Report of the Taskforce On Higher Education Government of Karnataka Bangalore September 2004 Acknowledgements This report is the outcome of collective thinking and contributions of a number of people. The report synthesizes the observations emerging from various studies and from number of interactions with different stakeholders in higher education carried out over a period of nearly two years. The decision of the Government of Karnataka to set up a Task Force on Higher Education is unique, showing the eagerness of the Government to shape higher education by consolidating gains made in the past and addressing challenges of the future. The Task Force invited Vice-Chancellors, Principals, Deans, Registrars and Finance Officers, Representatives of Managements of Private Aided and Un-aided colleges and Representatives of the teaching and non- teaching associations to place their views on various terms of reference before it. The Task Force wishes to place on record its appreciation of the many useful suggestions these persons have made. On behalf of the Task Force and on my own behalf I would like to thank the Chief Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Karnataka for requesting us to serve on the Task Force. It is our firm hope and belief that the Government of Karnataka will consider the report and its recommendations and implement them in the largest measure possible. The Task Force had three persons as Member Secretary, Shri. Vijayabhaskar IAS, Shri. K.P. Pandey IAS and Ms. Sobha Nambisan IAS. The Commissioners of Higher Education namely Shri. Lukose Vallathrai IAS, Shri. V.R.Patel IAS and Smt. Ranjani Srikumar IAS facilitated the work of the Task Force. The Task Force would like to place on record its appreciation of the time and attention given by these officers of the Karnataka Government to the work of the Task Force. The Task Force also thanks Dr.M.D.Muthamma former Director,Collegiate Education and K.V. Kodandaramaiah Addl.director, Collegiate education for having participated in some of the meetings. The Task Force would also like to place on record its appreciation of the assistance rendered by Dr. Siddalingaswamy Coordinator, Commissionerate of Collegiate Education and Sri K.Srikanteswara Deputy Secretary,Education, for coordinating the taskforce meetings. The Task Force would also like to thank Dr.Y.M. Jayaraj,spl. officer CCE Dr. Sheshagiri,lecturer RC college bangalorwe Dr.Sharada Jayagovind and Dr.Chalapathi Reddy for preparing the minutes of the meetings. Most of the meetings of the Task Force were held at the Syndicate Hall of the Bangalore University. The Task Force would like to thank Prof. M.S. Thimmappa, Vice-Chancellor, Bangalore University, Member of the Task Force and his colleagues for arrangements for the meetings and hospitality. On a couple of occasions, the Task Force met at the premise of Infosys, Electronics City at the invitation of Shri. Dinesh, Director,Infosys and Member of Task Force. The Task Force would like to thank Shri. Dinesh and Infosys for their hospitality and Shri. Sanjaya Purohit of Infosys for some of the deliberations of the Task Force. M.R.SRINIVASAN Chairman, Task Force. Preface Higher Education is crucial for the economic and social development of any country. The level of participation in higher education is indicative of the aspirations of the people for improving the quality of life. It is also crucial for national development since the skills, creativity, and research developed through higher education contribute to national prosperity. The emerging knowledge-based economy, characterized by rapid technological changes and open and competitive economies, has placed education systems all over the world under tremendous pressure. In the coming days the nation will have to address crucial issues in edu­ cation such as improvement and maintenance of standards, the role of Government, funding and equity. The liberalization of the Indian economy and the globalisation process that is un­ folding deserve the serious attention of education planners and policy makers in order to en­ sure that the benefits percolate to all sections of society. In Karnataka higher education is at the crossroads. The system is faced with the rising expectations of the people on the one hand, and the pressures of an economy undergoing struc­ tural reforms on the other. The day is not far off when State Universities will have to face competition from private and foreign Universities. The question arises as to whether the nature of the programmes offered and their quality can stand global competition. The answer to these questions is determined by the manner in which the system is governed, the pro­ grammes managed, institutional arrangements made and delivery mechanisms function. The critical requirement is to take a long-term view and initiate strategic measures in the areas of both policy-making and operation in order to create an education