UGC hardens NEP stance, threatens to freeze funds to TN institutions

Thought it formed a committee to look into the pros and cons of the policy amid stiff opposition from opposition parties and academicians, the Higher Education Department is yet to release its official stance.

Pressure began mounting on the institutions in Tamil Nadu in the last couple of months after the UGC started issuing circulars directing them to start working on NEP-related activities and submit report to the Commission’s web portal for verification.

Unable to decipher the State government’s stance on NEP, the institutions are in a bind after receiving the latest note from the UGC, warning that it would not release funds if the institutions failed to complete even one of the NEP recommendations.

The circular noted that al higher education institutions and faculties need to register on VIDWAN portal and Indian Research Information Network System (IRINS), both maintained by Information and Library Network Centre (INFLIBNET), an inter-university centre of UGC. “Only those institutions which are registered on IRINS and only such faculty who are registered on VIDWAN portal will be considered for funding by UGC and Ministry of Education,” it added.

A senior official from the Higher Education Department told DT Next on condition of anonymity said soon after the new policy was released, the UGC had started contacting the vice-chancellors and college principals on its own without informing the State government.

The Commission has already sent more than 10 circulars to the institutions in the last few months, the official said, noting that it did not inform the Higher Education Department with regard to the circulars or notifications related to NEP.

However, the State government had instructed all institutions not to implement any NEP scheme till it finalised the position on the policy, he said, adding that the institutions have to wait till the State informed the Centre on the recommended amendments in the policy.

N Pasupathy, president of the Association of University Teachers (AUT), said most institutions were concerned not only about the funds not being released, but also whether the Commission would strip them off the affiliation if NEP activities were not implemented as per its order.

“As UGC have the powers to even derecognise an institution without consulting the State, Tamil Nadu government should announce its stance on NEP to allay the fears of the universities,” he added.