BENGALURU: Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy on Monday said that an expert committee has been constituted to study and find alternatives to keep alive the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) after the University Grants Commission (UGC) derecognised it.
The panel, chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Ratna Prabha, will include former Vice-Chancellor of Gulbarga University Prof V.B. Coutinho, Registrar of Bangalore University Prof B.K. Ravi, Executive Director of Karnataka State Higher Education Council Prof. S.A. Kori and the controller of State Accounts or a nominee of similar deputation. “The committee has been asked to submit a detailed report by November. From those recommendations, alternatives to keep the varsity alive will be sought,” the minister said.
Taking a dig at the UGC, he said, “Even after repeatedly writing letters and meeting the Union HRD minister and UGC Chairman, we have not received any response from them. UGC is 101 per cent responsible for the students’ future continuing to be at stake.”
He said that the state government’s attempts, including a letter from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to draw attention from the central ministry has gone in vain.
Full-time VCs to be finalised soon
On the appointment of full-time vice-chancellors to Bangalore and Mysore universities, the minister said that the files have reached Raj Bhavan from the chief minister’s office. “The final nod on the appointment is facing delays as the Governor’s office is still under the process of collecting more information on the track records of recommended names before taking a final call,” said Mr Rayareddy.
Renaming CUK among priorities
On the state government’s intention to rename Central University of Karnataka (CUK) as Dr B.R. Ambedkar Central University, the government’s request has not even been acknowledged yet, he said.
