Lok Sabha Question No. 3281 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-09
Subject: Quality Mandate for Private Universities
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya, Ganesan Selvam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3281 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2019

## Quality Mandate for Private Universities

## 3281.  SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA: SHRI SELVAM G.:

- Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state : (a)  the  number of Private Universities functioning in the country which are recognized by UGC; (b) whether most of the Private Universities lack basic infrastructural facilities and financial viability as laid down by the UGC and respective Statutory councils; (c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; (d) whether UGC conducts inspection of every Private Universities with the help of Expert Committees to ascertain the quality and performance of Private Universities; (e) if so, the details of the inspection conducted during each of the last three years and the current year along with the shortcoming noticed and action taken in this regard; and (f)  whether  UGC  has  issued  Quality  Mandate  for  all  Private  Universities  to  improve  the
- standard and quality of education, if so, the response of the Private University in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

- (a):  As  on  03.12.2019,  there  are  344  Private  Universities  functioning  in  the  country.  The names of these  Private  Universities  have  been  included by  University  Grants  Commission (UGC) in the list of universities under Section 2(f) of UGC Act, 1956. (b) to (e): On receipt of the Act passed by the State Legislature and notification issued by the State  Government  in  respect  of  establishment  of  a  Private  University,  the  respective University  is  asked  to  submit  detailed  information  to  UGC  in  a  prescribed  format  for inspection. Thereafter, UGC constitutes an Expert Committee consisting of a representative(s) from the Statutory Council(s) concerned to assess fulfilment of criteria in terms of programmes, faculty, infrastructural facilities, financial viability, etc. in the Private University in accordance with the UGC (Establishment of and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities) Regulations, 2003. As  of  now,  263  Private  Universities  have  submitted  their  information  to  UGC  for

inspection.  Out  of  these,  199  have  been  inspected  by  the  UGC  so  far.  Of  these  199

Universities, 132 Private Universities have submitted their compliance reports which have been noted by the Commission.

A  total  number  of  71  Private  Universities  have  been  inspected  by  the  UGC  Expert Committees  in  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year.  The  reports  of  the  Committees including shortcomings, observation & suggestion in terms  of programmes,  faculty, infrastructural  facilities,  financial  viability,  etc.,  were  sent  to  the  University  concerned  for compliance. Out of these, 42 Universities have submitted their compliance report to the UGC which have been noted by the Commission.  The year-wise breakup is as under:

| Year   |   No. of Private Universities inspected |   Compliance noted by the UGC |
|--------|-----------------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| 2016   |                                      18 |                            14 |
| 2017   |                                      13 |                            09 |
| 2018   |                                      17 |                            12 |
| 2019   |                                      23 |                            07 |
| Total  |                                      71 |                            42 |

(f):  UGC has adopted a 10 point Quality Mandate for all Higher Educational Institutions to improve  the  standard  and  quality  of  education.  Accordingly,  Vice  Chancellors  of  all Universities including Private Universities have been asked by the UGC on 4 th  June, 2018 to take  necessary  steps  to  implement  Quality  Mandate in  their  Universities  on  the following parameters:

- i. Induction programme for students.
- ii. Learning outcome-based curriculum framework - revision of curriculum in regular intervals.
- iii. Use ICT based learning tools for effective teaching-learning process.
- iv. Soft skills for students.
- v. Social and Industry connect for every Institution: Every Institution shall adopt at least 5 villages for exchange of knowledge and for the overall social / economic betterment of the village communities.
- vi. Examination reforms - test the concept, and application; exit examinations.
- vii. Tracking of the student progress after completion of Course.
- viii. Induction training for all new teachers, and annual refresher training for all teachers -  role  of  the  NRCs;  and  mandatory  leadership  /  management  training  for  all educational administrators.
- ix. Promoting quality research by faculty and creation of new knowledge.
- x. Mentoring of non-accredited institutions, so that every Institution can get accreditation by 2022.

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