UGC’s Directive on Vice-Chancellor Appointments
The University Grants Commission (UGC) directive on vice-chancellor appointments has caused a stir, with Kerala and Tamil Nadu protesting it as unconstitutional.
The dispute is over the UGC's influence on who appoints the vice-chancellors, favoring governors, despite states’ financial and administrative roles in universities.
States argue that the elected government should have the final say on such appointments.
UGC’s Innovation in Vice-Chancellor Qualifications
The UGC recently relaxed the requirement for vice-chancellors to be academics, allowing candidates from other fields like industry.
This aligns with global practices, where leaders from diverse fields head academic institutions (e.g., former U.S. secretaries of state or ex-parliamentarians in Oxford).
This move could bring valuable perspectives to universities, as seen in India with past appointments like G. Parthasarathy at JNU.
UGC’s Focus on Procedural Issues Over Educational Quality
The UGC, established to maintain educational standards, often focuses on procedural matters like attendance, faculty time, and examination rules rather than improving educational quality.
Critics argue that these bureaucratic regulations stifle creativity, faculty responsibility, and academic freedom, leading to a decline in university standards.
The UGC’s excessive regulation contrasts with the growing global competition in research and innovation.
Underperformance of Indian Universities
Despite rising per capita income, the quality of public universities in India has declined, evident in the underperformance of graduates in fields like law and engineering.
India has not become a significant player in global research, exemplified by its lack of contribution to cutting-edge innovations like China’s DeepSeek AI.
The UGC’s focus on compliance and regulation, instead of fostering knowledge creation, is seen as a major factor in this decline.
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