LETTER ADDRESSED BY THE SECRETARY OF UGC TO VICE-CHANCELLORS OF UNIVERSITIES
Professor S.K. Khanna UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION Secretary BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG NEW DELHI-110 002
F.No.1-38/86 - NEP/SR-I June, 1987
Dear Vice-Chancellor,
You are aware that the Govt. of India and the University Grants Commission have given a very high priority to the implementation of the National Policy on Education 1986.
A copy of the policy document and the Programme of Action drawn in this regard had already been sent to your university for information and further action.
You will kindly appreciate that the New Education Policy has posed many challenges to the system of higher education; the system is to be re-oriented and geared up so as to become a. powerful instrument of socioeconomic, scientific and technical transformation of the country.
The Commission has appointed a committee of distinguished academics to study the system of higher education in the light of the new challenges posed to it by the National Policy on Education and Programme of Action and make recommendations to the Commission on management patterns, including the structure, roles and responsibilities of various bodies in the light of the new demands on the university system etc.
The various relevant issues are spelt-out in the document entitled "Programme of Action" which the University Grants Commission has already sent to you. Some of the issues are highlighted in the enclosure (Annexure-1).
In this connection, your attention is also invited to a memorandum submitted by the Association of Indian Universities to the Prime Minister (Annexure-2).
The Commission will be grateful if your considered views on the points made in the Programme of Action, and in particular to those indicated in Annexures-I & II are sent to the Commission in triplicate for this important task for the university system.
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The Committee has been requested by the Govt. of India to make its report early by July, 1987. In view of this your views/suggestions are needed urgently say latest by 30th June, 1987. The Commission will deeply appreciate your help and guidance in this regard.
With regards.
Yours sincerely,
(S.K. Khanna)
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ANNEXURE - I
1. To review the management patterns including the structure, roles and responsibilities of various University bodies in the light of the new demands or the university system with a view to promote the evolution of new, efficient and more effective management systems, so that they may become the basis of new legislations.
2. Persons having administrative responsibility will be given necessary authority for them to be able to discharge their responsibilities. 3. Democratic and participatory functioning of educational institutions and university departments;
4. Teachers and students will be systematically consulted at various stages of planning and implementation;
5. Grievances redressal machinery will be established so that grievances are promptly attended to;
6. To reorganise the Boards of Studies in the universities to facilitate redesigning of courses and to promote inter-disciplinary programmes and interfaces with employment;
7. Institutions should have an appropriately high powered Board of Research and a. Board of Extension;
8. The setting up of Research Committees at various levels in the institutions to promote inter-disciplinary research, to enlarge linkages with other agencies and users ;
9. National research facilities should be set up within the university system and proper autonomous management structure should be worked out for them;
10. Establishing the principle of accountability in relation to given objectives and norms;
11. Inducting more women in the planning and management of education;
12. Giving pre-eminence to people's involvement, including association of non-governmental agencies and voluntary effort;
13. Decentralisation and the creation of a spirit of autonomy for educational institutions;
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14. Evolving a long-term planning and management perspective of education and its integration with the country's developmental and manpower needs;
15. To formulate a scheme by the UGC to provide financial assistance and other incentives, including model statutes for promotion and development of autonomous departments within the universities;
16. To frame guidelines and pattern of assistance including the extent of academic, administrative and financial freedom and the corresponding responsibilities developing on the autonomous colleges, their management structures, including provisions for safeguarding the interests of teachers, etc.
17. Linkages among academic institutions and between academic institutions and industry;
18. To set criteria for assessment of performance of educational institutions;
19. To establish institutions within the university system which will have close ties with National Laboratories and other agencies.
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