Universities for Innovation
The Government has agreed to make changes in the proposed legislation relating to setting up 'innovation universities' in the country with a view to encourage promoters to come forward in this venture. "We will redraft the proposed legislation. The legislation does not spell out the outcomes. The legislation must set up objective and have criteria for outcome," HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said today.
The legislations seeks to set up 14 innovation universities across the country under public funding, besides allowing promoters to establish such universities. Each university will be based on a different model and concept with distinctive financial, academic and research structure. Talking to reporters after holding deliberation with different stakeholders, industry body and academicians, Sibal said there was a broad consensus that the legislation should be taken forward.
"However, there was also emphasis on the need to make the existing institutions attain world class standards in teaching, research and innovation".
He said necessary changes to be made in the Universities for Innovation Bill is to ensure that initiatives and energy of the promoters are not stifled in an excessive regulatory mechanism. Sources said some promoters had certain objections to the appointment of vice chancellors to such universities through the collegium process. Sibal also said relaxation of the regulation mechanism was also felt as some had objections to the 20 per cent cap on appointment of graduating students with excellent academic record as assistant professors.
The legislation allows appointment by invitation of any graduating students with high academic distinction as assistant professors in such university provided the total number of post filled by such policy does not exceed 20 per cent of the total sanctioned posts of assistant professors. The Bill is expected to be tabled in the Winter session of Parliament this year. With uniqueness being the hallmark of such centres, Sibal said the universities could be theme-based. "These institutes should identify areas having a direct bearing on community and environment while research and innovation could revolve around them," he said. The Minister underlined that the general curriculum framework would be of very high quality.
PTI
We would love to hear your opinion and views on this in the comments below.
