Dear Prof. Baral, Recently I read your idea at www.orissa2020.com
Instead of specialized University like Education, Sports, Skill etc, emphasis could be more on multi-disciplinary Universities like in Europe & USA which are need of the hour.
In some extend Health Univ. and BPUT make sense keeping private colleges in mind, but still these are problematic for administration. For example pvt engineering college in Bargarh would be happy to associate with Sambalpur University than BPUT at Rourkela or Bhubaneswar.
The Govt. is forcing such thing without understanding that it will not encourage interdisciplinary study and research which is need of the present and near future worldwide.
Unfortunately, instead of bringing reform in administration to effectively administer all the affiliated colleges within a University, our policy makers are separating those out of University which is not need of the hour. A multi-disciplinary education and multi-cultural environment is needed to compete at the international level. Without doing so, how Odisha Universities could be at the international/national standard? This is also partly reflected in Yas pal committee’s report but in a different language.
Education is part of arts (faculty) most of the Universities do have this department, at least in the college level. For example, in our University department of education plays a crucial role in educational development of the University. Why it should be separated for a University?
There is a section of educationalists in India who think these kind of special Universities are more political than for acquiring knowledge. By establishing such kinds of special Universities we are not doing any favor towards the real cause of education, knowledge gaining, sharing and inter-disciplinary research except doing a favor for politician/administration.
Rather University should be recommended to have topics in sports, arts, business, engineering (Skill), education, etc based on local interest and need. There are sports hostels in few places in Odisha, one I know is in Bhawanipatna, others are in Baripada, Cuttack, Behrmapur, Sambalpur , Bhubaneswar etc which could be attached to such universities.
For engineering/medical colleges, University like BPUT makes sense to monitor the quality (basically for syllabus and conducting exam as most of the pvt colleges in Odisha are business oriented) in the pvt colleges at the state level through such University. But one should not limit a University similar to Utkal University of Culture rather the objective should be that it fulfills the requirement in qualitative basis as well. Without addressing quality part, Universities would be like many present pvt engineering colleges in the state or a building for administration.
Other problem with such special University like BPUT or Health Univ. would be that well established old Govt. Colleges would not like to work with. This was evident from UCE not willing to join BPUT and recently VSS medical college not willing to work under Health University (or SCB medical college). This also triggers regionalism in the state level.
In my opinion instead of going by population/urbanization and establishing many more Universities in each town/city, 13 undivided districts should get independent status in higher education through a complete University, so that they build their own future. Of course, this will balance the regional imbalance existing today in higher education as well as bring effectiveness in knowledge acquiring and sharing.
Such multi-disciplinary University in each undivided district can independently fulfill all the local need and should have authority to perform and, if required, open new campus in its locality. For example, if required, University in Bhawanipatna may open a campus in Nauapda, University in Berhampur may be allowed to open a campus in Parlakhemundi, University in Cuttack in Paradeep, etc instead of allowing new Universities in Nuapada, Parliakhemundir or Paradeep etc. This will bring accountability to the process without political/regional favoritism.
The vice-chancellor and local administration (syndicate) of such multi-disciplinary University would be responsible to judge and perform based on local need. All the medical, and engineering colleges in those localities should be brought back to (affiliated with) this University which will monitor its quality and strength. So, administration could be done easily in the local level instead of travelling to Rourkela or Bhubaneswar for both pvt and/or Govt. colleges. If there is no Govt. medical/engineering college in the locality, the University should be allowed to establish one on its campus. Even I am not adverse to include agriculture, forestry colleges in such multi-disciplinary University fold at the local level. If there are already general University (Utkal Univ), engineering college (CET) and medical college (Capital Hospital) in different locations, each should be known as Utkal Univ. main campus, engineering campus, medical campus etc, such campus can also be possible in two different towns of the same locality such as Cuttack and Paradeep or Angul and Sarang/Dhenkanal.
To make administration easier, each University will have 6-10 deans (or vice president) based on faculty. If there is no faculty of medicine and a medical college is associated with a University (such as Raveshaw Univ. and SCB medical college), the principal of that Govt. medical college (such as principal of SCB medical college) can be one of the vice-president/dean of that University who will be administrative head for medical division of that University. Similar thing can be done for engineering, arts & science, agriculture & animal husbandry, etc. It will reduce administrative, day to day, burden on vice-chancellor.
Since undivided Cuttack dist does not have any state University, Ravensha University combining with SCB medical college could be made a complete multi-disciplinary University for undivided Cuttack district by bringing all the affilaited in colleges in the locality under it. Similarly, BPUT can also be made a multi-disciplinary University for Sundergarh as requirement of BPUT in the state level would not be required any more. Nor we need a Health University. Balangir, Kalahandi, Boudh-Kandhamal, Keonjhar and Angul-Dhenkanal could have new Universities.
