Granting Autonomy to 60 Universities and Colleges - Setting them Free from UGC. Sounds Historic Decision! Or Really is it? Read what lies beneath...
March 20th 2018, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India made the official announcement of setting 60 colleges and Universities free from the clutches of UGC. Our Honorable Minister quotes it as a 'historic decision',
Here is an insight to the long-term implication in a country like India.
Let's start with the reaction of JNU Professor Balveer Arora
Here is an insight to the long-term implication in a country like India.
Let's start with the reaction of JNU Professor Balveer Arora
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| Professor Balveer Arora |
Granting autonomy to universities now is like giving power to khap panchayats, says JNU professor Balveer Arora.
Read the full story on Scroll.in :
Now to put things into context lets have a quickie on Idiot's Guide Khap Panchayat :
Khap Panchayats are Village councils in parts of North Indian States like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan known for enforcing as law highly regressive social customs and ordering brutal punishments for whoever transgresses them.
With such views it is evident that professor is not very happy with the decision, the student-teacher community at the JNU is also opposed to the plan.
It was one of the reasons they attempted a protest march from JNU campus to Parliament on March 23.Although Delhi University is not among the 60 colleges and Universities, which are granted autonomy, teachers at the University, have expressed their deep concern on the decisions taken.
Many higher education administrators in states such as Kerala have expressed doubts as well.
Let's Find Out more about the 'Historic Decision' of :
UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION [CATEGORISATION OF UNIVERSITIES (ONLY) FOR GRANT OF GRADED AUTONOMY] REGULATIONS, 2018 F. No. 1-8-2017(CPP-II)
First The Prerequisites for Autonomy :
The measure of freedom each institution is to be granted will be determined by the grades awarded by the NAAC, National Assessment and Accreditation Council – an off-shoot of the UGC ( University Grants Commission ).
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| Screenshot from the Gazette Notification F. No. 1-8-2017(CPP-II) UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION [CATEGORISATION OF UNIVERSITIES (ONLY) FOR GRANT OF GRADED AUTONOMY] REGULATIONS, 2018 |
Framework for Categorization of Universities for Grant of Graded Autonomy The Commission shall categorize Universities into following three categories i.e. Category-I, Category-II and Category-III based on the parameters laid down in sub-clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) and as notified by the Commission through detailed guidelines from time to time.
(i) Category-I University: University shall be in Category-I if a. It has been accredited by NAAC with a score of 3.51 or above; or b. It has received a corresponding accreditation grade/score from a reputed accreditation agency empanelled by the UGC; or c. It has been ranked among top 500 of reputed world rankings, such as Times Higher Education or QS.
(ii) Category-II University: University shall be in Category-II if a. It has been accredited by NAAC with a score of 3.26 and above, upto 3.50; or b. It has received a corresponding accreditation grade/score from a reputed accreditation agency empanelled by the UGC.
(iii) Category-III University: University shall be in Category-III if it does not come either under Category-I or Category-II.
Key features of the Autonomy :
As per the new regulations, issued in February, universities and colleges with grades over 3.51 out of four will be classified as Category I and get maximum autonomy. They can start new courses, centres, campuses and research parks, enter into collaborations with other universities, recruit foreign scholars and admit foreign students without having to seek permission from the University Grants Commission “provided no demand for fund is made from the government”. For “external review”, they will have to only send reports to the commission.
Higher Education in India has been financed by taxpayers money till today, except for privately run Institution
Pursuing higher education for economically backward was never a far-fetched dream, a meritorious student can somehow manage to afford the cost of the study but pushing universities to generate their own resources through self-financed courses may damage such fabric. Economic dominance, not merit will dominate the student pool of higher education.
So the autonomy is fine at face value, but when you look at it closely, its implications may be negative for the institutions. It is very contextual, it depends on how the institutions are equipped to handle autonomy.
Another dangerous consequence worth mentioning is - The policy rests on certain assumptions – the university has democratic bodies in place, the consultation process is internal to the university, it takes decisions only after this process is completed.
But it is known to all how Academic Council meetings are very contentious in an institution, the minutes are disputed, dissent notes are not recorded. When there is such a breakdown, financial powers can be used according to the whims and fancies of whoever is in the administration.
One has to understand it is not at all a complete autonomy the commission would still remain in overall control and this autonomy is basically granting financial autonomy. Under that guise, it is pushing universities to generate their own resources through self-financed courses. This will eventually end with the state shedding its responsibility of subsidising education or treating it as a public good, as a public service, rather than as a commodity.
Pursuing higher education for economically backward was never a far-fetched dream, a meritorious student can somehow manage to afford the cost of the study but pushing universities to generate their own resources through self-financed courses may damage such fabric. Economic dominance, not merit will dominate the student pool of higher education.
Eminent journalist and whistleblower Vinod Dua comments on the decision of Graded Autonomy Regulation 2018 -
So the autonomy is fine at face value, but when you look at it closely, its implications may be negative for the institutions. It is very contextual, it depends on how the institutions are equipped to handle autonomy.
Another dangerous consequence worth mentioning is - The policy rests on certain assumptions – the university has democratic bodies in place, the consultation process is internal to the university, it takes decisions only after this process is completed.
But it is known to all how Academic Council meetings are very contentious in an institution, the minutes are disputed, dissent notes are not recorded. When there is such a breakdown, financial powers can be used according to the whims and fancies of whoever is in the administration.
One has to understand it is not at all a complete autonomy the commission would still remain in overall control and this autonomy is basically granting financial autonomy. Under that guise, it is pushing universities to generate their own resources through self-financed courses. This will eventually end with the state shedding its responsibility of subsidising education or treating it as a public good, as a public service, rather than as a commodity.
