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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Private boom in varsities -Basant Kumar Mohanty

Private boom in varsities -Basant Kumar Mohanty

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published Published on Nov 12, 2012   modified Modified on Nov 12, 2012
-The Telegraph
Education
Private universities have mushroomed across India, growing from just 10 six years ago to 145 today in a demand-driven surge that has drawn allegations of irregularities, including franchising out courses in violation of rules.

Several academics have also questioned the standard of education in most of these varsities, set up by state legislatures through enactment of laws.

“Private universities are created by state legislatures so the Government of India has no control on their numbers. But the quality of education is questionable in most of these universities,” said M.N. Buch, former chairman of the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Gwalior.

Many of these private universities, Buch added, are owned by influential people. “Such people may close down academic operations and use the land given to them at a subsidised price and the building for commercial purpose.”

According to figures available, the number of private universities in India has increased from 10 in 2006 to 145 now (see chart). Rajasthan, for example, has 33 private universities, 18 more than the number of state universities it has.

Himachal Pradesh has 15 private universities and only four state universities. Bengal has one private university.

Although private universities are autonomous institutions, they have to follow University Grants Commission regulations that lay down minimum standards for academic and physical infrastructure.

The UGC (Establishment of and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities) Regulation also says that a private university cannot set up a campus outside the state where it is located, franchise courses to private providers or affiliate other institutions.

The UGC has received a number of complaints about private universities franchising out courses. “It has come to the notice of the UGC that some… state private universities have affiliated colleges and started off-campus centre(s) in violation of the UGC (Establishment of and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities) Regulation, 2003…. Some of these universities are running these centres on franchising basis also which is not allowed,” said a notice put up on the website of the higher education regulator.

The UGC has taken up specific complaints with the universities concerned and has appealed to students to be careful about such practices while applying.

An official in the human resource development ministry said the number of private universities had mushroomed in the last four years, from about 50 before 2009 to the nearly 150 now.

The ministry has imposed a moratorium on granting deemed university status to private institutions since June 2009 following complaints that dozens of undeserving institutes were getting the coveted tag.

“As no institution is being given deemed university status, aspiring institutions are approaching state governments and becoming state private universities through legislation in state Assemblies,” the ministry official said.

Former UGC chairman Yashpal said the demand for colleges and universities had increased. “And more people have the capacity to pay higher fees. Therefore the number of private universities has increased,” he said, but added the overall quality of education was substandard in many private universities.

Most of these universities are not accredited to the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, he said.

C. Gopalkrishnan, director of the Institute of Management under Nirma University, a private university in Ahmedabad, said the quality of education in many government institutions was also substandard.

“Many government institutions are performing badly on academic and research parameters due to poor governance,” he said. “Similarly, many institutions in the private sector are not doing well or indulging in irregularities because the regulations and quality-control measures have not been implemented properly.”

The Telegraph, 12 November, 2012, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1121112/jsp/nation/story_16187022.jsp#.UKBoXmcm7KQ


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