Second chance for 2nd-rung deemed universities?

The human resource development (HRD) ministry has offered a quick lifeline to 44 deemed universities. These universities were given three-year time to improve standards and retain the 'deemed' tag by an expert panel. They, however, claiming they have already improved.

The human resource development (HRD) ministry has offered a quick lifeline to 44 deemed universities. These universities were given three-year time to improve standards and retain the 'deemed' tag by an expert panel. They, however, claiming they have already improved.

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The HRD ministry has set up a panel consisting of the same experts who rated these deemed universities in 2009, and found them deficient. But this time, to scrutinise their claims of improvement, government sources have told HT.

Those deemed universities which clear the scrutiny will be eligible to expand their courses and campuses, HRD ministry officials said. Tens of thousands of students study at these 44 deemed universities.

HRD minister Kapil Sibal had set up a four-member panel to probe standards at each of country's deemed universities soon after he took over the reins of the country's education in 2009.

The panel concluded that 44 institutions should be stripped of the deemed tag immediately, while another 44 were unworthy of the tag but could be given three years to improve.

Only 38 institutions were found satisfactory.

However several institutions -s uch as Pune-based Symbiosis - have in recent months approached the HRD ministry seeking permission to set up new campuses.