CHAPTER II HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
Maintenance and determination of standards in higher education has been a special responsibility of the Central Government. While this responsibility for the whole country is discharged mainly through the University Grants Commission, a number of educational and research institutions in the field of higher education have come into being under Central auspices through the years of independence; they are : (i) Central Universities, viz., Aligarh Muslim University, Banaras Hindu University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Delhi, Visva-Bharati, North-Eastern Hill University and University of Hyderabad; (ii) National Staff College for Educational Planners and Administrators. New Delhi; (iii) Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Simla; (iv) Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, New Delhi; (v) Indian Council of Social Sciences Research, New Delhi, and (vi) Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi. Besides the Ministry of Education follows a number of schemes in this field, particularly relating to academic collaboration between India and other countries. A brief account of the activities of these institutions and programmes is given in this chapter.
A. UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION The year 1977-78 represented the fourth year of the Fifth Five Year Plan, during which the higher education system witnessed certain stability in enrolments. As a result of the policy of the Commission that only institutions breaking new ground, providing innovative courses or providing good quality education for backward/weaker sections/areas would be cleared as being fit to receive assistance from Central sources in terms of rules prescribed under Section 12A of the UGC Act, unplanned- growth of universities and colleges declined. There were 105 universities and 10 institutions deemed to be universities under Section 3 of the UGC Act during 1976-77; the corresponding numbers in February, 1978 were 105 and 10, respectively. In the case of colleges, restraints have been shown by the State Governments/ Universities in giving permission for starting new colleges. The growth rate on an average was 200 colleges per annum during the period 1969-73. As per information available with the Com- mission, the number of new colleges dropped to about 150 in 1973-74, 80 in 1974-75, 120 in 1975-76 and 61 in 1976-77.
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There were 4569 colleges in 1976-77. Regulation of expansion in the number of colleges helped the existing institutions to have larger enrolments which should also be conductive to raising the standards of collegiate education.
As regards enrolment, the growth rate in universities and colleges, excluding PUC/intermediate/pre-professional/pre-medical which was about 14% in 1969-70 over the enrolment during the previous year fell to 5.9% in 1974-75, to 2.5% in 1975-76 and to 0.2% in 1976- 77. There were about 24.32 lakhs students in the universities and colleges in 1976-77. The affiliated colleges account for 85.1% of the total enrolment. The percentage of students in affiliated colleges was as high as 89.7% at the under-graduate stage, 53.5% at the post- graduate stage and 11.2 % at the research level. Enrolment at the post-graduate level/stage as a proportion of total enrolment at the university and college level increased from 9.6% in 1973-74 to 9.9% in 1974-75, dropped to 9.1% in 1975-76 and further to 9.0% in 1976-77.
While enrolments in general, are being regulated in the interest of maintenance of standards and proper utilisation of the scarce resources, specific measures like the provision of remedial courses and reservation of seats have been adopted to ensure that students belonging to the weaker and under privileged sections of the society are not denied access to higher education. The Fifth Plan proposals of the universities and colleges take into account the need for special facilites to be provided for backward areas and special efforts to be made towards removal of regional imbalances. The Commission has, for the current plan period, liberalised the minimum eligibility conditions in respect of enrolment and faculty strength as also the pattern of assistance for Colleges located in tribal/backward areas. For the construction of academic buildings by colleges located in such areas, the Commission's contribution is 2/3rd of the approval cost-against 50% allowed to other institutions. For student hostels, the Commission's assistance is 75% of the approved cost for colleges in backward areas as against 60% for others. All institutions assisted by the Commission towards the construction of hostels for students are now required to reserve 20% of the seats in such hostels for students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The Commission continued to provide assistance to the arts. science and commerce colleges within a ceiling of three to ten lakhs for the improvements of undergraduate education. Assist-
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ance to post-graduate colleges for strengthening post-graduate studies is being made at the rate of Rs. 1 to 2 lakhs per department. Proposals have also been invited from teachers training colleges, institutes of home science, school of social work etc., at the cost of Rs. 1.5 lakhs per college as the Commission's share.
The Rupees three to ten lakhs scheme of assistance for general development to be implemented by the colleges includes provision for construction of buildings, purchase of books and equipment workshops, animal house, faculty improvement, including practical training and experience as also orienting courses towards community needs. Both city colleges and colleges in rural areas are being assisted to restructure their courses, provide remedial courses under this programme so, as to make them relevant to the needs of students from rural/backward areas and students belonging to the weaker sections of the society. By 1977-78 proposals of about 800 colleges under the scheme have been accepted. In the general development scheme, arts, science and commerce colleges with an enrolment of 1000 students and above are entitled to a grant of Rupees eight to ten lakhs.
