Educational News

UGC to review norms for deemed-university status

NEW DELHI : With a view to streamlining the functioning of deemed universities -- which have grown in number of late -- the University Grants Commission (UGC) has constituted a committee to draw up guidelines to award ‘deemed-to-be-university’ status to applicant institutions.
The Member (Education), Planning Commission, K. Venkatasubramaian, will chair the committee.
While reviewing the guidelines for deemed universities, the committee has been given three broad terms of reference:
Accreditation by the National Academic Accreditation Council as a pre-requisite;
evaluation of the institution on the basis of the standards developed by the UGC for evaluation of the performance of a university for its funding in the 10th Plan;
the parameters to decide the profile of such professional institutions.
Also, the committee has been asked to look into issues relating to the governance of deemed universities.

CALCUTTA : The University of Calcutta is planning a major transformation in its Bachelor of Commerce course and converting it from an essentially ‘accounts-centric’ to business-centric. Even the name of the course could be changed to ‘business studies’ taking into account the range of subjects within its fold.

The ball started rolling about a couple of months back when the University Grants Commission instructed the universities to overhaul the course based on a model curriculum framed by it. It has split the course into five specialisations — accounts and finance, marketing, international business, banking and insurance and e-commerce. Calcutta University, however, is interested only in the first two while the rest are not being considered immediately.

Application of information technology is to be weaved into both honours as well as the general courses in a big way. A number of existing papers will have new titles even as the ‘finance component’ assumes greater significance in the syllabus that was last modified in 1998. Accountancy is divided into two, and new areas like capital markets are being drafted in.

A panel comprising members of the board of studies of commerce and subject experts are busy framing the new course based on the UGC suggestions and another list of proposals conceived by the West Bengal Higher Education Council. The final list will be an amalgamation of all these recommendations.

"The UGC proposals are well thought-out. There could be some objections but that can be sorted out. A host of new topics has been suggested which is a positive step,’’ says pro vice-chancellor of Calcutta University Prof Suranjan Das. Workshops have been held in colleges to involve teachers in the process of transition. The final draft is ready but the new course won’t come into effect before 2003.

A finance bias is expected in the accounts and finance course which could take the form of higher mathematics and economics other than an advanced level of accountancy. Topics like indirect taxation that have so far been less important at the undergraduate level are now set to carry more weight. Chairman of the board of studies of commerce Prof Sudipti Banerjee says the changes were inevitable.

Under accounts and finance, corporate accounting, information technology and its implications in business, management accounting, financial management, financial market operations security analysis and portfolio management and financial statements analysis are some of the new papers being mooted. The marketing segment will see the entry of advertising, sales promotion, product management, price management, international marketing and distribution.

Other than a mastery over finance, articulation and effective communication have been stressed. But senior teachers are sceptical. "the standard of questions and books available will determine if the new course makes any impact," says Prof Amitabha Mukherjee of St Xavier’s College. Prof Prabodh Mishra of Khidderpur College welcomes the new syllabus but points out that it would be unwise to conclude that this would transform B.Com overnight.

The specialisation programmes will be conducted in a semester scheme in the third year. Students will also attend ‘on-the-job training’ for a period of four weeks.

MUMBAI : The Cultural Centre of Russia has advised students keen on getting educated in Russia to be wary of unauthorised agents. The advice comes in the wake of the expulsion of 80 Indian students from Moscow Medical Institute on charges of submitting forged certificates to gain admission. Bogus education agents have been accused of helping the students procure the documents.

Ashish Sonde, director of International Foundation for Culture and Studies, an agency affiliated to the cultural centre, told the media that in recent years a number of agents promising admission to Russian universities had mushroomed in Gujarat and Maharashtra.

"These agents claim to be representatives of Russian universities. However, the students have to verify their bonafides before dealing with them," he said. Some Indian students enrolled in Russian universities are also believed to be acting as agents for these universities.

The cultural centre’s director Dr Dmitry Chelyshev said "We wish to generate awareness regarding Russian education among students." Medical degrees from Russia are recognised by the Medical Council of India and fees in Russian universities are much lower than those in the West and even India, he pointed out. There are around 6000 Indian students in Russia. Eighty percent of them opt for medical courses.

"Not all agents are cheats. However in order to minimise the risk, students should approach the Cultural Centre or its affiliate organisations", Dr Chelyshev noted.