Varsities asked to submit 10-year plan

Kochi: The Higher Education Department has asked the universities in the state to submit a perspective plan for the next 10 years in the realm of research, academics and development. The universities have also been asked to chalk out all future plans according to this perspective plan.

In a set of directions issued to the universities consequent to a meeting convened by the Higher Education Minister K. T. Jaleel of the Vice-Chancellors of the universities, the universities have also been asked to make course syllabuses 75 percent equivalent so that equivalency issues do not crop up between them. The Higher Education Council was entrusted with the task of conducting workshops ahead of this, which have to be conducted in this April and May.

The universities have all been instructed that students’ grievances cell should be made online and steps should be taken to issue all certificates online within six months. Students should be able to submit applications online along with online fee payment. As per UGC guidelines, effective teaching index of the teachers should be determined and informed.

The universities have also been instructed that the inter-university centres under their jurisdiction should be open to all researchers in all universities. In the fist week of March, the top officers in the office of the Higher Education Department and the Higher Education Minister’s office would visit the universities and assess their working. Another direction is on conducting adalats to decide on all issues and files pertaining to all stakeholders in a time-bound manner which the universities have already started implementing.