The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : More colleges seek deemed university status

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 09, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

More colleges seek deemed university status

By V. Jayanth

CHENNAI, FEB. 8. There may be no clarity yet on the number of entrance examinations universities, consortia of colleges and the institutions themselves will conduct for admission to engineering colleges in 2005-06. But one thing is becoming clear. More colleges, especially the established ones, are seeking the deemed university (DU) status from the coming academic year.

Tamil Nadu already has 10 deemed universities, which attracted a larger number of students last year, thanks to the confusion in the admission process. These institutions, recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) go about admissions on their own, without reference to Anna University or the Tamil Nadu Professional Colleges Entrance Examinations (TNPCEE). Though the All-India Engineering Entrance Examination may be ideal for these DUs to follow, this is not mandatory. Till last year, not many students in the State appeared for the national-level test. As such, admissions to these institutions were easier, simpler and completed far ahead of the process in other colleges.

Sensing the advantages of autonomy in the admission process, some leading engineering colleges have now sought the DU status, according to academic circles. "At least 10 colleges or groups have applied for recognition as deemed universities," said a senior administration official. He, however, could not say whether they would be granted the status in time for the 2005-06 admissions.

The official said other colleges in the districts, notably in the Coimbatore region, were also moving in that direction, sparking a debate on the advantages and disadvantages in the system.

Autonomy

The Vice-Chancellor of one of the deemed universities said, "We have enjoyed substantial autonomy not only in the admission process but also in the introduction of new courses, framing of syllabi and changes in curriculum. We have been able to tie up with a number of industries and foreign universities for special programmes and twinning. The academic atmosphere has improved and there is no interference from any quarter. We are bound by the UGC guidelines and answerable to it, as well as to our students and their parents. It is only after establishing ourselves over a decade that we moved into this grade."

Brand name counts

But principals of engineering colleges affiliated to the Anna University argued that the `Brand name' of the university also mattered. "There are serious problems we face with Anna University, but it is part of the deal. The examinations and system are becoming difficult but there are inherent advantages built into this affiliation," noted the principal of a college near Chennai.

Parents and students had a different view. Aside from the easier admission process, they were looking at the standards and credentials of colleges and not their `status.' As long as the academic environment was good, the college was well-established and there was recognition for it in both the industry and foreign universities, they had no problem. Those were the qualifying marks.

Concern about regulation

Academics, on the other hand, are concerned not just about standards but also "regulation."

They feel that once colleges became DUs they will go out of the regulatory regimen.

"Along with the reforms and liberalisation in the education system, we need a regulator as in the economic sectors. That is the only way in which these institutions can be made to conform to any rules or standards. Another problem students face is that some of the DUs offer a course this year and withdraw it in a year or two. Some of them launch new courses without qualified faculty. Students and parents are not able to judge them properly," says education consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi.

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