UGC recommends 735 additional universities; actions that Orissa needs to take
August 10th, 2008
Following is from a report in Economic Times.
To increase the enrolment rate in higher education, a UGC committee has suggested starting an additional 735 universities in the country during the 11th Plan ending 2012.
The UGC committee, comprising Prof Duraisami of Madras University and Prof Sudhansu Bhusan of National University of Education Planning and Administration, has said that more universities will be needed to increase gross enrolment rate — the percentage of youths in the age group of 18-24 years in higher education — to 15 per cent from the 10 per cent at present.
The committee, set up to suggest reforms on the affiliation system and monitoring of education in 11th plan, has worked out a formula of 20,000 students per university to achieve the target. As per this criteria, the requirement would be 735 universities in the country by 2012, the report said.
"We will study the report and make a final suggestion to the state governments for starting the new varsities," UGC Chairman Prof Sukhadeo Thorat said.
At present there are 388 universities in the country. The committee’s report assumes significance in view of the estimation of National Knowledge Commission last year, when it said that at least 1,500 universities are needed to make India a knowledge society.
The enrolment ratio in higher education is abysmal 10 per cent in India. It is less than eight per cent in states like Assam, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Uttarakhand.
Orissa’s population is 36,706,920, while India’s population is 1,129,866,154. So Orissa’s population is 3.24% of India’s population. So if India’s universities need to increase to a total of 388+735 = 1123. Then Orissa’s share should be 3.24% of that, which is 36.4. Considering Orissa at less than 8% is behind the national average of 10% in terms of enrolment ratio, Orissa will need to have at least 45.5, or say 46 universities. (This is based on using the 8% number for Orissa. It is actually a little over 6 for Orissa. So another 10 may be needed. But for the 11th plan lets stick with the number 46.)
- The exisiting universities in Orissa are (13): Utkal, Sambalpur, Berhampur, NOU, FMU, OUAT, KIIT, SOS, Culture U, Ravenshaw, Sri Jagannath, NIT RKL, BPUT.
- The new universities that are under construction are (8): WCCU, KBK Central, Sri Sri U, Vedanta U, ICFAI, Jagadguru, National Law U, Orissa Open University
- Some institutes that are operating or under construction and that could become universities are (4): IIIT Bhubaneswar, IIT Bhubaneswar, NISER Bhubaneswar, AIIMS Bhubaneswar
- Some institutes that may be opened and become universities are (3) : IIIT Berhampur, BITS, NID
- Some colleges that have applied for deemed university status are (8): Krupajal, CEB, ASBM, Gunupur, Koustuv, Hi-Tech, CV Raman, UCE/OIT.
- So the state needs to make at least 10 more universities.
- One should be made in each of the undivided 13 districts which do not have a university yet. The 13 undivided districts are: Puri, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Baleswar, Sambalpur, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Koraput, Phulbani, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Ganjam and Mayurbhanj. Among them the five districts of Balangir, Kalahandi (Bhawanipatna), Phulbani, Dhenkanal (Angul) and Kendujhar do not have a university nor any new one has yet been announced. So the state should establish 5 universities, one each in each of these undivided districts.
- CET Bhubaneswar should be made to a university.
- A comprehensive university should be established in Rourkela.
- A Bhubaneswar-Cuttack metropolitan university consisting of all government colleges in the Bhubaneswar and Cuttack area should be made.
- Berhampur medical college should be made to a unitary health university.
- A health university encompassing all of Orissa, with possible head quarters in Naraj should be made.
- During the 12th and 13th plan at least the undivided districts which do not have two universities should get their second one (8): Those would be Baleswar (Bhadrakh), Balangir (Titlagarh), Kalahandi (Nabarangpur), Koraput (Malkangiri), Phulbani (Boudha), Dhenkanal, Kendujhar (Joda) and Mayurbhanj (Bangiriposi).
- In addition universities may be established in major population centers without an university. These places include (5): Rayagada, Kalinganagar, Paradeep, Parlakhemundi, Jharsuguda,
- And in districts which do not yet have a university (5): Bargarh, Deogarh, Kendrapada, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Sonepur.
