UGC to amend Deemed University Regulations 2016; invites suggestions

NEW DELHI, JULY 13: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to amend the Deemed University Regulations 2016, which had allowed the institutions to set up off-campus centres and had barred them from charging a capitation fee. UGC has also invited suggestions from all the stakeholders and the general public by July 25, 2018.

Since the regulation was introduced in 2016 by the then Minister of Human Resource Development(HRD), Smriti Irani, there was mixed response on part of the Deemed-to-be-Universities (DBTU). The regulation was introduced to bring in more transparency in the functioning of Deemed Universities and also to improve the quality of education offered by them. Institutions seeking DTBU status were required to have the highest NAAC/NBA grading for two cycles, they were also required to review the syllabus every 3 years. It also removed the cap on the number of off-campus centres provided it has received the NAAC ‘A’ accreditation.

Some of the provisions of the 2016 Regulations also irked Deemed Universities. The regulation had prohibited the institutions from offering Distance Education, capped the counselling fee to Rs.10,000 as well as barred them from charging a capitation fee.

The UGC notice says that a draft (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2018 has been prepared with the help of an Expert Committee. It reads, “The Commission has decided to seek feedback/comments /suggestions from the stakeholders/general public.”