Govt plans to spend Rs 1,000 crore on the public institutions while the private ones stand to gain freedom in choice of fee structure and courses.
New Delhi: It wasn’t the prospect of global recognition that attracted applicants for the Institutes of Eminence (IoE) tag, but the money and autonomy on offer, the empowered expert committee that drew up the final list noted in its report to the government.
Earlier this week, the ministry of human resource development declared the names of six institutions to be recognised as IoEs — three private and three public. This six are the IITs at Delhi and Bombay, IISc Bengaluru, BITS Pilani, Manipal Academy of Higher Education and Reliance Foundation’s proposed Jio Institute.
The idea behind the scheme is to develop these institutions as the cream of the country’s education sector, with the government aiming for their recognition among the world’s premier study destinations within 10 years.
Under the scheme, the government is expected to spend an estimated Rs 1,000 crore over a period of time on the three public institutes to bolster their bid for excellence, while the private schools stand to gain freedom on decisions regarding fees and courses.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) had received 114 applications — 74 public and 40 private institutions — for the IoE tag.
The expert committee, headed by former chief election commissioner N. Gopalaswami, noted that many public institutions seemed to have applied because of the kind of money the government was offering.
“Many of these institutions have applied for recognition under the scheme most probably attracted by the financial dispensation and not because they stand a reasonable chance of achieving the stiff goal of being within 500 of world university rankings in 10 years,” the report read.
It also cautioned the government to be careful with the financial assistance, saying it should be extended only when necessary.
For private institutions, the committee added, “Many seemed to be aspiring for IoE status only to overcome restrictions in terms of fees that can be charged, courses that can be offered etc.”
“The EEC (empowered expert committee) notes that some of them would certainly have benefitted if they had acquitted themselves better and obtained higher ranks in NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) assessment in light of the latest UGC announcement granting graded autonomy,” the report said.
Controversial selection
The government courted a lot of criticism over the selection of Jio Institute, which is yet to be established, as an IoE. The HRD ministry clarified that the Reliance Foundation initiative was selected under the greenfield category, which was meant for proposed institutions.
Referring to greenfield institutions, the committee sought strict conditions for such initiatives, calling for backers to create a completely independent fund for the entity and make its governance structure fully independent of the sponsoring organisation.
The committee also recommended that the IoE selection exercise should be repeated two years from now to give rejected applicants another shot.
The establishment of Educational Institutions with an eye for high ranking and IoE tag is certainly good.But the aim seem to convert education into a pure business exclusively focussing money. Whatsoever the disruption strategy, end game is money. Harvard or MIT or India’s IITs & IIMs were not born to purchase rankings. It is like producing children with an eye to win Nobel prize. Social obligations are abandoned…S
In the MHRD rankings Kerala University got high rank. But it was really shocking to realize that TKM College of Arts and Sciences, Kollam got 45th rank, if you examine the results you will wonder. There is no regular Principal for the past four years. No proper ICC. For your information l here by state that you have to re examine the false data filed by the Principal in charge. I was Associate Professor and Head of the department of English of that College, As l reported the mark manupulation, to University of kerala, the management stripped of my Head ship. As per 2010 UGC Regulations I have all required qualification to be the principal. Management kept an qualified person as the Principal and supported him. As there was no ICC, I complained to police about the harassment . Management placed it before the Women’s cell constituted in 2013 headed by a junior Assistant professor and acquitted the accused and punished me with compulsory retirement, Retrospectively. There for l humbly request that if the college had used any achievement related to me for the purpose of ranking it should not be allowed as l retired on 30-9-2017.Infact lam Research supervisor and the only PhD produced from this College is under my guidance that was my second PhD.My published work also may be exempted. I have lodged a complaint to the Honourable Governor of Kerala and the Chancellor about the harassment. It is 13 months, I have no salary, no pension under going treatment for Hypertension. The send off gift given by the Management for my eminent service of 30 years and uplifting the English Dept to Post Graduate Research Centre. I am a minority woman with two Masters degree and PhD in English, research supervisor, Reader, resource person, but.. I retired with a hand full of tears. It is my request kindly make proper assessment before ranking. Let me be frank,, in Kerala there are many eminent colleges much better than TKM who do not the cross cuts .
Instead of IITs, central universities should be chosen. Only full-fledged universities should be promoted as IOE to come under 100tthe position in the world ranking. Worldwide, there hardly institute like IITs. World universities teach engineering, medicine, liberal arts, science, law, and business and have international students and world-famous faculty with a strong emphasis in cutting-edge research.