The government is going to appoint Vice-Chancellors (VCs) to private universities like in public universities after amending the 'Private University Act-2010'.
The recommendation and draft will soon be sent to the cabinet through the Ministry of Education, involved sources said.
There are recommendations that a provision is on the way to include academics in the Board of Trustees (BOTs), the highest authority of private universities. The amendment suggests having at least 15 members instead of nine, consisting of 5 academics in the perimeter of the BOT.
It will further include the appointment of VCs to private universities by the government bodies. In other words, the recommendation of the BOT to appoint the panel including VCs will be repealed. Rather, the government will appoint the VC and the treasurer.
In this regard, Bishwajit Chanda, a member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) told the media, "We are going to recommend some amendments to the law governing private universities. There have been several meetings on this. Two or three more meetings will be needed. The report will then be submitted to the Ministry of Education.”
The amendment proposes to include UGC nominated academics in the syndicate, to hold at least one syndicate meeting every two months, to inform the UGC about the determination of tuition fees, to prevent sexual harassment, etc.
In addition, the BOT currently has a minimum of 9 members and a maximum of 21 members. The proposal calls for a minimum of 15 members and one-third or five academics.
Moreover, it has been proposed to form various committees for academic development including teacher recruitment and finance committee by amending the relevant section of the law. The VC will be the head of these committees and be accountable to the syndicate. There is also a proposal to increase the area of the temporary campus from 25,000 square feet to 35,000 square feet.
According to UGC sources, the first private university was allowed in 1991, but there was no law to monitor it. In 2010, the ‘Private University Act’ was passed in the National Parliament for the first time. After that, various quarters demanded to amend the law.
But recently, the Ministry of Education has taken an initiative to reduce the power of a group of owners to stop various administrative and financial irregularities and corruption in private universities. That is why the governing body of the private university, the BOT, is being decentralized.
