Panel to review ranking mechanism of educational institutions

To analyse the feedback received regarding its first ever rankings of the country's educational institutions, the Union HRD ministry constituted a nine member expert committee that would review parameters and suggest improvements.



The Smriti Irani led HRD ministry had earlier this month released rankings of the country's educational institutions and the committee headed by secretary of higher education Vinay Sheel Oberoi would analyse the feedback.

"A lot of feedback is about classification of the institutions. We have to think whether there can be more categories for other disciplines like say law. To look holistically at the entire exercise we have decided to form this panel," a senior official said.
Apart from Oberoi, Prof Surendra Prasad, chairman of National Board of Accreditation, UGC chairman Ved Prakash, AICTE head Anil Sahasrabudhe, additional secretary R Subrahmanyam and other senior officials would be a part of the nine member panel.

The committee would invite representatives from educational institutions to get a more comprehensive outlook of the issues.
Among the terms of reference for the panel are review of ranking structures, rationalization of parameters, setting up a national institutional ranking framework (NIRF) cell at NBA and also examine the possibility of loading all data related to educational institutions, on the All India Survey of Higher Education and a parallel website.

"The committee would work so the feedback received after NIRF 2015 can be used to improve the rankings for the next year," the official added.

Karnataka State Open University de-recognized by UGC

Blaming the Karnataka State Open University for offering programmes through distance learning more by “blatantly flouting the norms”, the UGC has de-recognized the university in Mysore.

According to a public notice issues by UGC it has been mentioned that the KSOU was in collaboration with many private institutions, entities and coaching centres which were spread across all over the country and in abroad. They offered programmes through distance learning mode which were clear flouting of norms, guidelines and directives set by UGC and erstwhile Distance Education Council (DEC) of Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi.

The notice further said that the programmes that were in offer by KSOU, Mysore had no recognition by UGC beyond 2012-13. The show cause notice to the university was issued way back on June 10, 2011 and after hearing their response through the officials UGC decided to take up recognition during 2012-13. But the university further continued to offer programmes through distance learning mode which was clear violation of the UGC polity on territorial jurisdiction. It has also been offering professional/technical programmes without taking approval from the concerned authorities and bodies and violated the UGC norms. Further, the university had started offering online programmes that were not recognized by UGC and branded them as an exclusive method of distance education in the country.

Amongst the Open Universities and open leaning institutions in the country, the Karnataka State Open University was ranked on top of the charts after its establishment in June 1996. But situations deterred gradually, forcing UGC to pull out recognition over their faulty methods of offering courses to students.

Induction Meeting on 25.08.2013 at study centre 0742 (D)

Induction Meeting for newly enrolled learners of BCA and MCA addressed by Dr. Sanjeev Pandey , Regional Director , IGNOU.

Dr. Sanjeev Pandey talked to learners about IGNOU, Course Structure, Assignments, Examination and Employment opportunities after the completion of course.   

IGNOU has no authority to recognize regular colleges, rules HC

In a significant verdict, the Delhi High Court today ruled that Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has no "legal authority" either to set up or accord recognition to an institution or college to impart "face-to-face" regular education. IGNOU, set up in 1985 to promote distance education, was dragged to court by various institutions, including Hindustan Aviation Academy, which were first allowed by the University to run B Tech and Diploma programme courses in the area of Aerospace Engineering. However, IGNOU later noticed that its approval to run "face-to-face" programme did not not meet legal requirements and asked the approved institutes to keep the admission process at abeyance.