On Wednesday, the University Grant Commission (UGC) releases a draft regarding the guidelines for recognizing the colleges.
The higher education issued a notification titled “University Grants Commission (Recognition of colleges under clause (f) Section 2 of the UGC Act) Regulations, 2023” states that the inclusion under the Act shall be ‘mandatory’ for all the colleges, irrespective of whether a college has temporary or permanent affiliation to the university.
The proposed guidelines will apply to the colleges under the UGC Act. Also, the college should adhere to all the Rules and UGC Act provisions, which offer leading programs.
Moreover, the recognized colleges and universities are allowed to offer Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Programs, which are updated annually and can be accessed on the UGC’s website.
The Conditions for Recognition:
The colleges affiliate with the university as per the UGC (Affiliation of Colleges by Universities Regulation, 2009 (as amended) and comply with all the provisions of the UGC Act, ordinance, relevant regulations and university statutes, along with programs that lead to offer degrees on bachelor and diploma with a minimum duration and qualification criteria.
Also, it has been issued under Clause 2 (f) irrespective of their affiliation status. Colleges and universities need to maintain transparency by uploading the recognition status and affiliation on their websites. The college must issue documents related to the affiliation certificate issued by the university. Approval from the regulatory body that complies with all the provisions of the UGC Act and the year of establishment.
As the UGC reserves the right to conduct physical and virtual verification, the proactive approach allows the commission to maintain supervision and ensure that the colleges meet the required standards.
The reason behind UGC issuing guidelines for recognition of the colleges:
The guidelines ensure to maintain the standard of the institutions with continuous improvement and eliminating malpractices like poor teaching, discrimination while admission and much more.
Furthermore, it promotes equity by providing scholarships, quality education, and diverse programs for making higher education more inclusive. And, ensure accountability in providing clear information regarding the educational programs, financial regulations and monitoring colleges’ performance to address the shortcomings.
Consequence of Institution’s non-compliance:
The regulations are strict about adherence to UGC rules and guidelines. So, it’s clear that non-compliance with the UGC guidelines can have significant consequences on the institutions, affecting their reputation, finances, operations and legal standing. On that account, every institution needs to ensure that they adhere to all UGC guidelines to avoid these negative consequences.
About Section 2(f):
It empowers the UGC to recognize colleges that are affiliated to the university, by bringing the colleges under the UGC preview, compiled with rules and quality standards. Having UGC recognition serves as a mark of quality and legitimacy for colleges.
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