Accepting the suggestions of industry and other stakeholders, Union Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal said on Saturday that his Ministry would consider raising the cap on appointing faculty through invitation for the new breed of universities proposed to be set up exclusively for research and innovation. The Ministry had earlier proposed to set a cap of 20 per cent for such appointments.
The suggestion to raise the cap came during a brainstorming session organised by him with representatives of industry and scientific and academic universities. The meet discussed the first draft of the legislation that would be needed for the setting up of the new breed of universities.
The meet was attended by Vice-Chancellors of Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Directors of IIT, Madras, and Kanpur and IIM, Kozhikode, besides representatives of CII, and FICCI. Eminent educationist Yashpal was also present.
Refining draft law
Briefing reporters after the three-hour meet, Mr. Sibal said the Ministry would also look at refining the draft legislation keeping in view the suggestions of the participants that the legislation governing the new universities should have a pronounced thrust on facilitating the promoters. “There was a broad consensus that the initiative and energy of the promoters is not stifled by an excessive regulatory regime. Necessary changes would be made in the proposed Bill.”
The participants also highlighted the need for legislation to ensure that the universities identify areas that have a direct bearing on the community and environment and take up research and innovation in those areas and clearly specify the outcomes expected.
