Chennai: No one is aware as to how many students are currently studying in 28 deemed universities in the state and there are allegations that these universities are starting new courses and increasing the intake as per the existing demand without any control. Some engineering colleges allege that B.E., B.Tech students who are struggling to finish their courses under Anna University are joining in some deemed universities to complete their courses and some institutions are awarding PhDs for whoever enrolled with them.
As per Supreme Court’s order, the All India Council for Technical Education’s Approval Process Handbook 2018-19 has made it mandatory for deemed-to-be universities across the nation offering technical and engineering courses to get approval from the council, even to run the existing courses. Deemed universities having multiple campuses should apply separately for each campus for approval. With the exception of few top institutions, a majority of the deemed universities are vary of this new regulation. “If we have to come under AICTE then what is the use of deemed university status? Deemed university status was awarded to come out of the ambit of Anna University and AICTE”, a top administrator of the deemed university in the city said.
Approval process may affect deemed to be varsities: Anil D.Sahasrabudhe​
He further said deemed universities come under the UGC and their committees are inspecting our campuses for every five years. When asked about the increasing the seats he said, “There are more than one lakh seats vacant in the AICTE affiliated colleges in the state and the fees fixed in the colleges also are very low. Deemed universities are charging high fees. But, why are the students still joining our institutions?” he asked. Another official from the deemed university situated in OMR said some universities in the state are willing to go for the approval.
“We are maintaining the standards in terms of facilities and faculty members. So getting the approval is not an issue”. He also said the approval process may affect some deemed to be institutions. “The engineering seats in the deemed universities where the numbers are exorbitant it will be reduced. At the same time, it will not increase the number of admissions in engineering colleges as most of our students are from other states”, the official noted.
Another academician who works in an engineering institution said, “If these institutions run 20-25 batches in a year, they start 10 to 15 batches in a stream which has demand in that year. They recruit the faculty later and the details of the infrastructures are not known”. Very few deemed universities following the standards and going for accreditation. “AICTE will check the lab facilities, infrastructures and faculty strength before allowing them to add more seats. The artificial increase will not be there. Students will get quality engineering education”, he added.
Already two deemed universities — Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women - are getting the approval from the technical education council. “Deemed universities are so far not required to take the AICTE’s approval as per UGC Act. Now, the Supreme Court has directed we should do it”, AICTE chairman Anil D.Sahasrabudhe told Deccan Chronicle.
AICTE chairman Anil D.Sahasrabudhe
“Whatever number of seats they are currently running they will not get more. They will get the approval up to the existing number of seats provided they have facilities to that many students and divisions,” he said. He added that if they lack in infrastructure and staff members the number of seats will be reduced. “The particular institution has facilities like computers, labs, classrooms then it will not have any problem”, he said. The submission of online application to get AICTE’s approval begins on January 1.
