Post on 02-Jan-2021
transcript
MINUTES oF THE zth lsrvEruTH) MEETTNG oF wEsr BENGAL srATE couNcrl oFHIGHER EDUCATION HELD ON 08,01.2019 AT THE CONFERENCE HALL OF
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AT 5'h FLOOR OF BIKASH BHAWAN, SALTLAKE, KOLKATA,
Additional Chief Secretary, Depaftment of Higher Education welcomed the Hon,ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Higher Education and all the members present in the meeting.
Hon'ble MIC and Chairman presided over the meeting, He expressed his good wishes to allthe members.
The list of pafticipants is annexed in Annexure L
The formal meeting started with agenda wise items being taken up by the SHEC,
Item 1: Confirmation of minutes of the meeting of WBSCHE held on 27.03.2O1g
The sHEC confirmed the minutes of the sth SHEC meeting held on 27.o3.zolg
rtem 2: status of implementation of choice Based credit system (cBcs).
The SHEC was informed that at the Under Graduate (UG) and post Graduate (pG) Ievel,Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) had been implemented fully in tg State didedUniversities barring North Bengal and Gour-Banga Universities. vc- NBU confirmed that theyhave now been able to implement it from 2018-19 onwards and VC-GBU stated that CBCS atPG level has been introduced in Gour-Banga University from Academic Session 2018-19 andat UG level itwill be implemented from 2OIg-20 onwards.
This was followed by a presentation by Prof. Sadhan Chakrabarti,VC, Kazi Nazrul Universityregarding the CBCS system in which he enumerated the challenges being faced by teachersand the administration with regard to infrastructure, Iaboratories, students, study materials,registration and examination.Major challenges include lack of adequate infrastructure,limited availability of programme / courses in the colleges according to the choice of thestudents and shoftage of working days particularly in first semester i.e. July to Decemberbecause of admission process and registration. Divergent views on awarding of marks tostudents on the basis of their attendance (as part of Internal assessment) came out duringthe discussion of the VCs.
After discussion, it transpired that mandatory attendance percentage of students to qualifyfor appearing in the semester examinations and awarding marks linked to their attendancepercentage followed in different universities are not essential for CBCS. Hon,ble MICrequested all the VCs to take required steps to implemenl CBCS in appropriate mannertaking into consideration of all issues discussed in the meeting.
llir';:3e
Item 3: Road Map for accreditation under NAAC (National Assessment and
Accreditation Council) for the remaining Colleges and Universities of the State
and Roadmap for effective participation in NIRF.
The SHEC was informed that 8 Universities and 183 Colleges spreading across L2
universities have been identified for NAAC assessment. This includes those 142 Colleges
which have not been ever accredited by NAAC and 41 Colleges whose NAAC accreditation
has expired. Non-accredited colleges in West Bengal would be assisted in the process. Out
of 20 State-Aided universities and 10 private universities; 10 State accredited universities
have been accredited and 10 (8 State-Aided and 2 Private) are eligible to be accredited,
Training cum Workshops of Universities and Colleges were held on 10.10.18,27.7L20I8,
28.11.2018, 29.Lt.2018 and 19.12.18 which were attended by NAAC Advisors, Colleges
have been prioritized phase wise as follows-
1. PRIORITY I [Colleges who were previously accredited]
2. PRIORiTY II [Colleges who are able to submit iIQA by JAN 2019]
3. PRIORITY III [Colleges who can submit IIQA by MAR 2019]
A review meeting at state level in the 3'd74th week of January 2019 was proposed to be held
with 12 university mentors to review the preparedness of all affiliated colleges.
The SHEC was fufther informed that 6 universities and 4 colleges had been ranked within
100 by NIRF in 2018.VC, Presidency University brought to the notice of the SHEC that the
ranking of the university under NIRF was not given despite uploading / submission ofdata /particulars required for the purpose. Additional Chief Secretary requested the VC to furnish
detailed particulars so that HED may take up the case with the concerned authority at the
central level.
A roadmap for National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) has also been prepared to
sensitize and prepare Colleges to participate and secure top ranks in NIRF. Initially 41
potential Govt. and Govt Aided Colleges have been identified and were invited to attend the
Awareness Workshop to be held on 17.01.19. Other interested Colleges and Universities will
be sensitized and trained gradually and may apply in the month of September 2019.
