Edu-leaders

University Grant Commission has urged all universities across India to chalk out funds seeking proposals for carrying out developmental projects. According to commission, this will provide autonomy to universities as well as ensure objectivity, transparency and more accountability.

In this regard, chairman of commission Ved Prakash has written a letter to vice-chancellors of universities. He said in his letter, “As a measure of reform, the UGC has decided to discontinue henceforth the mechanism of sending expert committee to the universities for assessment of varsities financial requirement.’’

Presently, expert committees of UGC visit the varsities to assess their financial needs, based on which funds are allocated to them. The existing procedure leads to delayed implementation of various ambitious programmes and under-utilisation of funds by the varsities. But the new process will change the scene.

UGC chairman said the measure could help the proposals emanating at the level of individual faculty in the university and pass through the departmental advisory board, board of studies, academic council, finance committee and the executive council.