UNIVERSITY AND HIGHER EDUCATION
University Grants Commission
Growth of the Higher Education System 6.1.1 At the beginning of the year 1996-97, the total student enrolment in universities and colleges was 64.26 lakhs. The enrolment in the University Departments was 10.64 lakhs and that in the affiliated Colleges was 53.62 lakhs.
6.1.2 Four out of ten students in higher education are in the Faculty of Arts, enrolled for courses in social sciences and humanities which include History and Culture and Languages. Three out of ten students are enrolled for courses in Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Agriculture and related disciplines. The faculty of Commerce absorbs two out of 10 students while remaining are in the faculty of Education, Law and 'Others' (Fine Arts etc.). Enrolment at the First degree level was 56.67 lakhs (88.2%); at the Postgraduate level 6.04 lakhs (9.4%); at the research level 0.71 lakhs (1.1%); and at the diploma and certificate level 0.83 lakhs (1.3%). The total number of teachers increased to 3. 10 lakhs during the year. Of these, 0. 71 lakhs were in the University Departments/University Colleges and the rest in the affiliated colleges. Of the 71084 teachers in the Universities, 9099 were Professors, 18624 were Readers, 40518 were Lecturers and 2843 were Tutors/Demonstrators. In the affiliated colleges, the number of senior teachers was 33,289, the number of Lecturers was 19,5,662 and that of Tutors/Demonstrators was 10,537.
6.1.3 Presently, the total number of Universities in the country was 171 and the total number of Institutions deemed to be Universities was 38.
Higher Education among Women 6.1.4 The enrolment of women students at the beginning of the year 1996-97 was 21.91 lakhs. At the postgraduate level, the enrolment of women was 34.0% of the total enrolment. The enrolment of women students was the highest in Kerala (52.4%), followed by Goa and Punjab (51.1%) each, Pondicherry (45.2%), Delhi (44.6%), Manipur (42.8%), Tamil Nadu and Jammu and Kashmir (39.9% each) and Meghalya and Nagaland (39.7% each). The enrolment of women was the lowest in Bihar (18. 6%).
Programmes and Activities of the Commission 6.1.5 Some of the major thrust areas pursued during the year were: Human Resource Development, Environment Education, Vocationalization of Education at the first degree level, Academic Staff Colleges for Orientation of teachers, Eligibility
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test for recruitment of lecturers, Inter-University Centres and Consortiums, Distance Education, COSIST, Adult Education and National Literacy Mission, Spread of Mass Communication and Educational Technology network, Computer Education, Education for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and for the minorities and weaker sections among the minority communities, Education for women and the handicapped and Population education.
Human Resource Development 6.1.6 The Commission has been striving to develop human resources and towards this end, it provides assistance for various programmes which enable teachers and researchers to upgrade professional competence and keep abreast of the latest developments in their disciplines. Assistance for various types of scholarships and Fellowships is provided to achieve this objective. Junior Research Fellowship is awarded to those research scholars who have qualified in national level tests conducted by the UGC, CSIR, GATE etc. Teachers of outstanding eminence are awarded national fellowship for a specified period to devote themselves exclusively to research and writing. Similarly, under the scheme of Research Scientists, 200 positions have been created at any given time. The awardees are placed in two slabs viz., Rs.2300-3500 and Rs.4000-6500. The scheme provides opportunities to those who wish to pursue research as a career. Selections under this scheme are made directly by the Commission. A scheme of Career Awards also exists which aims at identifying young talented teachers to devote themselves to research with lesser teaching responsibilities.
6.1.7 Under the scheme of Visiting Professors/Fellows, assistance is provided to universities for the appointment of Visiting Professors/Fellows. During the year, the Commission continued the scheme of "Visiting Faculty" in the universities so as to provide teaching/research assignments outside Kashmir to the teachers from Kashmir University and its affiliated colleges due to disturbed conditions there.
Research and Studies in Emerging and Inter-disciplinary Areas 6.1.8 These courses include Courses like Super-Conductivity, Atmospheric Science, Environmental Education, Computer Application, etc.
(i) Super Conductivity Programme The UGC programme on Supper conductivity has been in operation since 1987 for assisting universities in developing education and research capabilities in both basic and applied areas of Super Conductivity, Periodic review through group monitoring meetings and annual/bi-annual reports are inbuilt features of the programme. The commission was supporting 35 universities in both basic and applied areas.
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These institutions have come up as Centres of Excellence in their particular areas. The programme has generated a positive impact on the university system for collaborative approaches to R&D and educational activities.