Item 4: Modalities for strengthening of academic bonding between the affiliatinguniversity and their affiliating colleges.
The matter of academic bonding between universities and their affiliated colleges was
discussed and this was followed by a presentation by Prof. Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chaudhury,
VC, RBU. it was unanimously agreed that the University authority need to put a mechanism
in place for greater mentoring of Colleges, much beyond the process of registration of
students and holding up examination only. The Universities may consid'er sharing
information about social guest lecturer with other Universities and also arrange for their
Webcasting or video conferencing for the benefit of students in various Universities.
2li'ag.*
i
Item 5: Promoting employment and placement opportunities - the example ofMAKAUT placement portal ( www.makautplacement.com )
The SHEC was informed by VC, MAKAUT that MAKAUT developed a placement poftal for
promoting employment and placement opportunities of its students in tune with the
requirement of industries. Students can upload their CVs in the university poftal and
intending employers may have access to the CVs of the students and select suitable
candidate as per their requirement. Thus, employers will not be required to visit campuses
which will in turn save time and expenditure. All kinds of industry may benefit from the
exercise - particularly the small and medium enterprises and Start -Ups.
VCs of other state aided universities appreciated the initiative taken by MAKAUT and
expressed their willingness to linked up to the portal to use the facilities. VC, MAKAUT
welcomed all and requested to send their formal expression of interest at an early date.
Item 6: Introduction of B. Voc. Courses in general degree colleges sanctioned by
UGC - Formulation of Guidelines in our state
VC, MAKAUT discussed Bachelor of Vocation (8, Voc.) programme in universities and
colleges under National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). He told that B. Voc.,
Advanced Diploma and Diploma are awarded after successful completion of 3 years, 2 years
and 1 year of study respectively. The university / college should develop the curriculum in
consultation with the industry which will be a judicious mix of Credit of Skill componqnt and
Credit of General Education Component.based on recommendations of UGC and NOS
(National Occupational Standards) for skills. Industry representatives should be an integral
paft of the academic body of the university / college. The university / college has to identify
the existing / forecasted skill gaps in the industry and choose specialization of skills like
Engine Testing and Vehicle Testing under Automobile sector, Software Development under
Information Technology sector and Retail under Marketing sector to ensure employability of
the students. The university / college should in consultation with the industry monitor,
evaluate and update the curriculum periodically keeping in the view with the requirements
of industries and changes in NOSs through an continuous and dynamic process which is in
built in the system.
Item 7: Utilization of funds under RUSA 1.0 and RUSA 2.0 Projects in the State
SHEC was informed about utilization of funds under RUSA 1.0 and RUSA 2.0 Projects in the
State. In RUSA 1.0,85 educational institutions (B universities, 76 colleges and 1 new
professional college) were funded. Out of total grant of Rs.317.39 Cr, Rs.254.871- Cr (81.06o/o) was utilized. In RUSA 2.0, L79 educational Institutions (5 universities, 114 colleges) were
approved by MHRD with tentative allocation of Rs. 547 Cr. So far, fund was received for L07
Institutions (104 Colleges+ 3 Universities), amounting to Rs. 777.67 Cr. (Central- 106.60 Cr
+ State- 71.06 Cr). The institutions funded under RUSA 1,0 and 2.0 were trained on Public
Financial Management System (PFMS), Fund Tracker Application, E-Tendering Process,
procurement through GeM and other guidelines of Finance Depatment, GoWB for
J I ;'a ! r
maintaining financial discipline. Periodical meetings, monitoring and supervisions were done
with the funded institutions for providing them all round support for completion of projects
in time bound manner.
Item 8: Status of recruitment of teachers in the State-aided Universities:
SHEC was informed that 1g26 vacancies of teaching posts out of the sanctioned position of
4538 in 20 State-aided Universities still existed as on date. University wise status of
vacancies was presented and discussed in the meeting and Hon'ble MIC expressed his deep
concern over the issue. Hon'ble MIC also impressed upon the VCs the need for filling up
vacant positions of Teachers without further delay'
Item 9: Status of recruitment of officers in the State-aided Universities
SHEC was informed that there were 143 vacancies of officer posts out of the sanctioned
position of 476 in 20 State-aided Universities. University wise status of vacancies was
presented and discussed in the meeting.
