The five-member University Review Committee constituted, under the chairmanship of Prof. BK Kuthiala, by the Haryana Government to look into the issues of autonomy, accountability and to improve the quality of higher education in the state on Tuesday submitted its report, along with its audio version.
The report was submitted to Chief Minister Manohar lal and Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma.
The recommendations of the Committee included, among others, increasing the retirement age of University teachers to 65 years and that of the Vice-Chancellor to 70 years, besides enhancing their tenure to five years. Other recommendations included following the recommendations of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan and constituting Uchchatar Shiksha Parishad, Haryana, said an official spokesman.
The Committee, which included Om Parkash Arya, Prof. Rajnish Arora, Prof. Yogesh Singh and Rakesh Gupta, carried out intensive study of the higher education system in Haryana over about eight months. The members also visited various Universities and interacted with a large number of teachers, students and officials.
He said that the Committee has suggested that every University student must devote minimum 25 hours per week in the classroom or in the laboratory. Besides, all students graduating from University must have some skills other than their basic subjects of study.
The Committee has also recommended that work should be carried out in all Universities in the State in a uniform manner in accordance with a single Act, the draft outline of which has been presented by the Committee, said the spokesman.
It has also suggested to constitute Uchchatar Shiksha Parishad, Haryana under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister through an Act by the legislative Assembly, besides properly following the recommendations of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan. The Committee has recommended that grant to Universities be declared in March, and had proposed a formula according to which each University would get grant depending upon the number of teachers, employees and the students
The spokesman added that the Committee has also suggested that the Government should not discriminate between private and public Universities to promote research and innovations.