There could be campuses of universities like Mumbai and Pune in different parts of the state with independent pro-vice-chancellors.
The three biggest universities in Maharashtra — Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur — will soon be bifurcated to make them more efficient and responsive to changing needs.
Announcing the decision in the state assembly on Wednesday, minister for higher and technical education Rajesh Tope said a committee would work out the modalities for the split within three months. “The government has, in principle, decided to bifurcate the universities to ensure better management and quality education across the state,” he said.
However, colleges currently affiliated to a particular university need not fear losing their brand tags. Tope said that though the new universities will have separate campuses, they can retain their existing names. This means even after Mumbai University is split, the new university created out of it would still be called Mumbai. Each campus would be headed by a pro vice-chancellor.
Under University Grants Commission norms, the ideal limit is 250 colleges per university. However, Nagpur University currently has over 750 colleges affiliated to it, and Pune 587 colleges and 161 institutions. Mumbai University has over 600 colleges under it. The ever-increasing number of affiliated colleges has, among other things, made it difficult for them to meet their exam results deadlines and maintain teaching standards.
When the bifurcation takes place, colleges affiliated to Mumbai University may be restricted to those located in the city and suburbs. Colleges beyond Panvel and going up to the Konkan region will come under a new university. The Pune University currently has colleges from three districts — Pune, Nashik and Ahmednagar.
The minister said corporate houses willing to start private universities will be enabled to do so by amending the Private Universities Act. “More and more corporate houses are willing to enter the education sector through private universities. The joint select committee of members of the state legislature will discuss the modalities of the amendment in the act,” he said.
Surendra Jhondale, head of the department of political science in Mumbai University, welcomed the government’s decision. “It’s a positive step. Till now, the decision was kept in abeyance because of lack of political will. A majority of the politicians who run various colleges were keen to retain the Mumbai University tag. They were responsible for stalling the decision.”
The bifurcation will mean that the state government will have to make larger investments in new campuses and departments. But once implemented it will help improve educational standards in the state, Jhondale said.
Speaking in the assembly, minister Tope said the government would make accreditation compulsory for all universities and colleges. “Students enrolling themselves with the universities should know what quality of education (they will be receiving) and the institution they are opting for. A grading system will rate colleges and universities in categories from ‘A’ to ‘D’.
To curtail bogus and fake educational institutions, the department has planned to introduce an Unauthorised Institution Act. “The Act will ensure that no bogus or fake educational institutions exist in the state. If not introduced in the ongoing session, an ordinance will be issued very soon,” Tope said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}