INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
MUMBAI: The head of the premier Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and some other deemed-to-be universities in the country will
henceforth be appointed by the central government, and not by their governing boards.A recent change in UGC regulations brings deemed-to-be
deciding authority; in the case of TISS, it is Tata Trusts and its governing board is chaired by a Tata Trusts representative
The TISS director was appointed by a selection committee, which had a UGC nominee, set up by the governing board
The board will now be replaced by an executive council headed by the government-appointed vice-chancellor as chairperson.The UGC guidelines
will affect five to six institutions which are managed by sponsoring bodies but receive over 50% funding from government
The other institutes are: Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra; Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad; Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and
Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore; and Gurukula Kangri, Haridwar
The change in management has raised concerns over the autonomy of the institutions.UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar said the new regulations
are in line with those for central universities
Now these deemed-to-be universities will be compatible with central universities and will enjoy the same kind of autonomy
The institutions will be given further freedom as per the National Education Policy 2020
in the governing structure of these deemed-to-be universities in line with the central universities
In place of the governing board, these universities will have an executive council and academic council, he said.A Tata Trusts source said
the Trusts will abide by the proposed changes for TISS
TISS was founded by the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) in 1936 but over the years, the government has become the primary backer of the
At present, SDTT has three nominees, Vijay Singh, Rukshana Savaksha and Amrita Patwardhan, on the TISS governing board, with Singh as its
The state and central governments also have their nominees
The director (equivalent to a vice chancellor) is appointed by the search-cum-selection committee set up under the directions of the
successive governments ensured its autonomy..
Now the government will appoint both the chairman and the director
