NCHER to tighten new institutes; streamline VC appointments

A draft legislation for creation of an overarching body in higher education prescribes that every new university or institution should have accreditation before it can start functioning and sets out tough rules for selection of vice chancellors.
    
The HRD Ministry today made public the draft bill on creation of National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) which will replace existing statutory bodies like University Grants commission (UGC), All India Council of
Technical Education (AICTE) and National Council of Teachers
Education (NCTE).

The draft NCHER bill says that the proposed body will specify norms and standards for grant of authorisation to a university or a higher educational institution to commence its academic operations.

No university or institution empowered by or under law to award any degree or diploma established after the coming into force of this Act shall commence academic operations unless it is so recognised, it said. The new institution will furnish documents on accreditation when applying for authorisation.

However, a university or institution deemed to be university existing before the commencement of the Act shall be deemed to have been authorised under it, unless revoked.

The NCHER will maintain a national registry with names of eligible persons for the post of vice chancellors. In case of vacancy, the NCHER will suggest five names from the registry for the post.

The NCHER will have seven members, including the chairperson. The chairperson and other members will be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a selection committee headed by prime minister.

Other members of the selection committee shall be the Lok Sabha Speaker, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, minister in charge of higher education and minister in charge of medical education.

The chairperson and three other members shall work whole-time and get salaries. They should be scholars with standing in the field of academics and research. The salaries and allowances of the whole-time members other than the chairperson shall be the same as of an election commissioner.

Besides, there will be a collegium which will aid, advise and make recommendations to the Commission for coordination,
maintenance of standards in and promotion of higher education
and research.

The collegium shall recommend names of eligible persons for inclusion in the national registry of prospective vice chancellors to be maintained by the NCHER.

The NCHER shall recommend five names form the registry for appointment to the post of vice chancellor of Central universities or head of such institutions.

When called upon by the states, it will recommend five names for the vice chancellor for the state university. No person shall be eligible for and qualified for the post of VC unless his name is included in the registry.

The draft bill says that an institute or university will apply to the commission for grant of authorisation for starting operations.

It will furnish all documents and an assessment report from a registered accreditation agency. The commission shall examine the application and the assessment report to ensure that it complies with the norms of the academic quality specified under regulation for grant of authorisation.

Within 30 days of the application, the commission shall decide to declare its intent to grant authorisation if the application complies with the norms of academic quality. Or else, the Commission will reject the application.

After it gives its intent, the commission will issue a public notice on its website, inviting comments and objections. Within four months of receipt of application, the commission will issue authorisation to such institution or university. When it will reject the applications, it will give reasons for that in writing.

The commission shall validate periodically the standards and academic quality of such institutions. The commission may
revoke the authorisation in case of wilful or continuous default of provisions by the institute. But it will give a notice to the institute before taking such an action.