Private universities under UGC radar

New Delhi UGC has found certain private universities running off-campuses outside their territorial jurisdiction and illegally granting affiliations to colleges in a blatant violation of its norms. The educational regulatory body has directed them to close-down such campuses immediately, a senior UGC official said. "We have found that certain state private universities are running off-campus centres outside their territorial jurisdiction besides giving affiliation to colleges. This is in violation of UGC regulations," he said.

It was also noticed that certain state private universities are granting franchise to private parties to run off-campus centres. The errant universities include Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI) and Dheradun-based Hemgiri Nabh Vishwavidyalaya (HNV). While UGC has already directed HNV to close down the off-campus centre it had opened in Goa, in other cases the Commission was in the process of taking similar action. "As per the norms, private universities can neither affiliate any institution or college nor set up off-campus centres," the official said.

The findings came a few days after the UGC made similar revelations about deemed universities which have been found offering courses by opening off-campuses, off-shore campuses, new departments and study centres without proper approval.

For starting any off-campus within the state, the state private universities need to get permission from the UGC after five years of their establishment. The UGC has not allowed any state private university to start off-campus centre so far, the official said, adding the students should be very careful while selecting institutions for pursing higher studies.

About 40 state private universities have been established through legislations in different states. A maximum of nine such universities have been set up in Rajasthan followed by seven in Uttar Pradesh, six in Uttarakhand and five in Gujarat. The UGC last week said it came across a number of irregular practices by deemed universities which are offering courses by opening off-campuses, off-shore campuses, new departments and study centres without proper approval. HRD Ministry is critical about the functioning of such institutions and is set to start a thorough review of the functioning of the deemed universities.