Page 132 - DMGT402_MANAGEMENT_PRACTICES_AND_ORGANIZATIONAL_BEHAVIOUR

Unit 6: Delegation, Authority and Power

The UGC guidelines for award of Deemed University status must be as good as, if not Notes
better than, that of the statutory council. The AICTE laid down norms and standards for
establishment of educational institutions back in 1995 and this author was a member of
the Committee.
Support Facilities
For a University, to properly function with all academic and support facilities, a minimum
of 50 acres of land is required and this requirement is location independent. With respect
to building area, for an intake of 360 students per annum, the AICTE prescribes 11,236 sq.
mts. as the required academic area; in comparison, the UGC prescribes 10,000 sq.mts.
without mentioning the student strength.
The prescribed value of 2 crore in respect of equipment, books and journals for the
faculties of engineering and medicine for conferment of Deemed University is low
considering that even ordinary professional colleges are expected to have facilities of this
magnitude.
The original AICTE guidelines for conferment of Deemed University status stipulated
that the institution shall be engaged in conducting UG and PG degree for a period of not
less than 10 years and five years from the graduation of first batchrespectively. The UGC
has now reduced the net minimum period of existence of the institution from 15 to 10
years.
The minimum research requirement has not been prescribed in the UGC guidelines. The
AICTE’s guidelines requires the applicant institution to complete five significant projects
of value of 8 lakh each or more per year, at least five students should be guided towards
doctoral degree in each department and 50 publications in the last five years involving
sizeable number of disciplines, departments and faculty members in respect of research.
De novo Institutions
In respect of de novo institutions, the AICTE guidelines clearly stipulate that the institution
must satisfy all the regulations of the AICTE in regard to grant of approval for establishment
of an institution as laid down under Section 10(k) of the AICTE Act. If all other criteria are
made good within a year of making the application, then the application may be considered
for Deemed University status under de novo category.

Frequent Reviews
The UGC must also refrain from the practice of appointing review committees within
short periods. Even before the original inspection committee’s report is considered by the
UGC/Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), another review committee is
sent.
The UGC must also refrain from granting conditional Deemed University status which is
against a Madras High Court order.
Some institutions conferred with Deemed University status in the last three years were
advised to strengthen infrastructure, faculty quality, research activities, etc. The purpose
of conferring Deemed University is to reward institutions with demonstrated excellence
and not to motivate them to satisfy basic conditions. Moreover, Deemed University status
conferred to many institutions after 2003 is only temporary and subject to review. Such
time-bound grant must also be discouraged.
Sister-institution Route
The attempt to bring in other sister-institutions within the ambit of the declared Deemed
University is clearly a backdoor entry mechanism. A dental or arts and science college
Contd...

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 127