An Institution of Higher Education, not listed as a university, can be declared as a “deemed-to-be-university” by University Grant Commission. Any such institution that is ‘deemed-to-be-university’ enjoys the same academic status and privileges as available to a university.
As per the Ministry of Human Resource Development, there are 130 ‘Deemed- to- -be universities’ all over the nation.
Section 3 in The University Grants Commission Act, 1956 provides for declaring an institution of higher education, other than a university to be deemed to be the university.
Section 3 reads as
“The Central Government may, on the advice of the Commission, declare, by notification in the Official Gazette, that any institution for higher education, other than a University, shall be deemed to be a University for the purposes of this Act, and on such a declaration being made, all the provisions of this Act shall apply to such institution as if it were a University within the meaning of clause (f) of section 2.”
OBJECTIVE OF SECTION 3
Section 3 has been enacted to grant university status to all those higher education institutes which for some historical reasons were not identified as universities and yet are contributing immensely in the field of academics. To grant university status to such institutes would boost their morale and further enrich the higher education system.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ACQUIRING THE STATUS OF DEEMED UNIVERSITY
To acquire the status of the deemed university the requirements are:
- The institute should be engaged in imparting education which is innovative and is of master’s and/or research level.
- In making a distinct contribution to its field of specialization so that the objectives of the university education system are reached.
- Management of the institute should be such so that the university ideals are reached.
THE 2016 GUIDELINES FOR DEEMED UNIVERSITIES
Some of the main features of the 2016 guidelines are:
- There has been no bar on the number of off-campus centers that an institute may set up. there is a time limit of seven months for the UGC and HRD ministry to take for the processing of applications for setting up new centers.
- It was also decided that universities would not be charging more than Rs 10,000 at the time of counseling.
- The new guidelines allow the persons who establish a Deemed University to occupy the post of Chancellor or Pro-Chancellor.
- The guidelines provide for setting up of off-campus centers abroad but for that additional permission of the MHA and MEA would be needed.
CONCLUSION
Assigning the status of “Deemed to be universities” would strengthen and augment the higher education system in the country.
