State to set up cluster varsity named after Homi Bhabha

To club together four city colleges for better administration

The State Cabinet on Thursday approved the formation of a cluster university named after Dr. Homi Bhabha by bringing together the Institute of Science, Mumbai, Elphinstone College, Government B.Ed College and Sydenham College.

The four colleges will instead work under the Dr. Homi Bhabha University, and will no longer be under the Mumbai University.

Education Minister Vinod Tawde said bigger universities find it difficult to maintain educational standards and provide facilities. “Fusing three to five colleges together will ensure amalgamation of different branches. A student can learn more and different subjects, and the use of human resources can be optimal,” Mr. Tawde said.

Earlier failure

The State government’s earlier proposals for cluster universities have failed to get clearances from the Centre. In September, the Centre had turned down the State government’s proposals to form two cluster universities. One of them was to form an university by bringing together H.R., K.C. and Bombay Teachers’ Training colleges and another by converting all colleges under the Rayat Shikshan Sanstha.

Mr. Tawde said the government is mulling the option to promote employment-friendly courses as much as possible. “We are not interested in creating platoons of unemployed graduates. We want to extend education which will ensure them jobs,” the minister said.