Question : CONFERENCE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

(a) whether the University Grants Commission has organized a two days conference on challenges before Higher Education;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith representatives present in the said conference;

(c) whether the representatives of American Embassy were also present during the said conference;

(d) if so, the names of Vice-Chancellors who opposed the presence of American Embassy officials in the conference;

(e) the details of issues discussed and the outcome thereof; and

(f) the action taken by the Government thereon?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. D. PURANDESWARI )

(a) to (f): The University Grants Commission (UGC) had organized a two-day National Conference of Vice- Chancellors of the Central and State Universities as also Institutions Deemed to be Universities on October, 10-11, 2007, wherein, besides over 240 Vice-Chancellors, prominent academic, educational administrators and policy planners had participated. According to the UGC, American Embassy officials were not invited to the Conference. Critical issues concerning higher education including those relating to expansion of higher education, equity and inclusion, quality and excellence, academic and administrative reforms and financing of higher education were discussed for follow-up action.