(ii) Atmospheric Science This programme has been in operation since 1987, with the object of promoting meteorological and atmospheric sciences in the universities and providing employment opportunities for persons trained on the computer systems installed at the council of Meteorological and Earth Sciences for medium range forecasting. The Commission was supporting seven universities under this programme.
(iii) Environment Education In view of the growing concern for Environment and in the light of the Supreme Court Directive in this regard, UGC has impressed upon universities to introduce a course on Environment as a compulsory subject at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. The UGC has constituted expert groups to consider proposals received from Universities in this regard. Assistance for the following programmes was approved by the Commission.
1. Workshops/Seminars on environment education at P.G. level in different departments in Universities/Colleges.
2. Introduction of a special paper on environment education at P.G. level in different departments in 15 Universities/Colleges
3. Introduction of M.Sc course in environment education in 22 universities.
4. Seven research projects on 'Flyash Accumulation and Imperatives of Finding of Avenues for its Mass Scale Utilisation'.
5. Environmental component to be introduced at B.Ed/M.Ed. level in 19 universities.
Nearly 100 episodes for promoting environment awareness have also been telecast by the UGC through the 'Country-wide Class-room' programmes, The Commission has also prepared a text book and some popular literature for undergraduates with the help of Expert Groups on Environment.
Vocationalisation of Education at the First Degree Level 6.1.9 In conformity with the National Policy on Education 1986 (revised in 1992), a programme of vocationalisation of education at the first degree level was
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launched by the UGC from 1994-95. Funds to the tune of Rs.26 Crores were provided by the Ministry of Human Resource Development for implementation of the programme.
6.1.10 On the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Vocational Education (SCORE) and its sub-committee/regional committee constituted for the purpose, the UGC identified 209 institutions (19 Universities and 190 Colleges) in the first instance, for starting vocational courses at the first degree level during 1994-95. These institutions introduced one to three vocational courses in 35 subjects identified by the Core Committee. A list of these 35 subjects is given below:
1. Functional Hindi
2. Functional Sanskrit
3. Communicative English
4. Archaeology and Museology
5. Principles and Practices of Insurance
6. Actuarial Science
7. Office Management and Secretarial Practices
8. Tax procedures and Practices
9. Foreign Trade Practices and Procedure
10. Tourist and Travel Management
11. Advertising, Sales Promotion (Sales Management)
12. Computer Application
13. Industrial Chemistry (Seven streams)
14. Food Sciences and Quality Control
15. Clinical Nutrition Dietics
16. Industrial Microbiology
17. Bio-technology
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18. Biological Tech. and Specimen Preparation
19. Seed Technology
20. Sericulture
21. Industrial Fishing and Fishery
22. Instrumentation
23. Optical Instrumentation
24. Geo-explorational and Drilling Technology
25. Mass Communication Videos Production
26. Still Photography Audio Products
27. Electronic Equipment Maintenance
28. Computer Maintenance
29. Electrical Equipment Maintenance
30. Environment and Water Management
31. Rural Technology
32. Automobile Maintenance
33. Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Maintenance
34. Construction Technology Management
35. Manufacturing Process
6.1.11 During the year 1995-96, another 198 institutions (7 Universities and 191 Colleges) were identified for support for starting vocational subjects involving a total financial commitment of Rs. 1740.50 lakhs (recurring and non-recurring for 1995-96 and Rs.416 lakhs p.a. for the next four years. Another 325 institutions (6 Universities and 319 Colleges) have been covered under the programme during 1996-97, thus bringing the total number of institutions upto 1996-97 to 732. During the year, training programmes were also organised for equipping teachers of the respective institutions for teaching the Vocational subjects(s) which were being offered at their parent institutions. The Standing Committee on Vocational Education constituted
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Regional Monitoring Groups from amongst its members and conducted monitoring exercises at Bhopal, Bombay, Bangalore, Calcutta and Delhi to assess the progress made by the institutions in starting vocational courses.
Autonomous Colleges 6.1.12 The Commission has a scheme under which a college declared autonomous by its affiliating university is fully accountable for the content and quality of education it imparts. Such a college is also responsible for setting its own examination papers and for the conduct of examinations. The college evaluates the students for the award of degrees which will be accepted by the parent university. Presently, 113 colleges have been functioning as autonomous colleges spread over the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh.
Teacher-Recruitment, Training and Performance Evaluation 6.1.13 During the year, the Commission conducted qualifying test for determining the eligibility for lecturership and for award of Junior Research Fellowship in Humanities and Social Sciences. Similar test in science subject were conducted jointly by UGC and CSIR. Under the Academic Staff Orientation Scheme for orientation of newly recruited and in-service college and university lecturers, the Academic Staff Colleges identified by the Commission organised orientation programmes for new teachers and refresher courses for in- service teachers. Nearly 1.4 lakh teachers have participated in these programmes.
