All deemed university proposals in cold storage

NEW DELHI: In a first step to bring order in the higher education sector, human resource development minister Kapil Sibal directed the University 
Grants Commission (UGC) to keep all pending proposals for “deemed to be university” status in abeyance till a thorough review of the functioning of the existing deemed universities.

Mr Sibal’s directive follows his review of the process of declaring an institution as “deemed to be university” under section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. A committee headed by former UGC chairman Professor Yashpal had recommended that practice of according deemed university status be stopped.

In a letter to UGC chairperson Professor Sukhdeo Thorat, the minister has sought a thorough review of the functioning of all deemed to be universities. The report to be submitted in three months will deal with deficiencies, with respect to maintenance of standards, of deemed universities. Particular emphasis is being placed on the availability of the qualified faculty, infrastructure and admission process.

The Yashpal Committee had expressed concern about the absence of guidelines to measure the competence of investors in starting and managing institutions. The interim report said that the only requirement that it should be registered as a non-profit or charitable trust or society allowed many investors, with no understanding or experience of the responsibilities associated with higher educational institutions, to set up institutions.

It also expressed grave concern about rapid increase in the number of such institutions in the past few years. Between 1956 and 1990, only 29 institutions were granted the deemed university status, while between 2000 and 2005, 26 private-sponsored institutions got the deemed university status. Since 2005, the number of private deemed universities has increased to 108.

Mr Sibal has also asked UGC to find out the status of accreditation of existing deemed universities to the National Assessment and Accreditation Council and the National Board of Accreditation. The interim report of the Yashpal Committee had suggested mandatory accreditation for all existing deemed universities.
The Centre has also issued a show cause notice to the Shri Ramachandra University and The Bharat University (of which Balaji Medical College is a constituent unit) as to why deemed-to-be-university status should not be withdrawn from them and action initiated.