Meet on parameters to approve private universities held

The State Higher Education department on Wednesday held a meeting with all stakeholders on evolving parameters to accord permission for setting up private universities.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting with retired and present vice-chancellors, educationists and representatives of private institutes, Higher Education Minister C T Ravi said a regulatory body to monitor the private varsities had been proposed.

At present, there are separate bills for two private varsities in the State - Azim Premji and Alliance universities.

“A common bill for universities and a common monitoring authority have been proposed,” he said.

Educationists suggested that the specification for the possession of a minimum of 40 acres for varsities be relaxed. The endowment fund of Rs 25 crore given to universities remains as dead fund in a majority of the cases, Ravi said.

“We need to take a look at all these aspects, before coming up with guidelines for approving private universities,” the minister said.

The State has received applications from seven private institutions for permission to establish private universities. Among the institutions that have applied for approval to establish universities are Manipal Institute, Dayanand Sagar Institutions, Sharana Basappa Institute, M S Ramaiah Institute of Technology and Jain Group of Institutions.

National entrance exam

The Karnataka government will not introduce national entrance exam for engineering this year.

“We need time at least till 2015. We will test the waters, we don’t want to jump to a conclusion now,” said Ravi.

With regard to the various problems in the existing universities, Ravi said he would meet the chief minister to discuss the issues by the end of October. When questioned about students’ complaints against Bangalore University Vice Chancellor Prabhu Dev and about his appointment as chairman of a new health commission, Ravi said all the issues would be resolved within a couple of days.