BENGALURU: A government degree college in Mandya along with Maharani’s Arts, Commerce and Management College for Women in the city have been declared as ‘Independent Universities’.
Under the Rashtriya Uchhatar Siksha Abhiyan (RUSA), the Union government has released `50 crore to fund these two colleges which have been granted academic autonomy from the next academic year to function as independent universities.
The state higher education council has communicated the same to the higher education council for its official declaration.
Speaking to Express, an official from the higher education council said, “The proposal was submitted to the Union government under RUSA and we have got the financial assistance to turn the institutes into universities. Starting from the next academic year, they will function as independent universities.”
According to official sources in the Higher Education Department, these colleges will also hold the rights to affiliate other colleges.
“Though the new universities will hold rights to affiliate colleges, the territory will be fixed by the government,” said an official.
As per the information, the RUSA has considered the college for financial assistance based on the grade it has received from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) for the last three years.
“Both the colleges have received ‘A grade’ in NAAC assessment for the last three years. This played a major role in the colleges getting financial assistance to turn itself into a university,” said the official.
The state higher education council is in the process of framing a separate act for these universities as they cannot be included under the Karnataka State Universities Act (2000) which is meant only for conventional universities.
Once the Act is finalised, then the process of selection of a Vice Chancellors will start.
“As per the norms, we have to appoint a new Vice Chancellor based on the new Act, which will be framed soon. The selection of a Vice Chancellor will be similar to the procedure followed for the appointment of Vice Chancellors for conventional universities,” says an official.