New Delhi: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has been granted “deemed to be a university status” nearly after three years following government’s intent to expand its mandate. Now, NCERT can offer new courses/ programmes and sets up “off-campus and offshore centres” in accordance with UGC guidelines.
“The Ministry of Education, on the advice of the UGC, hereby declares National Council of Educational Research and Training consisting of six constituent units as an Institution deemed to be University under distinct category,” the notification states.
As per the notification, the academic programmes to be offered at NCERT shall conform to the norms and standards prescribed by the UGC and the statutory councils/ bodies concerned. NCERT can commence research programmes as well as doctoral and innovative academic programmes. The fee structure for the courses need to follow UGC, relevant statutory councils rules and regulations, it mentioned.
NCERT like other higher education institutions need to maintain Academic Bank of Credits and upload their credit score in digital lockers. The institution will also need to participate in national rankings and accreditation systems.
Meanwhile, the institute should not indulge in any activities that are of commercial and profit making in nature. There shall be no diversion of assets or funds/revenues of the Institution Deemed to be University/or of its constituent teaching units, without prior permission of the UGC and Central Government, it added.
The NCERT was established in 1961 under the Societies Act to provide assistance and advice to the government in matters of school education. According to the Act, any Higher Educational Institution, other than universities, working to a very high standard in a specified field of study can be declared as ‘Deemed-to-be-University’ by the Central Government on the advice of the UGC. Institutions which are ‘Deemed Universities’ enjoy the same academic status and privileges as universities. -(IndiaTV)