It has further been agreed that one to two colleges in each district be identified to work as quality institutions. The colleges which have a viable enrolment, a satisfactory student-teacher ratio and good facilities will be chosen with the help of universities so that such institutions-could be developed to take up quality programmes on the principles of diversification, modernisation etc. Such `Lead Colleges' will also help in providing good education to socially under-privileged sections. Additional assistance up to Rupees three to five lakhs may be provided to such colleges in addition to the assistance available to them under Rs. 5 lakh schemes. The Commission has selected 122 colleges under this scheme which will be raised to 200 the following year.
The Commission has appointed a Standing Committee to located in backward/rural areas and serving the needs of the weaker sections of the society in the States, in further relaxation of the eligibility conditions. These colleges are being selected in consultation with the State Governments and the universities.
The Commission has appointed a Standing Committee to advise it on the general policy regarding restructing of courses of the under- graduate stage following the introduction of 12 years of secondary schooling. The Commission has also set up Joint Consultative Committee with the Indian Medical Council, Indian
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Council of Agricultural Research, Bar Council and National Council for Educational Research and Training for studying the implications of the new pattern of professional courses.
The Commission has communicated a set of guidelines to universities for restructuring of courses of studies at the first degree level with general principles of relevance and flexibility so that they would be related to local needs and environment. With the help of review committees, subject panels and regional workshops, it has initiated a process that would lead to the updating and modernisation of syllabi and courses and the development of the teaching/learning process related to the individual and social needs of students. About 150 colleges mostly in rural areas have been selected for the purpose.
The, Commission has accorded priority to the faculty improvement programmes and faculty awards. The Commission has, selected over 900 teacher fellows on an all-India basis. In addition, about 338 departments in the universities, IITs, national laboratories, etc., etc., in various disciplines, have been identified and each department has an allocation up to ten eligible teacher fellows from affiliated colleges at any given time. The Commission has allocated 3800 teacher fellowships under this provision. During the last year 285 seminars, symposia, refresher courses, summer institutes, workshops were organised in universities/ colleges.
The Commission has been attaching great importance to, research programmes. By 1977-78, over 960 major research schemes and about 3200 minor research schemes have been accepted. 149 colleges have been provided assistance under COSIP and the proposals of 129 colleges have been accepted under the COHSIP. University Leadership Projects have been accepted in 36 science departments and six departments of humanities and social sciences in the universities. The Commission has agreed to provide assistance for the installation of computer at 28 universities.
The Commission has agreed to award 25 scholarships for post- graduate studies and 50 junior research fellowships in approved institutions in specified subjects of relevance to the problems of border hill areas to be offered to the students of border hill areas Within the territorial jurisdiction of NEHU, Kashmir University. Garhwal University, Kumaon University and Himachal Pradesh University.
The Commission has requested the universities to observe the guidelines issued by the Government of India for the reservation
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of seats for students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and they are also requested to give a concession of 5% marks in the minimum percentage of marks required for admission to any course. The Commission has advised the universities to provide for reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for recruitment to the posts of Lecturers in the Universities and colleges and suggested mechanics for such reservations. It was also indicated that teaching posts may not remain vacant for long periods and such reservations may not be operated on a roaster system nor should the reserved posts be carried forward from year to year. Ten per cent of the research fellowships have been reserved for candidates belonging to, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. In addition, the Commission has instituted 20 Senior and 50 junior Research Fellowships to be awarded annually exclusively to candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The Commission continued to give assistance towards students amenities and student welfare including the provision of hostel accommodation, study centres, non-resident student centres, student aid fund, health centres, and the establishment of book banks. The scheme of book banks was extended to all colleges including professional colleges having enrolment of 100 students and above. Under the scheme of the book banks, multiple copies of the text books are provided in the collegeally libraries and they are made available to deserving students on loan during the period of their study. The universities and colleges were also assisted towards establishing a student aid fund so that the poor and needy students might be helped to pay tuition fees and examination fees and meet other needs related to the study.
The Commission with the help of a Working Group reviewed the implementation of the various programmes of students amenities and student welfare and on the recommendations of the Working Group has agreed liberalise assistance for canteens, establishment of student aid fund, study centres, health centres etc. Assistance will also be provided to the universities and colleges for the improvement of living conditions in hostels i.e. sanitary facilities, proper dining halls, etc. on a 75 : 25 sharing basis. The Commission also agreed to provide assistance to the universities/colleges for gymnasium and improvement of play fields.
There has been a steady progress in the implementation of the Commission's programme of research fellowships in humanities, social science and science and engineering and technology.
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Steps have also been taken to establish regional instrumentation centres to help the university to repair and to bring to use the idle equipment to train technicians to maintain the equipment properly.
