The Higher Education Department has decided to follow the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) footsteps and form several committees to review the functioning of all private universities in the State. The UGC, after receiving complaints from students regarding inadequate infrastructure and poor strength of teaching staff in some private universities, had constituted a fact-finding committee to conduct an inquiry.
Speaking on the sidelines of a programme organised at Bangalore University, Higher Education Minister G.T. Deve Gowda said several private universities have failed to give quality education and the “ultimate sufferers” were students. “We want to ensure there is an inquiry conducted into the functioning of all private universities in the State. The committees will have to study all the aspects, right from recruitment of faculty to infrastructural facilities on campus, and submit a report to the government,” Mr. Deve Gowda said. Currently, there are 17 private universities in the State.
Retired Vice-Chancellors would head the committees. “We are in the process of shortlisting committee members and it will be done within a fortnight,” he said.
Although the department has been receiving several complaints from students, it had not initiated action. Students complained about lack of adequate lab facilities, appointment of unqualified teaching faculty, and “haphazard” admission processes.
Department officials said universities not complying with regulations will be issued show-cause notice. “Based on their reply we will write to the UGC to decide the future course of action,” a source said.
Students have welcomed the decision and expressed hope that the panels will listen to their grievances. “We are happy that the State government has finally woken up to the problems we face. But, we hope that these reports do not gather dust and that universities are pulled up if they do not comply with the norms,” said a student in a private university in Bengaluru.
In the wake of a family feud in Alliance University that had affected its functioning, the government had decided to amend the private university’s Act to gain greater control. But, there has been no progress in this regard.