UGC, AICTE, MCI, NCTE, BCI, PCI, etc. to be divested of their academic functions
The Yashpal Committee has submitted its report to the Ministry of HRD and the HRD Minister Mr. Kapil Sibbal has stated it to be implemented as part of the 100 days agenda of the Government.
The main recommendations of the committee on the Higher education system in India are:
- Universities to be self-regulatory bodies to be assisted by hassle-free and transparent regulatory processes;
- Universities to be made responsible regarding the academic content of professional courses. Professional bodies like the AICTE, NCTE, MCI, BCI, COA, INC, PCI to be divested of their academic functions, which would be restored to the universities;
- Creation of an all-encompassing Commission for Higher Education, a central statutory body to replace the existing regulatory bodies including the UGC, AICTE, NCTE etc. (download)
- Curricular reform to be the topmost priority of the newly created HEC which would create a curricular framework based on the principles of mobility within a full range of curricular areas and integration of skills with academic depth.
- Undergraduate programmes to be restructured to enable students to have opportunities to access all curricular areas with fair degree of mobility;
- All universities to have the full range of knowledge areas. No single discipline or specialized university to be created;
- Institutions of excellence like the IITs and IIMs to be converted into full-fledged universities, while keeping intact their unique features, which shall act as pace-setting and model governance systems for all universities;
- Universities to establish live relationship with the real world outside and develop capacities to respond to the challenges faced by rural and urban economies and culture;
- All levels of teacher education to be brought under the purview of higher education;
- New governing structures to be evolved to enable the universities to preserve their autonomy in a transparent and accountable manner;
- Practice of according status of deemed university be stopped forthwith. It would be mandatory for all existing deemed universities to submit to the new accreditation norms to be framed on the lines proposed in this report within a period of three years failing which the status of university should be withdrawn. However, unique educational initiatives which have over a period of time enriched higher education by their innovations to be given recognition and supported properly;
- Creation of a single accreditation window for all institutes of higher education;
- Quantum of Central financial support to State-funded universities be enhanced substantially keeping in view the needs of their growth; and
- Expansion of the higher education system to be evaluated and assessed continuously to respond to the needs of different regions in India in order to ensure not only equity and access but also quality and opportunity of growth along the academic vertical.
A detailed note on role of the proposed Commission of Higher Education can also be downloaded.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