If someone thinks that the above is too many, then they should compare the number of universities in California, whose population,at 36,553,215, is around the same as that of Orissa. However, Orissa’s area at 155,707 sq km is less than 40% of California’s area of 410,000 sq km.
Entry Filed under: Eleventh plan,HRD of Tribals and/or Tribal areas,India,KBK education,Knowledge Commission,Odisha goals for the future,UGC
9 Writeup
1. abhijit das | August 11th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Sir,
I welcome your suggestion for setting up of university in orissa. This would help in broadening the field of education in our state which is need of hour.
2. R.P.Tripathy | August 11th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
46 Universities for the State of Orissa is logical. But, the way we arrive at the figure, taking into account the population of the State vis-a-vis population of the Country must also be applied for the districts as well. For eg. undivided Ganjam district with a population of close to 37 lakhs (2001 census) or one-tenth of the state, in that case must get 5 Universities and likewise for other districts. But, how some one would explain the fact that the state capital with 2% of the State population would have more than half of the Universities proposed. Ofcourse, the fact remains that a lot of Universities are coming up on private initiative. But, then why Law University, Open University etc. etc which are being opened now can’t be located at places outside the capital.
The other issue is the 3 major General Universities of Orissa Utkal, Berhampur and Sambalpur don’t have enough students in many departments and they are finding it hard to run the depts. So, how far it is logical to move froward with so many Universities when the GER at the College level is less than 20%. As a matter of fact, no college in Orissa from any stream, be it Commerce, Science, Law or Humanities, features among the best colleges in India, take any survey report. So, what the state govt. can do to transform BJB, Khallikote, GM, MPC, SCS, FM, KCG, Rajendra, Vikram Dev or Bhawanipatna College should be the major concern of the State Govt. at this moment and this is something where the blame can’t be shifted to the HRD Ministry.
I am totally in favour of expansion of Higher Education, but I belive, apart from access, equal importance should be given to equity and quality. Since, the state Govt. has no road map for developing college education in Orissa, even if 46 Universities are established in the State, students would still prefer JNU, DU or University of Hyderabad over the Universities inside the state.
And instead of stressing more on general Universities, we can go for other professional Universities. Say another agricultural University, a Defence University (as proposed some time back by the Golabandh Air defence College near Gopalpur), University of Sports, Maritime University or Oriya University on the lines of PS Telugu University, Hyderabad. Some innovation has to be done to stream line the ailing Higher Education sector in the state even while expanding higher education in Orissa.
3. Chitta Baral | August 11th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Dear RP:
Very good suggestions. As per the news report, the UGC will contact Orissa about expanding its higher education opportunities. So the govt. may do something. Using the data in this post, please suggest a comprehensive alternative recommendation for the govt.
One thing that you may consider is that it is a good idea to consolidate or put together state funded colleges which are close to each other into a university like Delhi University. That will help in many ways. First the faculty will be hired by that university and thus can not be transfered outside the university. Second inside the university the colleges can share resources. Hence the idea of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack metropolitan university. Most of the other universities that are suggested can be made that way by putting together existing govt. colleges and adding additional in-demand programs.
ps — You may have received my earlier mail to push for upgrading MKCG medical college to AIIIMS standard. I think SOSA and others should work on that. Since other states will have multiple AIIIMS level hospitals, Orissa should try for it. Push the CM to at least write a letter for it. Since no other region in Orissa is asking this, you have a high chance of succeeding. If the CM writes the letter now, then even if it does not happen during this govt. it has a high chance of happening during the next govt.
4. Digambara | August 12th, 2008 at 12:14 am
Suggestion are good, but for regional importance any district which does not have any university among 30 should get one. There wo’t be political, social and industrial problem. For example, for Jagatsingpur: a university could be located in Paradeep, for Jajpur one in Kalinga Nagar. We should not worry much about Cuttack-Bhuabeswar as already conentration is high. So, we should give them few more years to grow.
If it becomes a general rule: it will be simple mathematics and more regionally and rationally distributed. So less controversy making people more happy all over the state (like block grant).
