IAS Gyan

Daily News Analysis

INSTITUTE OF EMINENCE

27th March, 2023 Social Issues

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Context: The Government has not yet signed formal Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with universities chosen for Institutions of Eminence, despite high promises and positive indications.

Institutions of Eminence (IoE)

  • In to provide Higher Educational Institutions with the regulatory framework they need to develop into world-class teaching and research institutions, the University Grant Commission announced;
    • The "Institutions of Eminence Deemed to be Universities Regulations, 2017" for private institutions.
    • The "Declaration of Government Educational Institutions as Institutions of Eminence Guidelines, 2017" for public institutions.
  • An expert committee was established by the University Grants Commission (UGC) with the responsibility of examining proposals to choose 20 Institutions of Eminence (10 public and 10 private institutions).
    • Based on the recommendations of the Gopalaswami Expert Committee (EEC), nominations have been made.
  • Both types of institutions will have better prospects for international collaboration and will be given more administrative autonomy (such as the ability to set fees) and academic autonomy.
    • They can admit foreign students up to 30% of total seats.
    • They can recruit foreign faculty up to 25% of faculty Strength.
    • They can offer online Courses for up to 20% of their Programmes.
  • Up to 1,000 crores are provided to public institutions, but no funds are provided to private institutions.

Objectives of the initiatives

  • To offer higher education that fosters creativity and achievement in any field of study considered appropriate at the post-graduate, graduate, and research degree levels, and to confer degrees, certificates, and other academic honours.
  • To work in specialised fields to contribute significantly to the goals of the university education system, where the academic work is distinguishable from regular programmes and is geared towards enhancing students' and researchers' ability to compete in the world's tertiary education market through the acquisition and creation of advanced knowledge in those fields.
  • to offer high-quality instruction and research, as well as to improve knowledge and its transmission through a variety of internal research projects carried out by a sizable number of full-time academics and research scholars in a wide range of fields.
  • to give particular attention to teaching and research in novel and developing fields of knowledge, including multiple disciplines, which are deemed important for the nation's strategic needs but are not being pursued by conventional or existing institutions so far, and to grant degrees, diplomas, and other academic distinctions.
  • To aspire to eventually rank among the top 100 institutions in the world for both teaching and research on a global scale.

Institutions of Eminence' scheme

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/institutions-of-eminence-scheme

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following Statement related to the Institutions of Eminence (IoE);

1. It was introduced by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

2. The plan is to select 20 universities from the Private sector and provide them with grants.

2. Nominations have been made based on the recommendations of the Gopalaswami Expert Committee.

Which of the following Statement is/are incorrect?

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect:  It was Introduced by the University Grants Commission (UGC)

Statement 2 is incorrect: The plan is to choose 20 Institutions of Eminence (10 public and 10 private institutions). Up to 1,000 crores are provided to public institutions, but no funds are provided to private institutions.

Statement 3 is correct: Based on the recommendations of the Gopalaswami Expert Committee (EEC), nominations have been made. 

https://indianexpress.com/article/express-exclusive/jio-to-vit-picked-for-eminence-5-years-ago-pvt-univs-wait-and-wait-8520595/