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A panel on higher education has suggested steps for improving the sector in Maharashtra like setting up an independent regulatory body for all public universities in the State.
The committee headed by Dr Anil Kakodkar, former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, in its report to the State government last week, recommended setting up of Maharashtra State Council for Higher Education and Development (MAHED).
It has also suggested that MAHED be made a standalone independent statutory body with appropriate and adequate autonomy to help develop higher education right from funding to appointing vice-chancellors.
Advisory bodies
The panel has also recommended that MAHED be guided by an apex advisory and super-advisory council (AASC), chaired by the Governor on one side and the Academic and Development Council on the other.
One of the other major recommendations of the panel includes empowering vice-chancellor as the sole academic and administrative head of a university.
The committee, which had eminent educationists in the panel, has recommended several steps for the improvement of higher education in the State on a long-term basis, Dr Kakodkar said.
Other recommendations
It also recommends to replace the Senate with a Society Partnership Council and develop an effective student learning centric academic structure, strong research, academia and industry linkages and a three-component curriculum – core competence in a certain discipline, inter-disciplinary approach and a vocational component.
The committee has also recommended the creation of Maharashtra State Higher Information and Communication Network (MS-EDUNET), with a comprehensive ICT infrastructure in all universities, in order to make maximum use of the National Knowledge Network.
MAHED will become the conduit for funding of public universities by the State government, the report says, adding that the body will act as an interface between the government and varsities and would oversee, guide and facilitate them for regional development.
“MAHED should also play a central role in the appointment of vice-chancellors as well as heads of other bodies to be set up to support higher education framework of the State,” it said.
Funding
The committee feels that though the universities will depend primarily upon government funding, they will progressively try to raise resources on their own.
Eminent personalities such as former director general of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Dr R.A. Mashelkar, former UGC chairman, Dr Arun Nigavekar, founder director of CDAC, Dr Vijay Bhatkar, former V-C of IGNOU, Prof Ram Takawale, and former education secretary Kumud Bansal are a part of the committee.
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