UGC Issues Guidelines to State private universities for off-campus centres

On March 6, the UGC issued regulations allowing state-private universities to establish off-campus centres within their respective states, aligning with the "future academic vision" rather than "commercial interests."

Off-campus facilities can be established under the UGC's (Establishment and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities) Regulation of 2003. On February 13, 2024, the commission approved the procedures for private institutions to open off-campus centres in order to "standardise the application process and improve transparency".

According to the UGC notice, private universities can open off-campus centres if the applicable State University Act, under which the university was established, allows it. However, a private institution founded less than five years ago cannot establish such centres.

According to UGC data, there are 471 private universities, but no off-campus centres have been sanctioned for any of them. However, some privately owned deemed-to-be universities have been granted UGC authority to establish off-campus centres.

The most recent regulations also permit private universities to "take over any affiliated college" operated by the same sponsoring trust or firm. The university can gradually terminate the associated college with a no-objection certificate from the affiliating university, according to the notice, which differs from the UGC's previous notice in 2018, which stated that private institutions cannot affiliate an institution or college.

UGC Chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar said, “This development marks a notable step, introducing a structured framework for evaluating and considering applications for off-campus centres by state private universities. The move aligns with the evolving educational landscape outlined in the NEP 2020, aiming to enhance regulatory facilitation and support the expansion of higher education.”