Meghalaya government urges UGC recognition for Williamson Sangma University

NEW DELHI: The Meghalaya government has written to the central government to officially accord recognition to the state-run Williamson Sangma University by the University Grants Commission (UGC), officials said. Education commissioner and secretary Syed Md A Razi stated that the state government has written to the UGC for 2F notification, which will put the university on the list of universities recognized by the UGC. "We are hopeful we will receive the 2F notification very soon," Razi said.

The state government is optimistic that once the UGC recognizes the university, all colleges affiliated with North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) can be shifted to it. However, private colleges will have to exercise their choice regarding the matter. He also mentioned that the government is hopeful that Williamson Sangma University, a state university, will become functional by next year. This will mean that students of the state do not have to appear for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET), and the state will not have to seek exemption every time since the state university will not need a CUET score.

The Government of India had exempted students from Meghalaya from the CUET examination to facilitate admission into colleges for undergraduate studies. A notification to this effect was issued by the union ministry of education on May 29, 2024. "The primary aim was to ensure that students seeking admission into undergraduate courses in Meghalaya for the current academic year do not suffer," Razi said.

A decision was taken by the chief minister to seek exemption for all colleges affiliated with NEHU in Meghalaya from the CUET and allow colleges to take direct admissions as was happening in previous years, Razi added.

However, the influential Khasi students union has expressed opposition to the decision to shift the affiliation of all undergraduate colleges to Williamson Sangma University.