The Hindu

• Proposal approved by the Syndicate and Academic Council of the university
• Norms to start PG courses to be relaxed
• Colleges should have facilities to offer postgraduate courses: Kaveriappa

Mangalore, Dec 23: Well-established degree colleges that are not accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and do not have permanent affiliation to Mangalore University may soon be able to start postgraduate courses.

The Syndicate and Academic Council of the university have approved such a proposal put forth by the university. They have also approved the amendment made to the statute governing the guidelines for permitting postgraduate courses in affiliated colleges.

Under the existing system, degree colleges need to have permanent affiliation or at least ten years of continuous affiliation to the university to start postgraduate courses. In addition, they should have NAAC accreditation.

With the changes made to this statute, the university has relaxed these restrictions, subject to approval from the Government. Under the changed rules, it is enough if these colleges have three years of continuous affiliation for a particular degree course to start the postgraduate course in that subject. However, K.M. Kaveriappa, Vice-Chancellor of the university, told the Academic Council meeting on Tuesday that such colleges should have facilities to offer postgraduate courses. This included qualified teachers, laboratories, library facilities and enough classrooms.

He said that some NAAC non-accredited private colleges, which do not get any grant from the Government and affiliated to the university, had been maintaining high standards of education for many years. They offered degree courses as per the rules and regulations of the university. Some of these colleges were in rural areas. The amended statute would enable such colleges to offer postgraduate courses. Although one of members of the Council said that this step would result in the university losing its hold over postgraduate courses, none others supported his contention. The Vice-Chancellor said, “Gone are the days of universities having monopoly over postgraduate courses. The university has to compete with other institutions and degree colleges offering postgraduate courses.” Stating that everyone needed to be given equal opportunity, he said that in a recent report, the National Knowledge Commission had emphasised on expansion, inclusion and excellence in higher education.