LOK SABHA
Recent initiatives
taken to strengthen the technical education system include the
decision to introduce Credit-based system in technical education,
conversion of Regional Engineering Colleges (RECs) into the
National Institutes of Technology (NITs), introduction of All
India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE), launching of
a fully dedicated technical education channel, launching of
a special programme to improve quality of technical education,
participation of private initiative, development of technologies
in emerging areas and their transfer to user agencies through
technology development missions, transfer of techno-economic
advances in technical education and appropriate technologies
to rural people through expansion of Community Polytechnics
and improving the productivity of the informal sector of the
economy.
A major thrust
is being given to improve the quality of education and research
in the institutions of higher learning. 82 Universities and
233 colleges/institutions have been accredited by National Assessment
and Accreditation Council. UGC has identified five Universities
as the "University with potential for excellence". Twelve Universities
have been identified under the scheme of "Centres for Excellence".
The Commission has decided to launch a scheme to identify 100
colleges throughout the country as "Colleges with potential
for excellence". Model curricula in core subjects have been
circulated to all the universities in the country with an advice
to update their Curricula in a time bound manner. The premier
research institutions like ICSSR are providing fellowships and
other support to research in social sciences.
Reforms in higher
education are carried out as a continuous process. The objective
of this process is to achieve a profound transformation of higher
education in order that it becomes an effective promoter of
sustainable human development commensurate with the specific
requirements of the country and, at the same time, improve its
relevance with closer links with the world of work and achieve
quality in its teaching, research and business and community
extension functions to meet the challenges of 21st
century. To fulfill its constitutional responsibility for maintaining
the standards in higher education, necessary regulations, directions
and circulars, relating to reform process, are issued by the
Central Government/UGC from time to time.
This information
was stated by the Union Minister of Human Resource Development
and Science & Technology, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi in the
Lok Sabha today.
