Question : PERFORMANCE OF CENTRAL UNIVERSITIES

(a) whether the Government has assessed the performance and functioning of central universities;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith their achievements; and

(c) the problems faced by the Central universities?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. VALLABHBHAI KATHIRIA)

(a) Yes, Sir. According to the information furnished by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the UGC Xth Plan Visiting Committees have recently reviewed the progress made by the Central Universities in the IX th Plan and also assessed the requirements for the Xth Plan on the basis of vital parameters like academic, research and Governance. Besides this, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), an autonomous institutions of the UGC, has also so far assessed and accredited four Central Universities, viz. Hyderabad University, Nagaland University, North-Eastern Hill University and Pondicherry University.

(b) & (c): The salient achievements of the Central Universities have been reflected in the enclosed statement. The reports of the Visiting Teams have indicated certain problems faced by the Central Universities, inter-alia, that most of the Universities suffer from inadequacy of funds, including decline in non-salary component of allocation, with the result that the facility for teaching and research, maintenance and upkeep of buildings and equipments have suffered. The newly established Universities lack in developed campus and other infrastructural facility. The ratio of non-teaching staff to teaching staff is also considerably high in some cases.

THE STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) & (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2227 TO BE ASKED BY DR.(MRS.) RAJESWARAMMA VUKKALA ON 17.12.2003 REGARDING PERFORMANCE OF THE CENTRAL UNIVERSITIES

Name of University Achievements
Aligarh Muslim (i) Teaching and research work of high
University, Aligarh quality in Arts, Social Sciences, Science, Technology and Medicine. (ii) Centre of Advanced Studies in History under Special Assistance Programme (SAP) of UGC has earned considerable recognition (iii) One of the most active Academic Staff colleges in the Country.
Banaras Hindu (i) 21 new degree programmes both at
University, Varanasi Under Graduate (UG) and Post Graduate (PG) level were introduced during IX Plan (ii) 4 inter-disciplinary schools introduced (iii) 7,000 research publications made and numerous books published. (iv) Rs. 39.62 Crore received as research grant from various sources. (v) number of teachers honoured with the award and national/international fellowships
University of Delhi, (i) Has maintained position of eminence
Delhi in academic and research work (ii) Several Departments recognized by the UGC under Special Assistance Programme
University of Hyderabad, (i) Good research work done at
Hyderabad national/international level (ii) Faculty Members won recognition and awards from various agencies at national/ international levels. (iii) Selected by UGC as “University with Potential for Excellence”. (iv) Graded Five Star with 83.25% by NAAC on the basis of earlier five point scale. (v) Academic Staff College is doing well (vi) Simple Sanskrit speaking centre, coaching centre for minorities established through separate UGC Schemes.
Jamia Millia Islamia, (i) Academy of 3rd World Studies- a
New Delhi unique academic endeavour of JMI working with visiting faculty and organizing seminars and symposia of contemporary relevance (ii) Faculty of Natural Sciences has a strong academic base in Under Graduate and Post Graduate teaching and has the strongest research base among the faculties of the University. It has facility of Internet, LAN and e-mail. (iii) Several departments have UGC Special Assistance Programme. (iv) Running a self-supporting Master of Computer Application(MCA) Programme. (v) Very good research output and awards by the faculty members.
Jawaharlal Nehru (i) The University has earned status of
University, New Delhi ‘University with the Potential of Excellence’ under UGC Scheme. (ii) School of Life Sciences earned the status of Centre of Advanced Studies under Special Assistance Programme of UGC. (iii) The University has proposed large number of innovative ideas and new initiatives like JNU knowledge Park. (iv) Centre of Bio-technology has done excellent work and many of its faculty members have to their credit patents and published papers in the national and international journals. (v) Publishes about 70 books and more than 200 research papers every year.
Pondicherry, University, (i) Department of Chemistry qualified for
Pondicherry the DRS under UGC SAP Programme. (ii) Has encouraged and developed Inter- disciplinary teaching. (iii) Has introduced student’s assessment of teachers. (iv) Graded Four Star with 72.65% by NAAC on the basis of earlier five point scale.
Viswa Bharati	(i) Taken significant step for preserving
University, the literary, cultural and philosophical
Shantinikentan heritage of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. (ii) Good research work done by Literature and Social Sciences Departments and there are substantial research publication. (iii) Facilitates and promotes regular interaction between professional artists and international musicians.
Babasaheb Bhim Rao	Although the University became functional
Ambedkar University,	only in the IX Plan period, it has been
Lucknow able to develop appropriate infrastructure and initiated/undertaken studies in the area of Ambedkar Studies, and disciplines such as Bio-Technology, Environmental Science, Human Rights etc.
Mahatama Gandhi Although the University was established
Antarrashtriya Hindi only in the IX Plan period, it has taken
Viswaviyalya, Wardha steps to develop its Campus at Wardha. Started two weekly Journals, Post Graduate courses and has organised seminars, workshops, etc.
North-Eastern Hill (i) Established important and valuable
University, national and international linkages
Shillong(NEHU) (ii) Given strong emphasis to quality teaching and research work. (iii) Initiated steps to develop Integrated Educational Complex encompassing Regional Centres of IGNOU, and Units/facilities of Central Institute of English & Foreign Languages (CIEFL), Indian Council of Social Science and Research (ICSSR), Sports Authority of India and others. (iv) Graded Four Star with 70.60% by NAAC on the basis of earlier five point scale.
University of Assam, Availed funds from various Central/ State
Silchar Government funding agencies under various schemes in pursuance of its objectives to promote inter-disciplinary studies/research and educate/train manpower of the region.
Tezpur University, (i) Collaboration with other educational
Tezpur institutions within the country (ii) Quality teaching, punctual conduct of course work and evaluation (iii) Good research output
University of Nagaland, (i) Has initiated necessary steps for
Nagaland strengthening higher education in the State of Nagaland through University Departments and affiliated colleges. (ii) Graded C++ with 67% by NAAC on the basis of current grading pattern.
Mizoram University, The University is newly established i.e
Aizawl in the year 2002, therefore, we need to wait for its performance
Maulana Azad National Although the University was established
Urdu University, only in the IXth Plan period, it has
Hyderabad developed necessary infrastructure and taken steps in pursuance of its mandate to promote the development of Urdu and the imparting of technical/vocational education through Urdu medium.
Indira Gandhi National
Open University(IGNOU) (i) As a premier Open and Distance Learning institution IGNOU has developed in-house expertise to design, develop and deliver multi-media self-instructional materials. (ii) Has developed National capability for technology-enabled education and capability for delivery through educational channels – Gyan Darshan and Gyan Vani. (iii) Cost-effective, learner-centric and flexible system for dissemination of knowledge through the distance mode leading to phenomenal growth of students. (iv) Internationally recognized training capabilities in diversified areas of education, HRD and extension. (v) Providing support and guidance to State Open Universities, and strengthening Open Learning through Distance Education Council.