system which will meet the changing demands of the youth, society and the nation. Karnataka has made remarkable progress in the field of education during the last decade. Bangalore has emerged as the Silicon Valley of India. The State can boast of establishing the largest number of private medical and engineering colleges in the country and has come to be known as a center for higher technical education. The State has also emerged as a preferred destination for foreign direct investment, which in the years to come is likely to grow much faster. The well established infrastructure for higher education, assured supply of skilled labour, stable political system and good administration promise a major break through in economic growth. However there are several issues in the education sector which have to be addressed if higher education in the State is to realize its potential and satisfy the aspirations of the people. Equity and balanced development is a key issue. The rapid expansion observed in education is benefiting only a small section of the population. Access to higher education varies widely in rural and urban areas, between men and women, between Scheduled Castes/Tribes and others and across the districts in the State. There are wide regional differences that have persisted for the last five decades. The State has to address these critical issues urgently. Better targeting of State grants to educational institutions and improvement in the quality of education are required. If we are to benefit from the huge investment we have made in education, our teachers must be motivated and equipped to commit themselves, personally and professionally, to the imparting of quality education and to improved efficiency and effectiveness. There are strong indications that the system of higher education suffers from systemic inefficiencies. Both the institutions of higher education as well as the plethora of agencies established to coordinate and control various facets of higher education should streamline their working and management. Changing the system of governance is not merely a matter of changing rules and procedures. It involves understanding the problems at source and its attendant ramifications. It is therefore necessary to re examine the policies in the field of higher education and suggest changes which will make the system more effective. It was in recognition of this need that the Government of Karnataka set up a Task Force on Higher Education on 30th November 2002 to study the situation in the State and suggest the action to be taken to consolidate the gains made in the past and to address the challenges of the future. The Task Force, which consisted of eminent educationists and was headed by Dr. M. R. Srinivasan, former Chairman, Atomic Commission of India, and Secretary, Department of Energy met 18 times and deliberated at great depth on the various issues. The Task force Report has analysed the problems relating to various important issues in higher education and has made clear recommendations on the measures which the State should take to improve the situation. I would like to thank Dr. M. R. Srinivasan for chairing the Task Force and enabling it to present an excellent Report. I also express my gratitude to Dr. Armaity Desai, former Chairman of UGC, Dr. M. I. Savadatti, Dr. Dhananjaya, Dr. Sudha Rao, Sri. K. Dinesh, Dr. M.S.Thimappa, Dr. M. R. Narayana and Dr. S. N. Hegde, who as members of the Task Force made valuable contributions during the discussions and also wrote individual chapters. I would like to thank the Honourable Chief Minister of Kamataka, Shri.Dharam Singh and Shri. S.M. Krishna, former Chief Minister of Karnataka as well as the Honorable Minister for Higher Education Shri D. Manjunath and Dr. G. Parameshwar, former Minister for Higher Education, who were instrumental in setting up the Task Force. I thank former Secretaries of Higher Education, Shri. Vijay Bhaskar, and Shri. K. P. Pandey, as well as the Commissioners of Collegiate Education Shri. Lukose Vallathrai, Shri. V. R. Patel and Smt. Ranjini Srikumar who facilitated the work of the Task Force. My special thanks to Dr. M. S. Thimmappa, Vice-Chancellor, Bangalore Uni­ versity and Member of the Task Force for the arrangements made by him for the meetings and the hospitality offered and also to Shri. Dinesh, Director, Infosys and member of the Task Force for hosting some of the meetings at the premises of Infosys. I thank Sri K. Srikanteswara, Deputy Secretary, Education and Dr Siddalingaswamy , who co-ordinated the meetings and attended to the printing and finalisation of the Report. (Sobha Nambisan) Principal Secretary to Government, Education Department (Higher Education) Table of contents Chapter Title Page no. 1. I Chapter Overview 1-21 2. II Chapter Academic programmes 22 to 49 3. III Chapter Granting Autonomy to the Colleges in Karnataka 50-61 4. IV Chapter Technical Education in Karnataka 62- 90 5.