UGC notification: Panjab University out of race from world class universities status

With its inter-state body corporate status, UGC notification makes varsity’s position untenable

The Panjab University (PU) cannot participate in world class universities competition due to its status of inter-state body corporate.

The government on the basis of certain parameters will identify the institutes in the country and best among them would be given status of world class institutions.(HT File)

The nominations for the status were invited by central government through university grants commission UGC on September 13. The government on the basis of certain parameters will identify the institutes in the country and best among them would be given status of world class institutions.

Conditions put by UGC for world class universities

Highly qualified faculty, with freedom to hire from across the world

Existence of academic, administrative and financial autonomy

Excellence in research

High quality of teaching

High levels of funding

Adequate financial assistance to meritorious students to support a need-blind admissions process

Selection of students through a transparent system so as to ensure intake of meritorious students

A significant proportion of international students

Autonomous governance structures

A PU official said that despite request from the PU the UGC in its notification of September 13 has stated that only the private and the government owned universities can apply. The development comes eight months after the PU had drafted a 2020 vision plan for the varsity aiming at its participation in the world class universities competition.

Panjab University (PU) is the only university in the country which has a unique status of inter-state corporate body. It means neither it is a central university nor a state one. Established under Punjab Re-organisation Act, 1966, the body corporate is to function and operate in those areas in respect of which it was functioning immediately before the day of establishment subject to Central Government direction. The changes with regard to status and budget are put up in parliament.

The officials at PU were perturbed over the development. Internal quality assurance cell (IQAC) of the Panjab University, held a meeting Wednesday, and termed the UGC’s move as “grave error” by not amending conditions so that PU could participate.

The PU last year had written to UGC to include ‘inter state body corporate’ in the draft application for competition.

Director IQAC, Professor Rajiv Lochan, said, “It is a serious concern for the Panjab University and a worry for us now since the PU can’t be participate due to its status. It will imapct us financially as well as imagewise “

“We are supposed to be a better university and figure among JNU or DU. According to Times Ranking, we have showed the best amount of research, he added.

What UGC notification says?

UGC notification says the private as well as government including central and state owned universities can apply. But in the notification the UGC has not added that inter- state body corporate institutes can also apply.