New delhi, February 02: Top educational institutes in the country could soon be converted to ‘Innovation Universities’ – complete with huge funds, unbridled academic freedom and linkages with foreign institutes.
Revising its views on the much-discussed 14 Innovation Universities and keeping in mind the long inception period involved in setting them up, the HRD Ministry has decided that it will alongside upgrade worthy institutes to Innovation varsities. The plan is said to have found PMO’s approval.
The Innovation varsities will apply affirmative action in admissions, albeit not necessarily in purely quota-based formats.
The Innovation Universities aiming at international-level excellence will come with a range of courses based on constant student feedback.
In a new “Concept note”, now frozen by the HRD Ministry, it is proposed that India also recognise its national asset in the form of excelling educational institutes and facilitate – with marginal investment – their transition to match that of an “Innovation Varsity”.
The proposal to set up 14 Innovation Universities dates back to the last UPA term but the PMO did not favour the HRD blueprints. While the first concept note of the new dispensation at HRD under Kapil Sibal was also not considered very impressive, the latest one has been welcomed.
—-Agencies