Green signal for private university in Karnataka

Updated on: Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Karnataka has made a beginning in the setting up of private educational universities and the first of them, to be set up by the Azim Premji Foundation, has received the approval of the Governor, H.R. Bharadwaj. The Governor has promulgated an ordinance to establish the university.

Chairman of Wipro Azim Premji, had, about a year ago, sought to set up an educational university in the State and Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and Minister for Higher Education Aravind Limbavali were quick to welcome the proposal. With the Legislature not being in session at the present juncture, the Government thought it fit to take the ordinance route for the clearance. The approval given by the Governor has kickstarted the formation of the private university.

Of the 42 private universities in the country, the one to be set up by the Azim Premji Foundation is expected to be different in many ways. Unlike the others, it will focus on Education Management — to train the teachers and ensure an improvement in the quality of education imparted to students. The Azim Premji Foundation will now have to submit a formal proposal to the Government which will be looked into by a committee comprising senior officials headed by the Principal Secretary, Department of Higher Education, A.S. Srikanth.

Though called a private university with an autonomous status, the Government will have a hold over it apparently to ensure the upkeep in standards, regulation in the fee structure and compliance with social welfare norms, particularly the system of reservations that is in vogue. The Governor, who is the Chancellor of all universities in Karnataka, will be the Visitor to the private university while the Principal Secretaries to Government of the Departments of Higher Education and Primary and Secondary Education will be on the board of the university.

The first information of a private university was put across by the Chief Minister in the budget for 2008-09 when he spoke of a government move to encourage the establishment of such institutions. The Wipro Chairman has been the first to respond and there are several others in the queue. Mr. Arvind Limbavali and Mr. Srikanth told The Hindu that private universities will provide the competitive edge to education. “The standards in government-run colleges improved when private ones came into existence. Likewise, private universities will make the government universities to improve on their performance. It is all for the good of education and the students at large.”

The Wipro Foundation has plans to train teachers from the school to the university level apart from imparting learning and training to educational officers. The private university will itself prepare the syllabi, conduct examinations and award certificates to the successful students. “All that the Government is expected to do is to provide the No Objection Certificate for the establishment of the university and if need be to provide the requisite land.” The private university is expected to be set up on the outskirts of Bangalore.

Mr. Srikanth said the private university has to give preference (at least 25 per cent) to students from Karnataka and has to abide by the reservation norms. The Government will extend support for the formation of the university since it is the first of its kind in the State.

If all things fall in place, the new university is expected to commence functioning in about a year or two.

The government has also sought the support of Wipro in providing computer training to college students to help them gain employment. Mr. Premji is stated to have positively responded to the government’s request. It is common knowledge that there is a substantial reduction in the number of students opting for basic arts and science degree courses in comparison with the demand for seats in the engineering and medical courses.

Another request of the State Government to Wipro is to consider providing mobile education to students in the remote areas of the State. “Rural students aspiring to join professional courses are deprived of proper coaching for CET. To help them , well organised and systematic coaching is being contemplated. This may be taken up through mobile vans fitted with high-tech equipments. Such a measure will be a great boon to the students.”

Green signal for private university in Karnataka

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