Manipal, April 27 (DHNS) : Manipal University is organising a one-day Chancellors and Vice Chancellors meet to discuss the role of the educationists in shaping the country’s educational reform process on April 27 at Chaitya Hall, Hotel Fortune Inn Valley View.
Speaking to the mediapersons here on Monday, Sikkim Manipal University Vice- Chancellor Dr (Brig) S S Pabla said the conference is arranged to focus on the current issues confronting the status of the Universities across the country.
Autonomous status of the Universities is reduced by the government bodies by taking away their powers. Autonomy is curbed. The recommendations made by the Knowledge Commission was foreseen to be satisfactory, however the Bill that is being presented by the government on National Commission for Higher Education and Research seems to lack the assurances pledged.
It is unfair that the Bill states that no Universities start operating without the approval of the Commission. There is no transparency in the Foreign University Bill that permits fewer constraints to foreign universities in contrast to Indian universities.
Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has failed to protect the interest and autonomy of the Universities, he alleged. He said in this backdrop the meet will elaborate on crucial aspects of National Commission for Higher Education and Research bill that is actually in the public domain.
The other affairs that is being highlighted in the conference comprises of Foreign Universities Bill, Malpractices Bill, Educational Tribunal Bill, Role of private players in the education, role of Association of Indian Universities and how universities can supplement the works taken up by the government. There is a need to involve the universities in educational reform process, he added.
The meet will be formally inaugurated by Manipal University Chancellor Dr Ramdass Pai. As many as 40 Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors from Central, State and deemed universities from all over the country are expected to take part in the convention. NIT, Kurukshetra, NIT-Jaipur, Jamia Humdard Delhi, Kuvempu University, Shimoga, VTU, D Y Patil University Mumbai are some of the universities taking part in the conference, he said.
Registrar Dr G K Prabhu was present.