I think looking at the present situation this along with improving the present physical infrastructure of existing institution (where there is no engineering/medical college) will be enough tasks to implement for next 10 years for Odisha state Government.
Similarly, for central Govt. funded institution each undivided district should get one central funded higher educational or research institution in priority basis. Every time state capital or a major city/town should not be chosen for such purposes. Nobody knew existence of Rourkela, Brajaraj Nagar, Badbil etc once, so if we give opportunity to a small place based on regional need it may emerge as another Rourkela for the state in future.
Autonomous college in each district may work independently but affiliating with their local Universities.
With best regards
Digambara |
See http://sites.google.com/site/orissavision2020/basic-philosophy-behind-specialized-universities on responses to some of the issues raised.
In terms of number of universities, you may look at the list of universities in Lebanon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_in_Lebanon and note that Lebanon has about one tenth the population of Orissa.
Sure, we may not be able to make a whole bunch of universities in 10 years but to avoid the void that we have now, we need to plan ahead.
See also http://www.orissa2020.org/location-of-universities-in-uk for the locations of universities in UK.
It is not an either or proposition. I am in favor of having more number of comprehensive universities with all disciplines. But that does not mean there should not be any specialized institutions/universities.
While we learn from other countries we have to take into account of what works in India. IITs are the best tech schools, IIMs and the best management schools, and the National Law Universities are the best Law schools in India. (Abroad also there are many specialized institutions of high repute. Examples are the tech schools everywhere, Juliard School of Music, Thunderbird School of Management etc.)
So while we try for comprehensive universities we should not shy away from a few (not too many) specialized universities.
It is just that branding is important. The same Nataional Law Univ of Orissa would not get the same students or attention if it was part of any of the existing state universities.
Hopefully the proposed national universities will change all that with their success.
In regards to the argument you are using to limit to 13 comprehensive universities, many people used that for 3 (Utkal, Berhampur and Sambalpur) for a long time and one can use that to say lets improve the existing universities before we make any new ones. How would you feel if that argument is used to deny Kalahandi a university?
On the other side one can counter when does it become too many?
To me there are two parameters: geographical isolation and population. On geographical isolation basis, every community should have a university within say 150-200 kms. On population basis, a community with 100,000 should have their own university. (Most metropolitan areas of US with a population of 100,000 have a university.)
The HETF is asked to plan for two one year and then followed by 2 five year plans. I think by the end of the first five year we should have established the first 5-6 new comprehensive universities (Kalhandi, Balangir, Phulbani, Angul, Keonjhar, Rourkela) to cover the 13 districts. The next five year plan we can go on to some of the 100K+ areas and start making universities there.
Dr. Digambara Patra's response:
Dear Prof Baral,
If others think 3 Universities I do not have problem but it should be rationale. We already have many Universities in each corner, BPUT, North Orissa, Fakir Mohan, Ravenshaw, Central Univ. etc. My limits to 13 Universities is based on undivided district when Odisha state was recognized in independent India. This was logically made keeping various political, economic and social reasons. Many princely state joined Odisha with special conditions in 1947-50 (and not in 1936) and given district status. As I said I am not opposed to the number and University in metropolitan but in a short period it would not be feasible qualitatively. My visualization for a University is something similar to Central University or National University, which we should not only establish but also upgrade Universities like North Orissa, Fakir Mohan, Utkal, Behrmapur, Sambalpur etc to that level like a multi-disciplinary teaching and research Univ. There are very selective special institution (few are Universities related to science & technology) in abroad which are famous, this is also how a University become different from institution literally, in India too MHRD has plan for NIT/IIT etc to make like University conceptually if the proposal goes in the right direction. What I am afraid that too much number would politically be used, but qualitatively it will affect the new institution during establishment, we already know fate of 3 wodc supported medical colleges and BPUT. My point was we should rather focus more quality aspect by limiting the Universities at certain level, 13 looks acceptable to me, but it could be also 3 or 30 (district level) or another number based on population. We can also make 20-30 such Universities but during this period we may neither have 20-30 completed as comprehensive/multi-disciplinary Univ. nor even 13. Rather the team should go more details in discipline wise for 13 and focus them each individually. Indeed, we will have many opportunities for private players in urban/populated region. In the mean time few more will emerge as urban centers if current industrialization process is realized. If we do not have special Univ. I do not think we will lose a lot, but we must focus each faculty/school of Multi-disciplinary Univ to be like a special institution. Our idea should be 13 multi-disiplinary Univ equivalent to 60-70 specialized institutions/Univ., if we establish separately such institution definitely it will affect quality of 13 as the fund will be divided into 30 instead of 13.
