UGC announces framework for private universities to set up off-campus centres
The University Grants Commission (UGC) issued a notice on March 6 for state-private universities to set up off-campus centres within their respective states
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According to the UGC notice, private universities can open off-campus centres under the relevant State University Act, of which the university has been established, which contains a provision to do so. Private Universities set up less than five years ago cannot set up such centres. The University will have to maintain the quality of infrastructure, faculty, and programs.
As per the UGC records, there are 471 private universities but UGC has not approved any off-campus centers for any private university. However, several privately owned deemed-to-be universities have been allowed to start off-campus centres with UGC approval.
The UGC notice states that “take over any affiliated college” run by the same sponsoring trust or company. The university can progressively close the affiliated college with a no-objection certificate from the affiliating university, it states a departure from UGC’s earlier notice in 2018 according to which private universities cannot affiliate an institution or a college.
Further, the state private university must have the approval or issuance of a Letter of Intent from the relevant statutory or regulatory body to start a specific program in the off-campus centre. Expansion in terms of programs or departments and an increase in seats can be done only with the approval of statutory authority and the academic council or executive council of the university. The approvals will have to be displayed on the university website.
The notice states that state private universities have to send proposals to a standing committee to start off-campus centres, which will be subjected to quarterly inspections by UGC, and in case of violation, the commission can shut the centre and shift the students to the main campus. The state private university will have to own the land or at least lease the land for 30 years to start the centre, the notice said, adding that for establishing the centre, UGC will charge Rs 10 lakh as a processing fee.