5. Himanshu Patel | August 12th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Sir
Thank you very much for the information and suggestions.Can you give the exact information about the application status of UCE/OIT for the DU status…
Regards
6. Jagmohan Swain | September 2nd, 2008 at 11:15 am
I agree with Dr Baral.From my interactions with people from different states I have come to realize that as long we are willing to take things lying down people will walk all over us.Unity in diversity sounds great on paper but in real life it’s a big joke.I happened to be a nationalist who now realizes it makes sense to have more narrow, regional ambitions.Because no Punjabi,Bengali or Gujrati will sympathize with you.I think we should root for 56 universities , not 46.More noise we make greater are our chances of success.Punjabis will take care of their interest, so will Bengalis so will Telugus.Oriyas must learn that if they want to get something they have to snatch it, by force, if such is the need.In India muscle power works.
the reason for big investment in Orissa is not philanthropic motives from Capitalists, it’s because removal of freight equalization subsidy and multi-year commodity bull market.If Jim rogers and Marc Faber is to be believed we will be in a bull market in commodity till year 2014 at least which basically means that more steel factories, coal mining etc to tap the higher prices.No one is doing anyone a favor. But the great thing about it all is that it provides a golden opportunity for Orissa to leapfrog rest of states in Development.We can have twin target of tapping into the commodity bull market leading to employment in mining and steel manufacturing for unskilled workers, while propping up our education base so that skilled workers can migrate outside to find employment in services sector.At the current rate of investment, assuming a 15% ROI,
the states Gross Domestic Product could Jump by 100% within 6-7 years. Use that extra tax collection to shore up the infrastructure both soft and physical so that Investment continues to flow in.If Orissa follows the right policy it will take off on this commodity bull market and will never look back.
7. Chitta Baral | November 8th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
From Business standard, September 24 2008
CII wants more universities
Jayajit Dash / Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar September 24, 2008, 0:47 IST
With a UGC committee recommending an additional 735 universities in India by the end of 2011-12 to enhance the enrolment rate of higher education, academicians and industry leaders feel that Orissa needs to take enabling steps to help develop more universities in the state.
“Like all other state governments, the Orissa government needs to make available land and basic infrastructure for the upcoming universities. We also need to ensure that there is a strong pool of faculty members for these universitiesâ€, said Vijay Thadani, the chairman of CII’s Education Committee and chief executive officer of NIIT Limited.
Thadani further said that quality faculty is indispensable for turning any university into a centre of excellence adding, “Orissa can attract the best faculty members by offering good opportunities for research and consulting. Moreover, the state needs to upgrade its social and educational infrastructure.â€
Commenting on the issue, Santosh Mohapatra, the chairman of CII’s Orissa chapter and chief executive officer of Dhamra Port Company Limited said, “Orissa needs more universities to meet its growing demand for professionals in different industries and the state government on its part needs to provide land and infrastructure for these universities. However, we need to ensure that the quality of higher education is not undermined as the basic objective of some institutes promoted by private players is profiteering.â€
“What the state needs today is quality technical institutions and institutes of excellence. The upcoming universities in Orissa need to incorporate courses in advanced mining engineering, geology, maritime science and ecological studiesâ€, he added.
SK Mohanty, technical manager of Wipro Technologies said that apart from facilitating the development of new universities in Orissa, the state government needs to impose some regulatory standards on the upcoming universities.
The Orissa government can think of creating an independent and unbiased body comprising some distinguished academicians to deal with the issue of upcoming universities in the state, he added.
“If 735 additional universities are needed for India by the end of 2011-12 then Orissa needs 46 universities by that period. The state government needs to expedite steps to help develop more universities in Orissa as the enrolment rate in higher education in the state is 8 per cent which is lower than the national average of 10 per centâ€, said Biswajeet Pattanayak, director of city-based Asian School of Business Management (ASBM).
At present, there are 388 universities in India and the UGC committee which has recommended 735 universities over and above the existing universities has worked out a formula for 20,000 students per university to raise enrolment rate for higher education from the existing 10 per cent to 15 per cent by the end of 2011-12.
The UGC committee’s suggestion for 735 additional universities in the country is in sync with the observation of the National Knowledge Commission which had pointed out that India needs 1,500 universities to become a knowledge society.