With best regards
Digambara
As per my thinking, some of the universities should be started from clustering state government colleges in a smallish geographical area. By becoming a university they will have more independence to chart their own development. In particular, unlike now, when lecturers are transfered often and thus have not much loyalty to their colleges, once they are more stable in a university setting they will hopefully focus on improving the place rather than busy arranging their next transfer.
The knowledge commission alludes to the above approach and today Pranab Mukherjee talks about smaller universities. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091118/himachal.htm#1
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Making some number of comprehensive universities will be a goal; but how many will depend on the govt. resources. Especially, depending on whether "comprehensive" means a medical college is also part of it. If medical colleges are part of it then, the number of govt. medical colleges that can be made will be the bottleneck. I doubt if the govt. will agree to make even two new government medical colleges. Private medical colleges can be affiliated but can not be constituents of a state university. (Note that in the US many universities which are considered comprehensive do not have medical colleges in them. This includes UC Berkeley, UT Austin, U Maryland - College Park, my university, etc. )
Dr. Digambara Patra's response:
Dear Prof. Baral,
In addition to your thought: to convert some of the colleges to University has been part of suggestion by Yas pal committee too, and I read such discussion since past couple of years. But my idea was one should push for quality education in comprehensive Univ., whereas autonomous college would be encouraged to make Universities as per central Govt./UGC policy automatically in this direction if we plan in the college level. Apart from the urban area (100K population) if every district would have at least one autonomous college by 2015 and good infrastructure, I think most of them will take the chance from central Govt. and become University. Most of the urban locations you are proposing to get University in 2020 might achieve by 2015 as all of them do have autonomous colleges. These universities would be the kind of Unitary Universities. Some of them who will do well can expand to professional courses including engineering/medical, which I think such urban location has higher chance. In the mean time state Govt. concentrate on comprehensive University just like for a National (world class) University in the national level.
I assume, but not sure, most of the metropolitan Universities in USA are run by local Govt./municipality and not by state Govt. whereas state Govt. Universities are located on regional basis which are more famous and known than metropolitan Universities worldwide. We can adopt a similar approach, 13 such state Universities by Odisha state Govt., the number is not small and might be difficult to implement at this stage if we are keen to maintaining quality. I am also not adverse if state Govt. renames these Universities, such as Utkal University as Odisha state University at Bhubaneswar, similarly for new University, Odisha state University at Bhawanipatna, etc. This will clearly distinguish which is a state Govt. comprehensive University or not.
It will be easier for administration if we dissolve the concept like BPUT, Health Univ. etc and bring back to traditional line. If BPUT can be run in a rented building in Bhubaneswar at the state level, I do not think similar thing cannot be done in the local level under a dean in a comprehensive University for professional courses. It will be every easy to deal with. Whereas a uniform syllabus can be adopted in the state level though an Organization consisting vice-chancellor of these 13 districts. Vice chancellors of Unitary and deemed Universities in the state can also be the members.
On medical college I had the same thought but at least we push in that direction instead of getting number of Universities. Odisha badly need medical college in the form of human recourses as well as hospital service. At the end, general mass in Odisha are also inclined to go for professional degrees which give them immediate job like medical, engineering etc.
Today Andhra University in Vishakhapatnam is more known nationally than Utkal University because it has engineering along with traditional courses which supports to provide quality (as Govt. professional course attract good students in India), whereas traditional Universities are fading away. It has also branches in other locations in Andhra. http://www.andhrauniversity.info/
Another group of educationalists in India argue that it’s useless establishing new institution before addressing problems in the existing one as new one will take longer time than existing one. So, there must be a balance in the approach.
In my view:
1. North Orissa, Fakir Mohan, Utkal, Sambalpur and Berhampur should be supported along with the existing infrastructure to become a comprehensive University (they can keep adding new courses, engineering and medical schools one by one, such as North Orissa get preference over Utkal, Sambalpur or Behrampur for engineering or medical) by 2015, introduce both medical and engineering schools by 2020
2. Ravensha and BPUT (renaming to BP University or Odisha state Univ at Rourkela) should be reorganized towards a comprehensive University (Rourkela gets preference to add engineering or medical colleges) by 2015, introduce both medical and engineering schools by 2020
3. Bhawanipatna, Balangir, Phulbani, Angul and Keonjhargarh get new comprehensive University by 2015, introduce both medical and engineering schools in all by 2020
4. Since CUO is functioning there, Koraput could be considered in a later stage for another state Govt. comprehensive University for the affiliated colleges/professional colleges.
5. All Autonomous college should be given importance (about 20 now) in infrastructure development so that they become research and teaching oriented and obtain University status as soon they can from UGC. Many of them can achieve by 2015.
