The beleaguered finances of Bangalore University (BU) are set for a further downturn.
Not only has the varsity’s revenue from affiliations, examinations and sports fee collections been halved thanks to bifurcation, but some of the “big” colleges under it are on the cusp of becoming private universities.
The Bangalore varsity was recently split into two — Bangalore University, which will function from the Jnanabharathi campus, and the new DVG Jnanavahini University, which will operate from Hoskote.
As a result, the 600-odd affiliated colleges of the old university have been divided between the two.
This means that the affiliation and other fees that amounts to Rs. 43 crore annually that the BU used to receive has been halved, even as it has been showing a deficit budget.
Before division
Before the division, BU received approximately Rs. 13 crore from affiliation fee, Rs. 28 crore as exam fee and Rs. 2 crore as sports fee.
Now, with the nod for creation of new private universities, among which a few were affiliated to BU, the varsity’s coffers will take a further beating.
Sources in BU said the three proposed private universities — Jain, Dayananda Sagar and M.S. Ramaiah — each contribute close to Rs. 3 crore a year to BU by way of affiliation, exam and sports fees.
Number of students
“These colleges have a large number of students, which ensures sizeable revenue to the university. Once they are no longer affiliated to the university, we will lose huge revenues. BU is already under financial strain due to the bifurcation,” a senior BU official said.
There are more colleges under BU that are in the waiting list to become private universities, including PES, CMR, Garden City and Reva institutes. Some of these are a group of institutions offering courses affiliated not just to BU, but also to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences and Visvesvaraya Technological University.
Not immediately
The only saving grace for BU is that the private varsities will take a few years to establish themselves. Until then, they will continue to remain under BU.
A top representative of one of the big colleges under BU, which has received assent by the Governor to become a private university, said: “Status quo will be maintained until we can set up the base to start the new university.”
Asked to comment on the losses that BU will face, the representative said: “After the colleges move out completely, BU may have to rely on corporate funding. But this may not be very difficult as it is a reputed university.”
