Common guidelines for all universities in State on cards

Vice-Chancellors of various universities in the State have been pitching for common guidelines for all the universities to streamline academics and administration.

The Karnataka State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) is now in the process of drafting common statutes for all the universities in the State. This means that all the universities will have common parameters for fixing fees, maintaining hostels, conducting convocation, recruitment of faculty and other administrative issues. 

Earlier, the Council brought out uniform calendar of events for all the varsities to streamline the academic year. This was done to ensure that there was no unnecessary delay in exams and admissions. Having common statutes would ensure transparency in administration.

According to officials in the Higher Education Council, the drafting of common statutes was underway and it would be finalised within another two or three meetings.

At present, all the State universities are guided by the Karnataka State Universities Act (KSU).

In order to implement the provisions of the Act, the universities are required to frame regulations in the form of these statutes.

Each university has been coming up with its own statute, approved by the university syndicate which is sent to the department of Higher Education and is later assented by the Chancellor of the university (the Governor of the state).

“Even from the State government's perspective, having a common statute would make administration easier.

They can follow common regulations for all universities. As of now, every university is following its own procedures to appoint directors etc,” said Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof B Thimme Gowda.

In addition, when new universities are set up, this effort will ensure that there is an established framework of regulations based on which they can function, officials in KSHEC added.