Currently, Orissa has 13 universities and among the proposed new universities in the state include Vedanta University, Sri Sri University, Icfai University, National Law University and Orissa Open University to name a few.
Among the existing technical institutes in the state which have applied for the status of deemed university include ASBM, Hi-Tech Group of Institutions, Krupajal Group of Institutions, Koustuv Group of Institutions, University College of Engineering, Burla and CV Raman College of Engineering to name a few.
“ASBM intends to develop a management university on the lines of Singapore Management University. The institute has already fulfilled all criteria set by UGC to be conferred the status of a deemed university and we are now awaiting the no objection certificate from the Orissa government. UGC has already written to the state industries department on this issue and the matter is now pending before the state government for nine monthsâ€, Pattanayak said.
Meanwhile, Pattanayak pointed out that Orissa needs universities in districts like Balangir, Kalahandi, Phulbani, Kalahandi, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar which do not have any university and has pitched for a health university in the state as well as a comprehensive university in Rourkela.
8. Chitta Baral | November 8th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
The Business Standard article is at http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=335289
9. Ramachandran | November 7th, 2010 at 11:27 am
Dear Sirs,
During August 2007, I saw an advertisement in a news paper by Utkal University of Culture, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa, India inviting application for admission in to PhD course as per the regulations, formed by the syndicate in 2006.
Based on that advertisement, I sent Rs 500 and got an application, on 5th September 2006.
I filled the application, and along with a D.D for Rs 1000/= sent the same on 10-09-2007.DD No 556251 drawn on IOB.
After a long delay I received a letter from the University on 09-07-2008 that, I am to pay Rs 3000 as final registration fees of Rs 3000.
This also I paid by DD No 558104 dated 14-07-08 drawn on IOB.
On 08th December 2008, I received a letter from the Head of the Department, stating that, I am a student of Utkal University of Culture doing PhD and selected a topic, “Vedas – A new Critical Analysis with special reference to Human Body and Healthâ€.
But till date I didn’t received my Registration Number.
I was told that the University is forming its new regulation and I am to wait.
In the last three years the Subject Research Committee didn’t find time to sit and verify the records submitted by the PhD applicants.
On enquiry at that time , I was told that there is no Vice Chancellor to take a decision.
Now that there is a V.C. appointed on Feb 2010, (http://www.orissalinks.com/archives/3895) and he has no time to look in the files of Students and he may be busy with other official work may be more and most important than that of PhD admissions.
Prof. Amiya Kumar Pattanayak appointed VC of Utkal University of Culture
and now I filed a case with the Court through an advocate
Mr.Ramakanta Sahoo,
4977 West Side of Ravi Talkies
Bhubaneshwar – 2 (Phone No 06742430634; 09437020634)
and a sum of Rs7500/= was paid as fees thro a D.D. on 27th May 2010.
But till date I didn’t get any response and I am not able to send any e mail to the advocate, as his mail id unreachable.
Every time I call him he says the advocates are on strike and may resume only on 1st Sep, or the court already sent query to the University and they are to reply to the court. Lastly the advocate said the University yet to file its reply to the court.
Further I learn that there are nearly 100 applicants waiting for admission from 2007.
I really don’t know whom should I approach as every one shut the door
The Phone No of Utkal University of Culture
067425354847
again on 30th June 2010, sent a letter to the V.C. who is unmoved.
I sent mails to all the IAS officers and the Governor and no one bothered to reply or take action on my application.
Now at the age of 60, I am not going to get a post or promotion or a gainful employment with any government body or Universities.
This is not for a degree I am longing but I wish to register my findings on Vedas and patent them in favour of Utkal University of Culture so that they gain a name.
Dr.Mangala Mohanthy, who is at present with Red cross as Hony. Secy , knows my project well and appreciated and registered his willingness to be my co guide.
Request you to kindly help me in getting my admission and forward my registration Number so that I can submit my thesis at the earliest.
Now I don’t know what else the Utkal University of Culture expects from me to do.
I sent many mails to the V.C all unanswered.
This is his statement
Can you do anything for him?