How to Start a University in India

The private universities of India are established by different State Acts and adhere to the provisions mentioned in the UGC Act, 1956 and also follow the amendments to the same.

The laws state that a private university should be a singular entity that has sufficient teaching, examination, and research facilities in addition to extension services. A private university created as per a State Act operates generally within the territorial boundaries of the state where it is inaugurated.

Opening Subsidiary Units

A university will be permitted to start off-campus centers, study centers, and off-shore campuses after a period of 5 years. Such permission is provided in special circumstances and requires the fulfillment of the following conditions:

• The study centers and off-campus centers can be established with previous consent from the UGC and the ruling government of the state where the facility will be based
• An off shore campus can only be opened after procuring the necessary permission from the Union Government of India and the government of the country where the center will be based
• Either the UGC or an agency selected by it will monitor the total performance of the centers. The centers will be required to follow the management, improvement and academic development related guidelines provided by the UGC
• The remittance of funds of the off shore campuses will be done as per the relevant guidelines and laws mentioned by the Reserve Bank of India
• If the UGC finds the performance of the said centers to be less than satisfactory the concerned universities will have to stop operating them. However in these circumstances, the well-being of the already enrolled will be properly attended to

Guidelines for opening a new University

The private universities of India need to satisfy the minimum guidelines for several areas such as:

• Programs
• Infrastructure
• Faculty
• Financial feasibility

Following are the statutory organizations, aside from the University Grants Commission (UGC) whose guidelines have to be followed by the new universities in India:

• All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
• Indian Nursing Council (INC)
• Bar Council of India (BCI)
• Medical Council of India (MCI)
• Distance Education Council (DEC)
• National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)
• Dental Council of India (DCI)
• Pharmacy Control of India (PCI)

With regards to fees and process of admission, the university in question will be required to follow the norms laid down by the UGC and other relevant statutory bodies.

University Curriculum Composition

The degree and diploma programs of a new university at the undergraduate and postgraduate level need to have the formal consent of the following constituent bodies of the same:

• Board of Studies
• Governing/Executive Council
• Academic Council

The university will be required to adhere to the norms related to curriculum laid down by the UGC or any other relevant statutory body. It will also need to follow all the modifications that are done to the existing norms in this regard. The private organization will have to provide detailed information regarding the following areas of its various programs to the UGC before initiating them:

• Curriculum structure
• System of evaluation and examination
• Content
• Eligibility criteria for admitting students
• Process of teaching and learning

The UGC will conduct a thorough analysis of the information thus provided and also look into the feedback and complaints from the students regarding the curriculum. It will also seek additional opinion on whether the proposed programs have followed the UGC norms and all the possible problematic areas.

The UGC will then inform the concerned university about the shortcomings – the university will consequently need to address these areas and then offer the modified versions of the concerned programs.

Inspection of Universities in India

The UGC conducts inspection of the university at definite intervals. This is also applicable for the off campus centers, offshore campuses, and study centers of the same.

The UGC will also collect important information in this regard from the university in question. This is done as per the UGC (Returns of Information by Universities) Rules, 1979 – the amendments to the same will also have to be followed as and when applicable.

Problems with Opening University in India

The major factor for opening a university in India is to present a new dimension to technology, science, and other emerging disciplines. Infrastructural requirements are another major issue in this regard.

The Indian government normally provides special incentives for inaugurating universities in remote areas. In recent times several deemed universities have been de-affiliated for being unable to satisfy the required guidelines regarding faculty and infrastructure.

Last Updated on May 18, 2015