Sunday, March 14, 2010
Ongoing Courses To be Completed And Degrees Awarded

Bangalore: Coming to the aid of nearly 1.32 lakh students across the country studying in the 44 deemed universities recently derecognised, the human resource development ministry task force headed by P N Tandon has readied an action plan for relocating these students, pending the Supreme Court’s final verdict.

Accordingly, all existing deemed university students should revert to status quo ante — the status of an affiliated college of a state university, so that they will be able to complete their ongoing courses and obtain the degree from the affiliating university. This means the deemed universities which were stripped of their status last year will come under the purview of the respective state universities. However, the task force’s action plan will be implemented only after the SC gives its final verdict.

Last month, the apex court ordered status quo for these institutions but issued notices to them asking them to explain their stand within four to six weeks.

Parallely, the HRD ministry constituted the task force, essentially to plan the future course of action for the students studying in these deemed universities.

The Supreme Court had given clear directions to safeguard the interests of students. “It is the responsibility of the UGC and state governments to come to the aid of students. However, the plight of students must not be allowed to become a reason for considering the possibility of totally undeserving institutions retaining the status of university. Such a course will be harmful for the future of higher education,” said the task force report, a copy of which is available with TOI.

Following withdrawal of deemed university status, if the institution is not able to obtain affiliation, every effort should be made to facilitate migration/re-enrolment in equivalent or similar courses in other institutions, the report further states.

Students in PhD and research programmes should be enabled to obtain registration/recognition from the affiliating university or other institutions.

Observing that the task of relocating and reaffiliating is mammoth, the task force has observed: “Every attempt has been made to explore solutions to accommodate diverse needs of students. In all cases of relocation of students or reaffiliation of institutions, it will be imperative that the UGC, the central and state governments and the state universities play a proactive role in facilitating this process.”

The problem of reassignment of students will be more difficult if no institution under the affiliating university offers same or equivalent courses. In such cases, the students may be given an option to choose a similar or compatible course under the affiliating university.