Media Release
Manipal, Apr 28: The formation of an association of universities to improve the lot of higher education was a major decision taken at the day-long deliberations of chancellors and vice-chancellors from 32 universities across the country at the Fortune Inn Valley View here on Tuesday April 27.
Four chancellors, three pro chancellors, and 24 vice-chancellors were among them. The directors of two NITs were also present.
While the representatives felt that the government has taken steps to improve higher education in the country, it felt that the universities were being neglected.
The government must take the universities along with it in the reform process, the meeting felt. The chancellors, vice-chancellors, and others expressed the feeling of being ‘left out’ of the process. Therefore, they opined that an association of all universities needs to be formed to address every issue collectively.
Prof R Bharadwaj, vice-chancellor, ARNY University, suggested the formation of a new association/conglomeration of Indian universities with the following structure—president, vice-president, four regional secretaries, treasurer, and 29 members.
Chancellor of Manipal University Dr Ramdas M Pai, in his inaugural address, said that all were aware of the dire need for reform in the higher education system in the country.
“The present government is also very much aware and concerned. That is why the National Knowledge Commission and the Yashpal Committee have recommended drastic measures for restructuring and rejuvenation of the higher education system”, he added.
Dr Pai pointed out that all the commissions and committees appointed by the government, from the Radhakrishnan Commission in the 1950s to the Kothari Commission in the 60s, the National Education Policy in the 80s to the present ones, have one thing in common - the need to make universities autonomous and allowing them the freedom to conduct their academic programmes as they deem fit.
He added that while the government was taking up the reform process in right earnest, the need for representation of the universities in the process was important. “Today’s meeting of the chancellors and vice-chancellors will take stock of this and other issues”, he said.
The pro chancellor of Manipal University said that the government was on the right track to improve higher education in the country.
“Recently, there have been several moves which should augur well in the time to come”, he said. He also made a power point presentation of the university to the delegates.
Dr Surjit Singh Pabla, vice chancellor, Sikkim Manipal University, Gangtok, in his introductory address, said that as Indian universities are being controlled by over 15 regulatory bodies such as the MCI, AICTE, UGC, DCI, COA, and NCERT, there was little by way of autonomy left.
A number of bills came up for discussion such as the National Commission for Higher Education and Research Bill (NCHER), Accreditation Bill, Education Tribunal Bill, and Foreign University Bill. “Only NCHER Bill was available on the public domain and was open for revoking”, said Dr Ashok Mittal, chancellor, Lovely University.
The bill provided autonomy to universities, but needs to provide them more flexibility. “The other four Bills should be made available to the public domain”, he said.
Accreditation Bill states that every programme was to be accredited by some agency.