres, leaving a large number of approved seats in the public universities vacant every year.