JOIN USPanel moots greater autonomy
As a step in this direction, the committee headed by former vice-chancellor of Bangalore University N R Shetty has suggested a “cluster model” wherein colleges in a neighbourhood could cluster together to form autonomous entities offering their own courses and conducting their own examinations.
The committee, which has revisited various provisions of the 2000 Act is finalising its recommendation and will be submitting its final report to the government in two weeks.
“The affiliation system is outdated. It needs to be replaced. At the same time, provisions would be made to ensure autonomous colleges show greater accountability”, Shetty told reporters before an interaction meeting with Higher Education Minister Aravind Limbavali in Bangalore on Monday.
The cluster model, it is felt, would help in better faculty exchanges programmes besides decentralising the examination system. The overall monitoring of the colleges will remain entrusted with the jurisdictional university.
“Multi-disciplinary universities”
The panel is of the view that new universities established henceforth should be multi-disciplinary in nature.
Uniform Act
The committee is also in favour of a single uniform Act for all universities in the State. Presently, there is multiplicity of legislations for various universities. The committee plans to bring under a common legislation four different statutes - Karnataka State Universities Act, Visvesvaraya Technological University Act, Karnataka State Open University Act, Kannada University Act and Karnataka State Women’s University Act. However, provisions would be made to maintain the special features presently specific to each university, Shetty said.
Shetty said the Women’s University in Bijapur needed to be expanded further paving way for more courses besides setting up an engineering and medical college under its jurisdiction.
The committee will recommend restoring the ‘Senate’, an university body to take decision on administrative matters, which was scrapped in the 2000 legislation.
However, the revived Senate will be only be advisory in nature.
The registrars of varsities will continue to be appointed by the government in consultation with the V-Cs, the panel has suggested. Another major recommendation that the committee is contemplating is to put in place a grievance redressal mechanism with a view to bring greater efficiency, transparency and accountability in the functioning of university.
Shetty said the committee will recommend that librarians and university physical education teachers be treated on par with varsity faculty. The panel will also suggest that only two honourary PhDs a year be awarded by a university and that the names be approved by a two-thirds majority in the academic council.
Proposals
* Single uniform act for all universities
* All new universities should be multi-disciplinary in nature
* Registrars to be appointed by government in consultation with V-Cs
* “Senate” to be revived
* Only two honourary PhDs per year to be awarded by a university
* Setting up of a tribunal for grievance redressal
* Statutes on sharing of royalty from patents between researchers and universities
* Creation of pro-chancellor in universities with more than 150 colleges