The new Maharashtra Public Universities (MPU) Act 2011 will come into force by June this year, said higher and technical education minister Rajesh Tope. Speaking to the media in the city on Thursday, the minister said, “Though there has been strong resentment against the provision in the Act to set up Maharashtra State Commission for Higher Education and Development (MAHED), I am confident that it would be presented before the cabinet by March 2013 and would get necessary approvals by June.”
“The Act envisages MAHED to act as an independent legal entity with appropriate autonomy. Funded by the state but governed by academicians, scientists, technocrats and industry experts, it will monitor colleges, institutions and faculty,” he said.
Tope said, “The universities have raised strong opposition to MAHED as it will eliminate the election system in senate, management councils and academic councils, and bring in the nomination system. Besides, MAHED will be headed by a chief executive officer (CEO), whose post will be equivalent to that of the chancellor.”
We are preparing model guidelines and will invite proposals based on these guidelines. Then, our scrutiny committee will study them, grant the letter of intent (LoI) and after further scrutiny of facilities and infrastructure a letter of approval (LoA) will be given, he said.
Tope said, “Varsities will have academic and administrative autonomy, and the independence to frame their own curriculum. However, they will have to strictly adhere to the guidelines of UGC, AICTE and others.”
Proposed amendments to MPU Act 2011
- It seeks to replace the senates in the state universities with a new concept called the Society Partnership Council (SOUL), which will have 45 prominent representatives from different walks of life, half of them will be nominated members
- Amalgamation of faculty; restructuring of board of studies and setting up of ‘MAHED’ for regulating all state universities
