'Separate varsities for research, innovation'

A Bill in this regard will be tabled on January 3, says Oscar

In an attempt to bring qualitative change in the higher education sector, the Central government has proposed three separate bills on establishing a university for innovation, a university for research and grading of every education institution, said Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes.

Delivering inaugural address at the two-day national seminar on “Quality: The key factor in administrative reforms in higher education,” at Besant Women’s College on Friday, he said separate universities for research and innovation will be set up in the country to promote research activities.

The major hindrance for Indian educational institutions to compete with the educational institutions  abroad, is that the educational institutions in India do not excel in researches. Hence, a bill has been formed which if becomes an Act, will help to promote research in the nation.

 The Bill will be tabled before the standing committee and will be discussed on January 3, 2013, he said.

On grading of the institutions, he said according to the new bill, all the educational institutions from primary to higher education including IITs and IIMs will be graded based on certain criteria. It will help the education aspirants to decide on which is the best institute, he said.

Stressing the need to boost higher education in India, he said the government intends to reach the gross enrolment ratio of students studying in universities to 30 per cent by 2020. Implementing some of the suggestions proposed by Yashpal Commission, Sam Pitroda Committee report will help to some extent to attain the dream of 20:20, Oscar said.

NAAC Director Dr Ranganath felt the need to give autonomy status to more number of educational institutes as the universities find it difficult to offer able leadership to the colleges that are affiliated to it. “Two factors should be given emphasise to improve the quality of higher education in India. The relationship between the colleges and universities has to be improved and information and communication technology should be effectively introduced in the education scenario,” suggested the NAAC Director.

The seminar was organised by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell in collaboration with the Association of First Grade College Principals of Mangalore University.