Three of Maharashtra’s premier universities—Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur—will be split to create new universities. This decision was announced on Wednesday by the state minister for higher and technical education Rajesh Tope in the legislative assembly. Tope said that a committee will be appointed to work out the modalities of the bifurcation and submit a report in three months.
Only after the report is prepared will it become clear from which academic year the decision will take effect. The state had been toying with the idea of splitting the universities since 2008. TOI had reported the same on May 29, 2008, in the article ‘Mumbai, Pune universities to be bifurcated’.
The idea mooted by the former higher education minister, Dilip Walse-Patil, had met with resistance in the 2008 monsoon session of the legislature. But Tope told the assembly that the varsities had become extremely unwieldy, were suffering because of poor administrative controls and were becoming academically weak.
“Nagpur university alone has nearly 750 colleges affiliated to it. The Mumbai and Pune universities too need to shed their flab,’’ he added. According to official statistics, the Mumbai and Pune varsities each have over 600 colleges affiliated to them.
Tope backed his decision by stating that a committee appointed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) had observed that several universities in the country had become large, affiliating bodies. The committee had recommended that a university should not have more than 250 colleges uner its wing.
K Thyagarajan, who headed this UGC committee, told TOI, “Bifurcating the universities will ensure that there is quality time for teaching, learning and research. The load of affiliated colleges on the universities should be at a bare minimum. Also, to preserve the name and fame that old, heritage and renowned universities enjoy, we suggested that the names of all the new divisions remain the same as the current university, with their location added as a suffix to distinguish them.’’
Spelling out some details, Tope said the University of Mumbai would be split into two campuses, with a pro vice-chancellor becoming the head of the new campus. The name, though, would not be altered, given Mumbai university’s iconic status, he added. He was replying to a discussion on the supplementary demands of his department.
In another watershed decision, Tope said that regular National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation would be made mandatory for all varsities and colleges in Maharashtra. TOI had recently reported that Maharashtra has 831 colleges that currently use expired NAAC grades. Accreditation is currently not compulsory in India. But the Centre has proposed to bring in an Act that would make accreditation mandatory.
Maharashtra has also revived the plan to bring private universities into the state. Tope said that plans were afoot to help the corporate sector play a key role in the field of education. The Private University Act is being finalised in this connection, he pointed out.
Only after the report is prepared will it become clear from which academic year the decision will take effect. The state had been toying with the idea of splitting the universities since 2008. TOI had reported the same on May 29, 2008, in the article ‘Mumbai, Pune universities to be bifurcated’.
The idea mooted by the former higher education minister, Dilip Walse-Patil, had met with resistance in the 2008 monsoon session of the legislature. But Tope told the assembly that the varsities had become extremely unwieldy, were suffering because of poor administrative controls and were becoming academically weak.
“Nagpur university alone has nearly 750 colleges affiliated to it. The Mumbai and Pune universities too need to shed their flab,’’ he added. According to official statistics, the Mumbai and Pune varsities each have over 600 colleges affiliated to them.
Tope backed his decision by stating that a committee appointed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) had observed that several universities in the country had become large, affiliating bodies. The committee had recommended that a university should not have more than 250 colleges uner its wing.
K Thyagarajan, who headed this UGC committee, told TOI, “Bifurcating the universities will ensure that there is quality time for teaching, learning and research. The load of affiliated colleges on the universities should be at a bare minimum. Also, to preserve the name and fame that old, heritage and renowned universities enjoy, we suggested that the names of all the new divisions remain the same as the current university, with their location added as a suffix to distinguish them.’’
Spelling out some details, Tope said the University of Mumbai would be split into two campuses, with a pro vice-chancellor becoming the head of the new campus. The name, though, would not be altered, given Mumbai university’s iconic status, he added. He was replying to a discussion on the supplementary demands of his department.
In another watershed decision, Tope said that regular National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation would be made mandatory for all varsities and colleges in Maharashtra. TOI had recently reported that Maharashtra has 831 colleges that currently use expired NAAC grades. Accreditation is currently not compulsory in India. But the Centre has proposed to bring in an Act that would make accreditation mandatory.
Maharashtra has also revived the plan to bring private universities into the state. Tope said that plans were afoot to help the corporate sector play a key role in the field of education. The Private University Act is being finalised in this connection, he pointed out.
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