Item 10: Status of student's admission for the Academic Year 2018-19
SHEC was informed about the University wise status of registered students against
sanctioned seats in UG and pG courses in 2018-19 academic year. It was again emphasised
that the seats reserued for SCI STI OBC students should be filled up from among the
students of said category. In case of genuine non-availability of such students, the
Universities and Colleges were requested to take necessary steps for de-reseruation in
accordance with the guidelines laid down by Backward Classes Welfare Department.
Emphasis was also laid down to introduce more subjects and vocational courses having
wider market linkage and job prospects.
Item 11: Status of utilization of various State Plan Fund (both Physical and
Financia!) towards the State-aided Universities for development of the
infrastructure in the financial years 2OL6'L7, 2OL7'Lg and 2O18-19
SHEC was informed about the status of utilization of various State Plan Fund (both Physical
and Financial) by the State-aided Universities for development of the infrastructure in the
financial years 2016-17, ZOtT-lB and zOl8-lg.Additional Chief Secretary emphasized the
need of timely utilization of various state plan funds and submission of UCs thereof to avoid
cost escalation of project caused by delayed execution.
Item 12: Status of outstanding paras in the State-aided Universities
SHEC was informed about the status of outstanding paras in the State-aided Universities
and the same was discussed in the meeting. Additional Chief Secretary spoke on the need
for the outstanding paras being settled and requested the VCs to take required steps in this
regard.
4li:'ar*
Item 13: Procurement of office articles through GeM (Government e-
Marketplace)
SHEC was informed that as per direction of the Finance Department, GeM had already been
introduced in HED and procurement through GeM has already stafted. Similarly universities
and colleges should introduce GeM and start procurement there from. Jt. DPIs have been
made as Nodal Officers on GeM for their respective sponsored Colleges and Deputy
Secretary, University Branch, HED have been made as Nodal Officers on GeM for state aided
Universities. Training on GeM has been imparted to Jt, DPIs, Govt and Govt Aided Colleges,
Govt. Technical Colleges and officials of the DTE and F.O.s & A.O.s of Universities to
familiarize them with the modalities of GeM,
Item 14: Speedy disposal of Court Cases by the Universities
The Additional Chief Secretary stressed on the need for speedy disposal of court cases by
the Universities. To achieve speedy progress, it was suggested that universities should,. Appoint a Nodal Officer to deal with Coutt Cases;. Constitute a Law Cell.. Attend PeriodicalTraining at HED.
. Develop software like Court Case Monitoring System (CCMS).
. Appoint at least one legal retainer from amongst the experienced Advocate of
Calcutta High Coutt to appear in the Court on behalf of the University.. Submit quarterly report regarding Couft case to the Depaftment.. Furnish para-wise SF to the Department in time.. Take decision in connection with court case orders invariably in consultation with the
Department if the same involves interests of the State Government.
Item 15: Miscellaneous
.:. Speaking on admission at UG Level Hon'ble MIC & Chairman requested the VCs to
introduce online admission system in the truest sense. He suggested that system for
online payment of admission fees directly to the account of the universities in
designated banks is to be introduced so that the students need not come to the
college before freshers' welcome or beginning of classes. Verlfication of documents
should be made aftenvards.
* Hon'ble MIC & Chairman stressed the need for regularity in attendance of teachers
as well as students' attendance. Biometric attendance for teachers should be put inplace in institutions where it is not yet introduced.
.'. Hon'ble MIC & Chairman expressed his concern over huge number of teaching and
non-teaching posts in universities still lying vacant and urged upon the VCs tocomplete the recruitment against all vacant posts within next six months to avoid the
possibility of sanction to the vacant posts being withdrawn by the Government.
5li:'agi:
t Regarding choice Based credit system (CBCS), Hon',ble MIC & Chairman stressed
that regular attendance should be given top priority. students should be sensitized
and oriented from the beginning of the session regarding the attendance
requirements, leaving no scope for misunderstanding regarding the issue,
* Hon'ble MIC also suggested that the system for filling up of 60% available seats at
PG level directly by students of parent University and rest 4oo/o by students of other
Universities selected through admission test may be reviewed.
* All examinations must be conducted on time and results published accordingly.
* All Universities and Colleges must focus on awareness campaign on social issues'
The meeting ended with thanks from & to the chairii