Potential Pvt Universities to get UGC’s Excellence tag

Ipsita Sarkar Gupta | shiksha.com

With thousands of private players entering the education sector, how can one choose a good university? Now students will have a way. University Grants Commission (UGC) is allowing “state private universities and self-financed deemed to be universities” to seek the tag of ‘University with Potential for Excellence’ (UPE) under the 12th Plan. UPE distinction will not bring in any government funding, but elevate the varsity’s image and hence popularity.

"The Commission also decided that state's private universities and other universities covered under section 12B of the UGC Act may also be considered for grant of status of UPE provided they fulfil the various conditions under the scheme," mentioned the minutes of the meeting held earlier this month.

“The main objective of the Scheme is to identify such universities which have made reasonable improvement in teaching and research activities and with sufficient funds being available to augment the infrastructure, can achieve excellence in their activities. The Scheme intends to make such Indian universities comparable to the world class universities by enabling them to adapt to modern methods of teaching and learning, developing learner-friendly lecture materials, changing their evaluation methods and striving for excellence, to sustain themselves in this competitive world,” stated UGC.

Currently, as many as 165 private universities have been approved by the UGC, that may want to enter the race for the UPE status. Those that have already received the UPE tag would be considered for upgradation to the next level as 'University of Excellence'.

The Universities to be selected under the UPE Scheme so far are:

• 5 Universities (selected during the IX Plan period): Jawaharlal Nehru University, Hyderabad University, Jadavpur University, Pune University and Madras University.
• 4 universities (X Plan): Mumbai University, North Eastern Hill University, Madurai Kamaraj University and Calcutta University.
• 6 universities (XI Plan): Osmania University, Mysore University, Karnataka University, GND University, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), and the University of Rajasthan.

In the XII Plan period, 10 more universities will be selected as UPE. All universities including state private universities and self-financed deemed to be universities shall be eligible for being considered under the Scheme. However, financial assistance will be provided only to such universities which receive General Development Assistance from UGC.

A university will enjoy the status of UPE for a maximum of three phases under the Scheme. Each phase of the scheme will have a tenure of 5 years. The scheme offers the following upper limit of financial assistance as follows:

Rs 60 crores in First Phase of UPE status
Rs 60 crores in Second Phase of UPE/UE status
Rs 100 crores in the Third Phase of UPE/UE status

Eligibility criteria for applying under the scheme:

(i) Accreditation by NAAC with Grade “A”,

(ii) Well established and regularly functioning IQAC and

(iii) Evidence of regular high level research activities, quest of excellence, university-industry collaboration and community outreach.

To apply and know more, click here.