‘Private varsities will get uniform FRA soon’

PUNE: University Grants Commission (UGC) is undertaking the process to bring uniform fee regulation act (FRA) for private universities. The new regulation will be introduced in order to curb the unregulated fee hike by private universities, stated Vice-Chairman of UGC Bhushan Patwardhan on Friday.

Patwardhan was present in the city to attend the 55th Foundation Day of Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University (BVDU).

The new FRA is likely to be implemented in the upcoming academic year 2019-2020.

While speaking to the media after the event, Patwardhan informed that UGC has set a committee to study and bring provisions to formulate new FRA, which will monitor the private universities. 

“The committee is currently working on formulation of the act. After this, it will be possible to regularise the curriculum and fee structure of private universities among others,” he said.

Patwardhan also highlighted that the increase in the number of private universities in the country has created the need to establish a new FRA for private universities.

“Already there are a total of 934 universities including the state, deemed to be and private universities. Nevertheless, more private universities are being established in our country. In Maharashtra, there are around 12 existing private universities and 10 more private universities are likely to be established in the coming years,” said Patwardhan.

“With the increasing number of private universities, it will become difficult for the State and Centre to control the unprecedented fees charged by these universities. Therefore, there was a constant demand to regulate the fee structure of these universities,” said Patwardhan. 

He also exhorted the eligible colleges to apply for autonomous status.

Speaking about the concern over the increase in fees due to autonomous status granted to colleges, Patwardhan said, “Academic autonomy has been granted to colleges. So there is no threat of fee hike because of the status. We have learned about a few colleges who have increased the fees for new courses, which have been introduced. However, colleges, which demand high fees for new courses after receiving autonomous status will certainly be regulated under the new FRA.”