Improvement in Efficiency 6.1.14 The Commission has sanctioned computer facilities to 118 universities so far. In addition, the Commission provided assistance to 1983 colleges upto this period for installing computer facilities. Besides using these facilities for training and research, they can be used for maintenance of students records, accounts and other data required for administration and management. The UGC has also formulated a scheme for training of teachers in the use of computer in those colleges which have been assisted by UGC for purchase of computers.
Special Assistance Programme 6.1.15 The Commission continued to provide assistance to 41 centres of advanced study and 114 Departments of Special Assistance for Science, Engineering and Technology and 16 Centres of Advanced Study and 108 Departments of Special Assistance in Humanities and Social Sciences so far. In addition, 82 Departmental Research Support Projects in Science and 47 in Humanities and Social Sciences were under implementation.
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COSIST Programme 6.1.16 One hundred fifty one departments have been assisted under the scheme of Strengthening Infrastructure in Science and Technology education and research. Assistance under this programme is a one-time input. Departments supported under COSIST have been given functional autonomy. The infrastructural facilities extended through COSIST support have attracted additional funds not only from funding agencies in India but also from abroad and have improved teaching instructions both at the postgraduate and research level by enhancing the quality of teaching, particularly the experimental part of the courses. Grants to the tune of Rs.200 lakhs were released under the scheme of COSIST during the year 1995-96.
Plan Grants to Universities 6.1.17 The Commission allocated development grants to over 100 eligible State universities (excluding Agricultural Universities), amounting to Rs.1500 lakhs during 1996-97 as part of the total commitment for the 8th Plan period. Also, development grants amounting to Rs.2649 lakhs were allocated to Central Universities (including colleges attached to Central Universities) for the year 1996-97. An amount of Rs.305 lakhs was allocated to institutions deemed to be universities. Development grants and grants for specific schemes are provided to eligible universities in order to facilitate the procurement of such infrastructure facilities as are not normally available to them from the State Government or other bodies supporting them. Assistance is given for faculty posts, academic buildings, students hostels, equipment, books, and journals, staff quarters and other facilities designed to promote the quality of teaching and research. While the quantum of outlay for general development for each university is decided at the beginning of the plan period and is determined on the basis of the stage of development of a particular university, grants for specific schemes are provided on the basis of recommendations of experts after scrutiny of such schemes.
Development of Colleges 6.1.18 VIII plan grants to colleges are being given on the recommendations of expert committees and in consultation with college Principals and State representatives. Development grants amounting to Rs.2200 lakhs were allocated to the eligible colleges during 1996-97.b
Common Facilities and Services 6.1.19 Autonomous centres within the university system have been set up to provide common facilities, services and programmes to universities since heavy investment in infrastructure and inputs have made it beyond the reach of individual universities to obtain these facilities. These centres are inter-university centres set up in different disciplines with the object of providing national research facilities within the university system. As many as 11 such centres have been set up namely, Nuclear
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Science Centre, New Delhi, Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astro Physics, Pune, Inter University Consortium for DAE Facilities, Indore, Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC), New Delhi, Western Regional Instrumentation Centre, Bombay, Regional Instrumentation Centre, I.I.Sc. Bangalore, Crystal Growth Centre, Anna University, M.ST Radar Centre, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Inter University Centre for Humanities and social sciences, Shimla and Eastern Centre for Research in Astrophysics. In addition, modem computer-based information/documentation centres have also been set up at Bangalore, Bombay and Baroda to improve information accessibility to teachers and students and provide necessary bibliographic support to them alongwith making available the latest documentation in their respective disciplines. Also, a Science Research Observatory has been set up at Osmania University, Hyderabad. In order to assess and accredit public and private institutions of higher learning, a National Assessments and Accreditation Council has also been set up with its head office at Bangalore.
Media and Educational Technology 6.1.20 The UGC has taken initiative to utilize the time slot available for higher education to telecast programmes in higher education titled "Country-wide Class room" through which higher education has spread to remote and backward areas of the country. The commission is at present supporting seven Educational Media Research Centres (EMRCs), at the Universities of Pune, Gujarat, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jodhpur, Madurai Kamraj, and at the Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages and St. Xavier College, Calcutta. In addition, Audio Visual Research Centre (AVRCs), at Roorkee University, Osmania University, Anna University, Devi Ahilya University, H.S. Gour University, Mysore University, Kashmir University, Manipur University, Punjabi University and Calicut University are being supported for training of personnel and production of soft-ware. Nearly 85% of the higher education programmes transmitted on T.V. are produced indigenously.