Infrastructure of Deemed Universities

As informed by the University Grants Commission (UGC), as per direction of Hon’ble Supreme Court, an Expert Committee was constituted by the UGC to inspect 7 Deemed to be Universities namely (i) Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, (ii) Academy of Maritime Education and Training, Kanathur, Chennai, (iii) Ponnaiah Ramajayam Institute of Science & Technology, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. (iv) Maharishi Markandeshawar University, Ambala, Haryana, (v) Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation, Salem, Tamil Nadu, (vi) Institute of Advanced Studies in Education, Sardarshahr, Rajasthan & (vii) Manav Rachna International University, Faridabad, Haryana out of 44 Deemed to be Universities. On inspection, UGC has informed that these Deemed Universities were found to be deficient in different parameters including infrastructure by the Committee.

Clause 7.0 of the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2010 elaborates the following minimum requirements of infrastructure:

I. Not less than five acres of land at its main Campus if it is located in metropolitan area, seven acres of land at its main Campus, if it is located in non-metropolitan urban area, or ten acres of land at its main Campus, if it is located in non-urban areas or as per the norms of the Statutory / Regulatory body concerned, whichever is higher.

II. In case of multi-disciplinary Institution, the aggregate land requirement shall be the sum of the land area prescribed by various Statutory Councils for all courses.

III. Administrative Building of at least 1,000 sq. meters.

IV. Academic Building, including library, lecture theatres and laboratories, of at least 10,000 sq. meters, of which the central library alone being of about 2000 sq. meters.

V. Residential accommodation for teachers and guest house.

VI. Hostel accommodation for students. Hostel accommodation shall be gradually increased to at least 25% of the students within three years of existence of institution deemed to be university.

VII. Equipment, Books and Journals of the institution shall be commensurate with the size and activities of the institution and shall satisfy the requirements of the Statutory/Regulatory body concerned.

VIII. The institution shall also have Broadband Connectivity of appropriate level in order to cater to the needs of self learning / virtual experiments / hands on techniques as well as provide electronic access to journals, books and other learning materials.

The details of the minimum infrastructure and other facilities required for the Deemed to be Universities are also available on UGC’s website at www.ugc.ac.in.

The report of the Expert Committee, wherein several deficiencies viz. Infrastructure, Faculty, Research Activities, Adherence to the UGC Regulations, Governance System, Admission Process and Fee Structure and facilities for faculty and students have been pointed out in respect of these seven institutions, was placed before the Commission. However, the matter is currently subjudice before the Hon’ble Supreme Court in W.P.(C) No.142 of 2006.

This information was given by Union Minister of Human Resource Development Smt. Smriti Irani in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha Question today.

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