COIMBATORE: Deemed
universities can no longer offer technical education programmes without the
prior approval of the All India Council for Technical Education, (AICTE). The
apex regulatory body for technical education has mandated deemed universities
to get prior approval of the council for running technical-education
programmes, which they do not required to till now.
The decision was taken following the recent order by Supreme Court on
November 3, where the apex court directed that the AICTE Regulation of 1994,
which mandates prior approval of the council to run technical education
programmes in the country, do apply to the Deemed universities.
“Institutions Deemed to be University/ Private University seeking
approval for the first time from AICTE shall submit an application as a new
technical institution for all their existing technical programme(s) and
course(s). Deemed to be University having multiple campuses should apply
separately for each campus for approval,” says the AICTE Approval Process
Handbook 2018-19, which was released on Friday. There are a total of 123 deemed
universities across the country, out of which 28 are in Tamil Nadu. There are
282 private universities that are currently functioning in various States.
“All existing deemed universities offering technical education
programmes should apply to AICTE, even for existing courses. We will conduct
inspection and then grant approval. Few deemed universities are already getting
AICTE’s approval for running technical education programmes,” said an AICTE
official.
Welcoming the AICTE’s decision, TD Eswaramoorthy, secretary of All India Federation of Self Financing Technical Institutions said, “Presently there is no control on deemed universities either from UGC, AICTE, State or Central government.”
Welcoming the AICTE’s decision, TD Eswaramoorthy, secretary of All India Federation of Self Financing Technical Institutions said, “Presently there is no control on deemed universities either from UGC, AICTE, State or Central government.”
“Even governments do not even know how many students are being admitted
in engineering programmes by this Deemed to be Universities and how many of
them are passed. They do not have any restriction on number of students being
admitted in a particular course or year. It is a welcome move,” he added.
However, deemed universities have a different view.
“This new approval process for deeemed universities is in accordance
with the recent Supreme Court order, which clearly categorises deemed
universities into two: one that offer engineering programmes before conferment
of deemed status, and the other that have started after conferment,” said a
dean from a deemed university, who did not wish to be named.
“AICTE approval is hence necessary by interpretation for the second
category, as per the intent of the court. Also, regulatory power cannot
exercise provisions that are not in the parent AICTE Act.”
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