(The Economic Times (India) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)In the Indian higher education sector, universities are classified into four types depending on the manner in which they were set up. These are central universities, state universities, deemed universities and private universities. Besides these four, there are institutes which are designated as "institutes of national importance".
What is a central university?
Central universities are set up by an act of Parliament. There are 20 central universities in the country. The President of India is a visitor at all central universities. The University Grants Commission (UGC) is the agency that provides funding for maintenance and development of these universities.
Of the 20 central universities, the Indira Gandhi Open University and Central Agricultural University Imphal are not funded by the UGC, these are assisted by the ministry of human resource development and the ministry of agriculture, respectively.
The University of Delhi, Allahabad University, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) are among the central universities.
What is a state university?
Universities set up or recognised by an act of the state legislature are known as state universities. There are 215 state universities in the country. Three of the country's oldest institutions of higher learning, University of Calcutta, University of Madras, and University of Mumbai are state universities.
State governments are responsible for establishment of state universities and provide plan grants for their development and non-plan grants for their maintenance. The UGC makes budgetary plan allocation for 113 state universities.
As per section 12(B) of the UGC Act, state universities established after June 17, 1972 will not be eligible to receive any grant from the central government, UGC, or any organisation receiving funds from the government of India, unless the UGC makes an exception.
What is a deemed university?
Institutions of higher learning, which are not universities, are often in recognition of their high calibre of education granted the status of an university. Such institutions are known as deemed to be university, or deemed university.
The status of a deemed university is accorded by the UGC. Section 3 of the UGC Act, provides for the conferring of this status of autonomy granted to high performing institutes and departments of various universities in India.
Deemed university status enables not just full autonomy in setting course work and syllabus of those institutes and research centres but also allows it to set its own guidelines for the admissions, fees and instruction of the students.
As in other universities students are conferred degrees on completion of their programme. There are 100 deemed universities in the country.
National Institutes of Technology (formerly known as Regional Engineering Colleges), Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Symbiosis International Education Centre, Pune comprising Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Symbiosis Society's Law College, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore are deemed universities.
What is a private university?
A private university is an institution of higher learning established through a state or central act by a sponsoring body, such as a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, or any other corresponding law for the time being in force in a state or a public trust or a company registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956.
For an institution to be given the status of a private university, the state legislature conferring the status has to pass an act by which the institution will receive the status of an university. Private universities have to be recognised by the UGC so that the degrees awarded by them have to be of any value.
The Birla Institute of Technology and Science at Pilani in Rajasthan, which is funded and run by the Birla Group Trust, became an officially recognised university in 1964. State Universities ͞Deemed͟ Universities Private Universities
Government owned Government owned or Privately owned Private ownership Regulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC) Not regulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC) Most Degree programs conducted off- campus at ͞affiliated colleges͟ Examples: Symbiosis University, Bharati Vidyapeeth, IITs, NM University, etc. Examples: ICFAI University, RAI University, Amity University, etc. Most have 500+ Affiliated Colleges Examples: Pune University, Mumbai University, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, etc.
International students come to India for University education to master the English language and obtain a University degree that is globally recognized. The cost of University education in India is lower than the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and NZ. For the cost of 4-year Bachelor¶s degree education in the US, you can fund both- a 4-year Bachelor¶s degree in India plus a 2-year Master¶s degree in the US.
Due to globalization, India is experiencing an education revolution. Old laws and norms are being radically changed allowing the privatization of education institutions. Many foreign education providers are taking the opportunity to open campuses in India so that they can cater to the largest student population in the world. These institutions, along with their Indian counterparts, are providing a world class education at a fraction of the cost of other countries. A warm friendly, welcoming environment and a safe country with relatively low violent crime is yet another reason that many students are choosing India as a preferred education destination.
Top 5 Reasons
y Globally Recognized Degrees ( India is largest sender to US Universities: 84k in 2004)
y Multi-cultural English speaking environment
y High Academic Standard: Continual Rigorous Testing
y Experience India¶s Rich Culture; Warm Welcoming Environment
y Low Annual Tuition Fees: Arts & language ($2k ~ $5k); Engineering/Technical ($4k~$7.5k); Medical/Dental ($6k ~ $12k)
y Classification of Colleges y Colleges in India come under four different categories. This categorization is done on the basis of the kind of courses offered by them (professional/ vocational) / their ownership status( Private/ Government) or their relationship with the university (affiliated/university owned). y University Colleges These colleges are managed by the university itself and situated mostly in the university campus. y Government Colleges The government colleges are few, only about 15-20 percent of the total. They are managed by state governments. As in case of other colleges, the university to which these colleges are affiliated, conducts their examination, lays down the courses of studies and awards the degrees. y Professional Colleges The professional colleges are mostly in the disciplines of medicine, engineering and management. There are few for other disciplines too. They are sponsored and managed either by the government or by private initiative. y Privately Managed colleges y About 70% of the colleges are founded by the privately owned trusts or societies. But these institutes are also governed by the rules and regulations of the university they are affiliated to. Though initially started up as a private initiative, the state government also funds these colleges. y y Table 2: Present System of Universities in India- Important Features
University Type Established By Important Features Conventional Central/ State (i) Unitary: Teaching (UG/PG) and research on campus Governments (main/sub); Many faculties;
(ii) Affiliating: Teaching (PG) and research on campus (main/sub); Many faculties; Affiliated colleges(UG mostly) and some Autonomous colleges(UG/ PG) in its jurisdiction;
Nearly 50% of Universities in India belong to this category. Professional State Specialized instruction(UG/PG) and research on Governments campus(main/sub); Single faculty; Professional areas like engineering, medicine, law covered; Both unitary and affiliating types functioning now;
Many States have established Universities in this category. Agricultural State Agricultural studies (UG/PG), including forestry, Governments horticulture, veterinary science, research and extension; Many faculties; Mostly unitary; Most States have established these Universities. Deemed Central University level institutions engaged in PG teaching and Government research, with close interactions between both functions, for mutual benefit; Private/Joint Sector (UGC Very few institutions in this category, IISc being an Approved) example.
University status to institutions of long standing (or even de novo) & high academic reputation; UG/PG teaching and research; Single/ Multiple faculties; Many institutions already, numbers increasing. Open Central/ State Open and flexible education offerred through the distance Governments mode using correspondence courses/modern educational technology like interactive TV; Wide variety of programmes-UG/PG/Research;
Many Universities functioning; their number steadily increasing. Other Central (i) Unitary; Teaching/Research in close contact between Government students/teachers - classroom lectures, tutorials, seminars etc; Very few Universities of this type; JNU an example. Private/Joint Sector (ii) Elitist: Institutions offerring professional (UG/PG) teaching /research on the campus, to talented and carefully selected students; IITs/NITs/IIMs/ Law Institutes fall in this category.
(iii) Private(under State Act); Teaching(UG/PG)/Research; Unitary/Affiliating; Single/ Many faculties; With/Without UGC approval; Already in few States, numbers increasing.
(iv) Virtual: Institutions using multimedia providing intra/inter net, based any-time, any-where, any-discipline learning in professional subjects; Already in some States, expanding.
(v) Foreign: Universities singly or jointly with local partners, offerring UG/PG Teaching/ Research programmes in the country; Rapidly upcoming type. Central Government is responsible for major policy relating to higher education in the country. It provides grants to UGC and establishes central universities in the country. The Central Government is also responsible for declaration of Education Institutions as µDeemed to be University¶ on the recommendation of the UGC.