Higher education Essay

A committee to look into the functioning of Bangalore University has suggested splitting university into five different universities, Bangalore South, North, East, West and Central. The expert committee consisting of Manipal Global Education Chairman T V Mohandas Pai, former vice-chancellors Dr N Rudraiah, Prof N R Shetty, educationists R Natarajan, KRS Murthy, K Narahari and the principal of University Visveswaraya College of Engineering (UVCE), Dr K R Venugopal, who is also the special officer has submitted its report to the Karnataka government. Reportedly, the report makes three major recommendations — to split Bangalore University into five, to upgrade UVCE as a centre of excellence on par with Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) and Bangalore University to focus only on research and development. Prof N R Shetty, former VC of Bangalore University, who was on the committee said, â€Å"Considering the huge number of colleges affiliated to Bangalore University and the availability of funds through Rashtriya Ucchathar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) for creation of new universities, we have recommended that five, including Bangalore University, be carved out of the existing university.† As per the report, BU has 614 affiliated colleges and, under the RUSA scheme, there is an option for states to create one university with 100 colleges. â€Å"As far as funds are concerned, it will not be a burden on the State government since the RUSA scheme proposed by MHRD will provide funds for the newly created universities based on the quality of education,† Shetty said.â€Å" There is a need to improve research and technology under Bangalore University. With such a high number of affiliated colleges, it won’t be possible to concentrate on research activities,† he added, reported New Indian Express.