Amity University, Noida, hosted a two day program on the topic ‘Celebrating Success in Higher Education – Best Practices’, organised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). It was attended by 90 Vice chancellors from North India to discuss about attaining greater autonomy from government regulatory bodies.
All vice chancellors opined that institutions should be allowed to act independently. The strict regulations prevailing in the education system have restricted colleges from becoming world class universities, apart from other challenges like expansion, equity and inclusiveness. Prof Furqan Qamar, Secretary General of the AIU, accepted that such restrictions have always stood as barriers for creating world class universities. He also said that the purpose of imposing regulations on students is to bring order and discipline and maintain the quality and standard of the institutions. But nowadays the efficacy of regulations has become a big question and hence is becoming a barrier in making world class universities. He said it’s high time we need to regulate the rules and give the students some confidence and give them the space to understand their responsibility and act accordingly.
Another important thing in making world class universities is the faculty, who are the backbone of any institution. They should act as role models and guide the students. Another important factor is abundance of funds available and the freedom that the faculty and the students are given. Prof DS Chauhan, President, Association of Indian Universities and VC, GLA University, Mathura, felt that the universities in India are crippled. The congregation was inaugurated by Dr.G. Satheesh Reddy, who is the scientific advisor to Manohar Parrikar, our Union Defence Minister, and other dignitaries like Prof Qamar, Prof Chauhan, Dr.Ashok, K Chauhan who is the Founder President of Amity Education Group and Dr Balvinder Shukla, VC, Amity University.