What Is A Deemed To Be University According To UGC
New Delhi:
UGC, on direction from Supreme Court, recently barred 123 deemed to be universities from using the word ‘University’ in their names. The Universities which thus came under scrutiny included some institutes of prominence such as IISc Bangalore, BIT Mesra, IIFT Delhi etc. These institutes have been top ranking institutes in their respective fields with IISC Bangalore being declared the best university in the country in the NIRF Rankings 2017. IISc is also one of the institutes, apart from IITs, which has found place in International rankings.
But what really is a deemed to be university and how is it different form any other odd university?
As per the official MHRD website, “An Institution of Higher Education, other than universities, working at a very high standard in specific area of study, can be declared by the Central Government on the advice of the UGC as an Institution ‘Deemed-to-be-university’. Institutions that are ‘deemed-to-be-university’ enjoy academic status and privileges of a university.”
How does an institute become a ‘Deemed-to-be-University’?
The status of deemed-to-be-university is awarded in accordance with the Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.
For an institution to be eligible to be declared as ‘Deemed-to-be-University’ it should fulfill the following criteria:
What does the recent UGC notice for 'Deemed-to-be-Universities' mean?
The UGC notice for 'deemed-to-be-Universities' is not alarming. The Commission has just asked such institutions which are granted the status of 'Deemed-to-be-University' to drop the word University fro their names. Such institutions can not use the word 'University' as a suffix to their names. The notice has been issued for 123 Deemed-to-be-Universities.
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But what really is a deemed to be university and how is it different form any other odd university?
As per the official MHRD website, “An Institution of Higher Education, other than universities, working at a very high standard in specific area of study, can be declared by the Central Government on the advice of the UGC as an Institution ‘Deemed-to-be-university’. Institutions that are ‘deemed-to-be-university’ enjoy academic status and privileges of a university.”
How does an institute become a ‘Deemed-to-be-University’?
The status of deemed-to-be-university is awarded in accordance with the Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.
For an institution to be eligible to be declared as ‘Deemed-to-be-University’ it should fulfill the following criteria:
- Has been accredited with highest grade by NAAC and/or by NBA continuously for two cycles and again gets highest grade in the third cycle continuously (five year cycle). In case of NBA, such accreditation should be for all its eligible courses. Or the institute should have the highest NAAC/NBA category at the time of application, and in the immediately previous NAAC/NBA cycle, and should be in top 20 in any specific category or in top 100 of overall ranking of National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking at the time of application and in immediately previous two years. In case of NBA, such accreditation should be for all its eligible courses.
- Has demonstrated the characteristics of a university through diverse curricular provisions, contribution to teaching; and, verifiable research output.
- Has under graduate and atleast five post graduate departments in existence for 3 years with research programmes.
- Shall be engaged in research activity, publications and scholarly works and shall have doctoral/post-doctoral research programmes. The faculty in Humanities, Social Sciences, Languages shall have atleast 10 publications and Faculty of Sciences/Medicine/Engineering shall have at least 15 publications per year in refereed journals listed by UGC and having an impact factor.
- Shall have adequate number of full-time fully qualified faculty for teaching and research as per UGC/concerned Statutory Council(s) norms.
- Shall possess the necessary infrastructure for quality research and seamless access to modern information resources.
- Shall have a proven record of securing merit-based extramural research funding from various public/private agencies.
- Shall have a record of extension services and societal engagement.
- Each constituent unit included in the original proposal shall have continuous accreditation for two cycles with the highest grade offered and also gets valid highest grade for third cycle, either from National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and/or all its eligible courses shall be accredited continuously for two cycles (five year each) with the highest grade offered and also gets highest grade in the third cycle, which is currently valid, by National Board of Accreditation (NBA) or an accreditation agency recognized by the Commission from time to time.
- Shall undertake not to offer any programme in the distance mode.
What does the recent UGC notice for 'Deemed-to-be-Universities' mean?
The UGC notice for 'deemed-to-be-Universities' is not alarming. The Commission has just asked such institutions which are granted the status of 'Deemed-to-be-University' to drop the word University fro their names. Such institutions can not use the word 'University' as a suffix to their names. The notice has been issued for 123 Deemed-to-be-Universities.
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