UGC draft regulations to control technical institutions


UGC draft regulations to control technical institutions; takes over AICTE’s role 05 Dec 2013

 

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a circular informing that it is taking over the responsibilities of All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) following a Supreme Court April judgment.

 

The commission has also prepared the draft Regulations on Technical and Professional Education till now regulated by AICTE, to regulate technical colleges affiliated to universities across the country.

 

It means that henceforth, all the engineering and management institutions will have to seek approval from UGC, instead of AICTE for establishing/starting new course/college.

 

As per UGC circular, “the Supreme Court has ruled that colleges affiliated to a University do not come under the purview of the definition of "Technical Institution" as defined under Section 2(h) of the AICTE Act, 1987. Under the circumstances, it has become imperative for the universities and UGC to evolve a suitable methodology to ensure that existing technical/engineering colleges affiliated to universities do not dilute standards of technical education imparted by them.”

 

In April this year, the apex court stripping the AICTE of its powers to regulate technical colleges held that colleges affiliated to a university did not come under the purview of the definition of "technical institution" under the AICTE Act.

 

“It has become imperative for the universities and UGC to evolve a suitable methodology to ensure that existing technical or engineering colleges affiliated to universities do not dilute standards of technical education imparted by them,” says the UGC circular.

 

The UGC draft states, every university shall maintain a list of unapproved colleges offering programmes in technical education based on the information received and verified by the university and shall also inform the UGC and general public about the same from time to time.

 

“Besides, any college offering technical education and which has already started without following approval procedure shall be treated as unapproved college. Colleges imparting courses in technical education in temporary location or at location not approved by the university shall be liable for action,” it says.