Kerala Examines Deemed University Status for Aided Colleges, Decision Pending

The government is studying the administrative and academic implications of granting deemed-to-be university status to aided colleges in the state, Higher Education Minister Roji M. John informed the Assembly.

Mr. John said the government had not yet taken a final decision on granting the status.

He was responding in a written reply to a question raised by former Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal.

The ongoing examination is focused on how the proposed status could affect both the administration and academic functioning of aided colleges.

Questions over UGC rules and State control

The response did not provide further clarification on whether University Grants Commission regulations would apply to such institutions.

It also did not clarify whether deemed-to-be universities would come under Central control.

Another unresolved issue concerns the protection of the State’s interests, including in matters relating to syllabi.

The response indicated that the State’s interests might not be adequately protected in the process, but did not set out a final position on these concerns.

The absence of a final decision means that the implications of the proposed status are still being examined by the government.

United Nations University proposal

In a separate written reply concerning applications to establish foreign private universities, Mr. John said that a proposal to establish a campus of the United Nations University in the State was under the government’s consideration.

The reply on the foreign university proposal was separate from the government’s examination of deemed-to-be university status for aided colleges.

Source: The Hindu