19 more institutions in Bangalore will become UGC’s model colleges

Attempts by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to elevate the standards of education in Karnataka have received a fillip as the state higher education department is all set to sign an MoU for upgrading 19 colleges under the UGC’s Model College Scheme.

A year ago, the UGC had announced the scheme to develop infrastructural facilities in colleges established after December 31, 2007. 

Under the scheme, the UGC chose 20 educationally backward districts in Karnataka and asked the state government to send a list of eligible colleges.

On November 26, the state’s higher education principal secretary, M Madan Gopal, signed an MoU with the UGC to make Kuniyoor Government College, affiliated to Mangalore University, a model college. Thereafter, the department finalised the 19 colleges in the districts identified by the UGC.

“After signing the MoU for the Mangalore University college, we had said that the proposal for the other 19 colleges will be sent within 15 days. The proposal has already been sent,” confirmed an official from the department of collegiate education.

The scheme is now in the final stage and is awaiting a final approval from the UGC, after which the same will be conveyed to the colleges concerned.

“I am not authorised to reveal the names of the colleges which have been chosen for the scheme. We have sent the proposal in two phases. In the first phase, there were nine colleges, and in the second there were 11,” said an official.

Sources said that one college from Nelamangala in Bangalore Rural district has been chosen for the scheme, while none from Bangalore Urban district has been chosen.

The colleges selected under the scheme will receive Rs8 crore as a special fund to develop infrastructure, of which one-third will be given by the UGC and the rest by the state government.

“The scheme is aimed at developing infrastructure in government colleges in educationally backward districts. UGC wants to create a new learning experience for students of the model colleges,” the official said.

The officials said that the UGC would finalise the colleges and release the funds by the end of December 2010. Under the scheme, 370 districts were selected across the country.  The colleges concerned will be expected to send annual reports to the UGC.