Varsity status likely for big autonomous college

HYDERABAD: The University Grants Commission is considering a proposal to confer university status on autonomous colleges which have a strength of more than 3,000 students and having received the `A’ grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) twice.This was revealed by newly- appointed member of UGC and former JNTUH vice-chancellor DN Reddy during his maiden interaction with reporters here on Monday after becoming UGC member.He said the UGC was firm on raising the superannuation age of university professors from 62 to 65 years, and DN Reddy has said. Reddy said the UGC would honour its commitment of clearing the salary arrears.When professors’ salaries were hiked in 2009 with retrospective effect from 2006, it was agreed that the UGC would pay 80 per cent of the arrears and the state government the r e amining amount.Reddy’s observation is significant as it comes in the wake of state government’s refusal to raise the superannuation age. The state exchequer will be poorer by nearly Rs 1,000 crore if the government does not enhance the age of retirement.The UGC member said the UGC would soon release its 80 per cent share of funds for clearance of arrears to states which have raised the superannuation age.Reddy said the UGC was making all efforts to raise the gross enrolment ratio (GER) in higher education from 15 to 30 percent during the Twelfth Plan period. The UGC will be spending Rs 1,84,000 crore during the plan period on various academic development programmes.Explaining the long-term objectives of the apex monitoring body of higher education in the country, he listed the following: Establishment of 1,000 new polytechnic colleges, construction of model colleges at places where the GER is poor, setting up of 20 women’s universities with one of them in Andhra Pradesh, setting up of 14 Navaratna Universities of international standards, 1,000 new universities in the coming 10 years, setting up of a model degree college inr each district in the country, setting up of 20 new faculty development centres etc.