RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN HOSTS ONE-DAY MEET OF VICE-CHANCELLORS OF 17 NEW CENTRAL UNIVERSITIES SET UP UNDER THE CENTRAL UNIVERSITIES ACT, 2009

Rashtrapati Bhavan : 06.01.2018

Rashtrapati Bhavan today (January 6, 2018) hosted a one-day meet of Vice-Chancellors of 17 new Central Universities set up under the Central Universities Act, 2009.

The agenda of the meet included steps taken for enhancing quality of academics and faculty development; issues pertaining to building and infrastructure; filling up of vacancies in the faculty and in administration; timely adherence to the individual university’s academic calendar; encouraging technology-induced models of pedagogy; computerisation in admissions and other administrative matters; funding options for higher education; maintenance of annual accounts and audit of accounts; progress on research and innovation and building academic-industry linkages; establishment of academic collaborations between universities; and a long-term vision for the new Central Universities.

Addressing the concluding session, the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, said that our new Central Universities may have some teething troubles but are actually at an advantage. They can completely avoid legacy issues. They can create systems and mechanisms that are in tune with future needs and futuristic technologies. In short, they can be genuine 21st century universities. Having been set up together, these universities are part of the same fraternity – like the IIMs or the IITs too are part of their fraternities. As such, the new Central Universities must rise together and must engage in cross-learning.

The President said that vacancies in the Central Universities should be filled quickly and urgently. Vacancies in teaching staff are unfair on students who have enrolled, and a disservice to their education. Where necessary, engagement of retired professors for specific periods could be done. Vacancies that are anticipated – due to retirements or expanded needs – should be planned for months in advance. And it is for all authorities to ensure that recruitment is absolutely above board and not influenced by other considerations.

The President said that these universities have to contribute to the well-being of the community and the state that hosts them. Coordination with the state government should be a continuous process, and not limited to initial questions of land transfer. It would also be helpful to leverage and share resources and build partnerships with existing universities and institutions located nearby.

The President emphasised that there is increasing competition in our country and our world for the best minds – for the best professors and for the best students. He stated that there are many doors open for good teachers and professors. Universities have to compete for talent. That is why assessing the quality of a university through, for example, the NAAC evaluation system is so important. It helps a potential student decide which university to opt for. President Kovind urged every Central University to endeavour to get a good NAAC rating for itself and its affiliated colleges.

The President expressed hope that the Ministry of HRD will resolve the problems discussed in a time-bound manner, and also set out a medium to long-term vision for these new Central Universities. He stated that we need to equip these universities to become national assets and world-class institutions. If we cannot achieve this in a reasonable time frame, we will be failing coming generations.

Among those who participated in the one-day meet were Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Prakash Javadekar; Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Dr Satya Pal Singh; Chairman, University Grants Commission, Professor D. P. Singh, representatives of Ministry of HRD and Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, apart from the Vice Chancellors of the 17 new Central Universities.

This release issued at 1845 hrs.