Cluster universities in Maharashtra can now include unaided-colleges too, along with government and aided colleges. The State government has tabled a bill to amend the cluster university clause of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act 2016 to facilitate constitution of cluster universities with unaided colleges or institutions.
In October this year, the state government had already promulgated an ordinance in this regard and allowed inclusion of unaided colleges into cluster universities. The bill of amendment to the Act is expected to bring more clarity to further encourage cluster university formations in Maharashtra.
A cluster university allows a minimum of two or maximum of five colleges from across one district to combine and form a university provided they meet prerequisites such as accreditation for all participating institutions with the lead college having completed at least five years of autonomous status among others.
The idea is to allow established colleges to combine and become a university to offer a wide range of courses, while also reducing the burden on state universities. “Besides the Government and Government-aided colleges, there are a large number of unaided colleges affiliated to public universities,” states the ordinance issued in October while adding that a suitable amendment is proposed so as to facilitate the constitution of cluster universities with unaided colleges or institutions.
The ordinance further states, “The National Education Policy 2020 has emphasised the need for clustering colleges to improve academic quality, promote interdisciplinary courses, facilitate collaboration among educational institutions and provide students with academic flexibility through innovative multidisciplinary education. Similarly, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued guidelines in September 2022 for converting higher education institutions into multidisciplinary institutions by clustering them. These guidelines do not specify any Government aid for such institutions. In view of this policy and guidelines, the Government is encouraging establishment of cluster universities in the State of Maharashtra.”
Currently, there are four cluster universities in Maharashtra out of which three, Dr. Homi Bhabha State University and HSNC University, both from Mumbai and Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil University in Satara are established under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).
The fourth one, however, Warana University in Kolhapur, is the only cluster university created under the states’ policy. With the latest change of allowing unaided-colleges, state hopes to encourage establishment of more cluster universities in Maharashtra.
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