The irregular practices by deemed universities of opening off-campuses,off-shore campuses,new departments and study centres without approval have come to the fore. These instances have come to light even as the government has ordered a thorough review of the functioning of the deemed universities and kept in abeyance the processing of applications of institutions aspiring for the status. The UGC has also found that after submission of the proposals for opening of off-campuses,new departments and new institutions,certain deemed universities have started admitting students in these centres without waiting for the final approval from the UGC and the government. Some of the deemed universities are imparting education under distance mode without the approval of UGC,AICTE and Distance Education Council. Certain deemed universities have reportedly given affiliation to colleges against approved policy of the UGC. Students should not take admission in the unapproved centres and courses run under distance mode by certain deemed universities,a UGC official said. Study centres established by the deemed universities are only for the purpose of advising or rendering assistance to students,the official said. HRD Minister Kapil Sibal,who reviewed the process for declaring an institution as a 'Deemed to be University' last week,has directed the UGC to keep "in abeyance" all pending proposals till a thorough review of the functioning of the existing such institutions was undertaken. Sibal in an interview last week said that the government will rethink the structure in which deemed university status is given to institutions. He had said the ministry would set up its own committee very soon to review the functioning of the deemed universities. The report will come in the next three months. Depending on the gravity of violations of guidelines,the ministry will take actions,which could include withdrawal of 'deemed-to-be-university' status from the errant institutions.
