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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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