Programmes of Cultural Exchange and International Collaboration The University Grants Commission implements such of the items of the Cultural Exchange, Programmes as are assigned to it in terms of the agreements signed between the Government of India and foreign countries. These involved exchange of visits by teachers/scholars ranging from 3 to 12 weeks for lecture-cum-study.
During 1976-77, the Commission implemented regular cultural exchange programmes with the Governments of Afghanistan. Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Poland, GDR, FRG, France, USSR, Iran, Yugoslavia, Arab Republic of Egypt and Mongolia. Besides, the Commission also. implemented ad-hoc programmes of bilateral academic exchanges with some other countries. During the year 60 foreign scholars. were received and 75 Indian scholars were sent abroad under various cultural exchange programmes. These visits have provided a good opportunity to the Indian teachers to study the latest developments in various fields abroad. Comprehensive reports received from Indian and foreign scholars have also helped the Commission to formulate effective collaborative programmes between universities and institutions in India and their counterparts in the foreign countries.
On the basis of experience of the Indian participants and with a view to making the best use of cultural exchanges, the Commission has, taken steps to encourage studies and research in depth on a collaborative basis. This has usually taken the form of bilateral academic contacts on a continuing basis and specified departments/universities/institutions after proper identification of areas/disciplines in which cooperation could be profitably permitted to the mutual advantage of both the countries. Such bilateral academic programmes include exchange of teachers/ scholars and publication and provision of joint scientific research. The Commission is laying great emphasis on identification of areas/fields in which collaboration could take place between universities in India and universities/institutions in foreign countries is equal partners. As far as possible, the identified areas are being incorporated in the cultural exchange programmes.
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In addition to the regular and ad-hoc Cultural Exchange Pro- grammes, the Commission is also, implementing the following programmes involving international collaboration :
(1) Indo-British Universities Collaboration Programme: Under this programme there is provision for the development of academic links between selected universities in India and those in the UK in pursuance of identified research programmes. The areas of collaboration are identified and thereafter joint research programmes are drawn up for participating universities and approved by the implementing agencies the UGC in India and the British Council in UK. The British Council has agreed to provide for the visit of some Indian scholars to the UK for the collection of source material in connection with their research work. The British Council have also agreed to provide international air fare to 6 leading British academies for visiting India for a period not exceeding 3-4 weeks.
(2) Indo-US Fellowship Programme : Under this programme, the University Grants Commission is required to offer up to 10 post- graduate-fellowships to American scholars for their research work in India. Similarly, the US Government have agreed to provide 6 Post- doctoral fellowships of the duration of 10 months and 3 visitorships of the duration of 13 weeks each for Indian scholars for their research work in the USA.
(3) Apart from the above, the CSIR have made available 150 man- days to the University Grants Commission for the visit of the teachers from Indian Universities to the USA for a period not exceeding 4 weeks each under the Indo-US Exchange of Scientists programme.
(4) CSIR-CNRS (France) Exchange Programme : The CSIR have made available 200 man-days to the University Grants Commission for the visit of Indian teachers to France for their research work under the agreement entered into by the CSIR and CNRS (France).
B. CENTRAL UNIVERSITIES
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh During 1977-78, the number of new admission to the University was 5,000. The total student strength stood at 12,000, including 200 foreign students. Hostel accommodation was provided to 75% of the student population.
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New Centres/sections opened during the year were:-
1. Centre of Continuing (Adult) Education
2. Section of Virology in the Department of Microbiology.
The Institute of Ophthalmology of the University is proposed to be converted into one of the six Regional Institutes of Ophthalmology under the National plan to control blindness. The Department of Linguistics of the University published various books one of which received an award from the Urdu Academy. U.P. The venture of the Faculty of Law regarding preparing students for various competitive examinations showed encouraging results. The Department of Business Administration made arrangements for summer training of MBA students.
Quite a few eminent scholars from India and abroad visited the University to deliver lectures on various subjects.
The Head of the Department of Psychology of the University was selected by the UGC as National Lecturer.
The following conferences were held during the year :-
(i) VII Conference of the Indian Society of Criminology.
(ii) All India Mathematical Conference.
(iii) All India English Teachers' Conference.
The University also hosted the UP Football Championship.
Banaras Hindu University Varanasi The academic session commenced on July 9, 1977 according to schedule. This smooth commencement of the session was made possible by effecting drastic and deliberate cut in the time between examinations and declaration of results. The University faced unprecedented rush for admissions to various courses and, to meet the aspirations of the students in this post-emergency year, 2,500 were admitted over and above the quota fixed by the Academic Council. The total new enrolment was 14,822. The strength of the teaching staff was 1,170.