UGC Plans To Establish Monitoring Committee For Deemed-To-Be And Private Universities

UGC will constitute a monitoring committee with representation of relevant regulators to address issues related to deemed-to-be universities and private universities.

UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar (File Photo)

Source : UGC

New Delhi: UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar on Tuesday announced that Higher Education Institutions providing facilities for persons with disabilities will receive additional weightage during the accreditation process. Additionally, thirteen regulatory authorities across various educational domains have collectively agreed to issue an advisory to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), urging them to seek recognition from the University Grants Commission (UGC) and establish monitoring committees to address concerns about deemed-to-be and private universities, as reported by news agency PTI.

This decision emerged from an inter-regulatory authority meeting convened by the UGC on Tuesday to evaluate the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020, focusing on its effective and timely implementation.

"Weightage to be given to the universities or institutions having facilities for persons with disabilities as per RCI (Rehabilitation Council of India) guidelines in NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) accreditation criteria. All the regulators will review faculty selection or promotion guidelines and align those with UGC regulations to avoid inconsistencies," Kumar said.

"The regulatory authorities will write to the industrial organisations associated with them, thereby requesting to nominate industry professionals to register on the professor of practice portal of the UGC," he added.

The regulatory bodies, including the National Medical Council, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine, Veterinary Council of India, All India Council for Technical Education, Pharmacy Council of India, Dental Council of India, Council of Architecture, Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council have resolved to harness the collective strength of all regulators in adapting to the evolving landscape of online education.

Kumar highlighted the necessity of incorporating a module on the Indian knowledge system across various disciplines.

The regulators have also committed to promoting the engagement of faculty members in capacity-building programs organized by Malviya Mission Centers. These programs aim to review faculty selection or promotion guidelines and align them with UGC regulations to ensure consistency.

Furthermore, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) will receive guidance from their respective regulators to provide information on the UGC UTSAH portal, outlining the initiatives undertaken in alignment with the NEP.