UGC rolls out application process for institutes seeking status of eminence

The University Grants Commission (UGC) rolled out an application process for universities and higher education institutes (public or private) seeking “institutions of eminence” status.
The aim of  scheme is to help higher education institutions from country break into top 500 global rankings in 10 years, and then eventually break into top 100 over time.

Application process

It will be 90-day application process for interested public and private institutions. Institutions applying for it will be divided into three categories- existing government educational institutions, existing private higher educational institutions and sponsoring organisation for setting up of private institutions. The HRD Ministry will set up empowered expert committee to process application. The entire process of shortlisting institutions will be completed by March-April 2018.
Eligible Institutions: Top 50 of National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings or those who have secured ranking among top 500 of Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Shanghai Ranking Academic Ranking of World Universities or QS University Rankings will be eligible to apply.

Benefits for institutions of eminence status

20 institutions — 10 public and 10 private — will be given this status with aim to give them freedom to become world-class institutions. The 10 state-run institutions get additional benefit — provision of Rs. 10,000 crore over a period of 10 years, over and above regular grants.
Such institutions will be free from usual regulatory mechanism to choose their autonomous path to become institutions of global repute with emphasis on multi-disciplinary initiatives, global best practices, high quality research and international collaborations.
These institutions will have liberty to enroll up to 30% foreign students. Moreover, selected public institutions can recruit up to 25% foreign faculty and there will be no such limit for selected private institutions. They will have freedom of devising their own courses, own fee structure, create centres without coming to UGC.

University Grants Commission (UGC)

UGC is statutory body under HRD Ministry. It was set up by Union government in accordance to the UGC Act 1956. Its mandate is to initiate important decisions and dialogues having important bearing on entire student population of country.
The three primary functions of UGC are (i) Overseeing distribution of grants to universities and colleges in India. (ii) Providing scholarships/fellowships to beneficiaries, and (iii) Monitoring conformity by universities and colleges to its regulations.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2017