6. Concept like BPUT/Health Univ. should be dissolved and general and professional colleges should be affiliated and administered by comprehensive state University in that locality, this includes Private (professional) colleges which are not deemed.
7. Detail plan on land, branch, discipline, courses etc should be prepared in the state level as master plan. For example, new comprehensive Univ. establishment might need at least 300 acres of land and how they are going to implement in yearly basis so that they become competitive in the national and/or international level by 2022.
8. Similarly, upgrading and reorganizing to comprehensive Universities should be done in yearly basis.
9. Existing Autonomous college should target yearly basis to become Universities and one of the colleges in districts without having any Autonomous College/University could be encouraged and planed on yearly basis how it can be Autonomous by 2015 and get a University status by 2022.
10. Research in comprehensive Universities is monitored in yearly basis, whereas Autonomous colleges are given time two years for development of infrastructure and then followed their research progress in yearly basis.
With best regards
Digambara
--
Digambara Patra, Ph.D
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry
American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
Email: digpatra@yahoo.com
The affiliating colleges are a burden on our universities. Utkal University VC was saying that a lot of his attention goes towards that and as a result he is not able to develop Utkal as much as he would like to. (I don't know which other developed country has such large number of affiliating colleges. It will be good to see how they are managing it.)
So the question is should we burden every university with 5-10 private engineering colleges or let one BPUT handle all of them. The viewpoint of BPUT VC and other VCs would be illuminating on this. Based on how it is being done in other states, and the little I have heard from the existing VCs, having one BPUT (or at most two such univs) to handle all of the private engineering colleges may be the better than burdening every university. (They see it as a burden.)
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I think every existing university is being asked for their plan. At least Utkal VC is making one. I would like to see what their thoughts are (in detail) about their university. He had casually remarked that Utkal should split to 6. I am not sure if he was serious.
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On medical colleges, I don't see any chance of more than 2 new state govt. medical colleges. (The govt. budget is now in worse shape than before and I don't think MHRD or UGC contributes to medical colleges. So there won't be any central funding to support any initiative on new medical colleges.)
That is why I try to find a way to make the PPP work. Have a look at my plan on this where instead of making 2 new govt. medical colleges the government contributes annually to each of the PPP ones. That will make each of them more feasible and sustainable.
Dr. Digambara Patra's response:
Dear Prof. Baral,
As per my earlier view Utkal can be splited into 3 (under Raveshaw, Utkal and another one in Angul-Dhenkanal). If Autonomous Colleges are seprated and there are 3 division Utkal Univ. will have less burden. I think Raveshaw will take large share of it. In case needed, colleges in Jajpur can be included in Keonjhar University or divided between Kenojhar and Anggul-Dhenkanal Univ. instead of Ravenshaw. Similalry, colleges in Nayagarh from Utkal Univ. can be included in Kandhamal. I think it can be adjusted and a formula could be found out.
http://www.merinews.com/article/orissa-new-general-state-university-needed/15709168.shtml
On BPUT, it is right there are pro and cons, but often I find they do not like to cooperate each other. There are many other kinds of problem. Existance of BPUT for affiliated college in technical education will not harm as such if we bring effectiveness in quality education through comprehensive University.
If this is the current situation of state Govt. fund for medical college, I think we should not bet on more number but try to compromise in a level which is acceptable and focus with existing one.
I saw you PPP idea, its laudable like other ideas. I was told by a fellow Indian here that recently Ministry of Health, central Govt. has made a law that any private organization interested to establish a medical college in a distict head quarter may use govt hospital in the dist head quarter for medical college purpose. If its true, there can be PPP medical colleges associated with dist head quarter hospitals. I am not finding the news report. If I get it I will forward it to you. Otherwise, an idea would be to go slow with medical faculty but make sure it comes along with comprehensive Universtity in long run such as around 2020 or 2025.
At the end of discussion, I would like to repeat that I do not have disagreement on your number of establishment, but it should not be the case that we are going by number blindly without talking about quality, I like to add that comprehensive Univ. should get very much importance, I think we can add more on how these can be dream Universities for students in India.
With best regards
Digambara
Just to make sure you saw the right page, the medical colleges plan is at http://sites.google.com/site/orissavision2020/medical-colleges-plan
Dr. Digambara Patra's response:
Dear Prof. Baral,
Thanks, I had not read it. There was a news report for PPP (similar to WODC) for medical college in Balasore, Naraj (Cuttack) and Rayagada. It was also covered in major media.
There was also report on upgradation of few dist head quarter hospitals.
http://kalahandia.blogspot.com/2009/09/capital-hospital-along-with-district.html
With best regards
Digambara
I located the PPP news item that you mention. It is at http://www.orissalinks.com/archives/2935 .