Chandigarh: Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP), the Panjab University plans to implement the ‘clustering of colleges’ approach prescribed by the University Grants Commission (UGC), to enhance research effectiveness, decentralise authority, and grant colleges increased autonomy.
The Panjab University, with around 200 affiliated colleges, is actively working on the plan on the lines of the UGC’s NEP guidelines.Under this initiative, colleges will collaborate to form a cluster, designating a significant hub for pre-PhD course preparation, research activities, and pre-PhD coursework exams that will be conducted by PU.
Director R & DC, Harsh Nayyar said: “PU will also move as per the UGC guidelines. The dean college development council (DCDC) at PU is working on clustering of PU-affiliated colleges for various PhD programmes. This move not only aims to decentralise college autonomy but also secure approved research status for colleges, making them eligible for grants from the UGC to support research projects.”
As per the information, clustered universities will share physical and human resources, facilitate smooth student mobility, and enable collaborative use of facilities such as auditoriums and libraries, in turn, decreasing the saturation from the parent university too.
Further, to align with NEP, promote uniformity, and remove existing disparities, PU has other plans in the pipeline. One being conducting PhD exams thrice a year. The university has implemented a reservation policy for students who qualify for the entrance test. This policy must be considered in all admission cycles.
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The government has clarified guidelines for cluster universities, allowing college managements to form them with more than five colleges on a case-to-case basis. The management will need to submit a detailed project report for evaluation. The government also requires a joint deposit of Rs 5 crore from college managements and public universities as a deterrent for abrupt closures. The responsibility of enrolled students and hostel facilities are not mandatory, but the government is planning to address these concerns through FAQs. The government will provide a grant of Rs 1 crore for the first five years of the cluster universities.
Suggestions made to the higher and technical education minister include: increasing the number of colleges; allowing colleges affiliated with health and agriculture universities to join cluster universities; providing clarity on the appointment of the vice-chancellor, grantable posts, and fees. Representatives of educational institutes in Pune want written confirmation before the government issues a gazette. They also suggest removing the limitation on the number of institutes in a cluster university and clarifying the process of adding new colleges. Additionally, they propose a relaxation in the land requirement for forming a university and more clarity on the appointment processes and regulations.
Madras University has been upgraded to a Category-1 university by the University Grants Commission (UGC) based on its improved ratings by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). The university’s score increased from 3.32 to 3.59 in the previous cycle. This upgrade allows Madras University to offer degree programs without prior permission from UGC and makes it eligible for Rs100 crore funding. It is now one of the few state universities with Category 1 status.
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