Quality determines a good education

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Do you think private universities can be alternative to government-owned ones?</span><br /><br />Most of the premier colleges in the country, whether it''s the Shri Ram College of Commerce or the Lady Shri Ram College were established under the private sector. However, the government took over the management and running of these colleges post-Independence.The idea was to bring education under the government control. The University Grants Commission (UGC) was created during 1950s, and during the same period 11 Central Universities were created by an Act of Parliament. Subsequently, state universities too were created over a period of time. The UGC was primarily created to be a source of government funds, to run the affairs of college and universities. And, over a period of time, it became a norm to run colleges and universities according to the guidelines set up by the UGC.<br /><br />We have public schools which are providing quality education and everyone wants to send his or her ward to these schools. Today, everyone has become quality conscious and desires the best education. As other areas of the economy were opened to the private sector, so was education.<br /><br />The physical infrastructure in government-run colleges and universities isbetter than that of private ones. However, what''s missing is the accountability system and upgradation of curriculum in tune with the times. It takes so little to change the system, however, there is no effort in this direction.<br /><br />If the premier varsity in the country has a cut-off of 90 per cent plus for popular courses, what are the options for those who have scored less than that? Moreover, there is no motivation for the government institutions to improve when there are 100 applicants for one seat. Arrogance creeps in when demand outstrips supply. And, here private institutions have an important role to play to bridge the demand-supply gap.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">How can Rai University (RU) be a model as far as providing higher education is concerned?</span><br /><br />We offer more than 300 courses and combinations at our 29 colleges and 25 campuses across the country. We believe in igniting students'' passion and to fire up their imagination. We follow the method of open course structure where all the study material is given to students. The idea is that students have ready-made background material at their disposal, even before they attend lectures. This is to ensure that even the faculty at RU upgrade their knowledge base and motivate themselves to offer the best education. We even provide scholarships to 50 per cent of our students during admissions, depending upon their performance at the Board examinations.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What''s the locus standi of UGC in the running of private universities in the country?</span><br /><br />Any university, whether it''s a central or a state one is created by an Act of Parliament or state legislature. The same can be said about private universities too.<br /><br />Eight years ago, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) was established by the Ministry of Human Resources and Development Ministry (MHRD) and the UGC, for assessment of infrastructure, teaching, faculty, delivery mechanisms, job opportunities, to name a few, across the country.<br /><br />We have 16,000 colleges across the country and during the last eight years only 700 colleges have been accredited by the NAAC. In fact, none of the colleges in DU are NAAC accredited. The RU had applied for NAAC accreditation but were informed by concerned officials that a new university can be assessed only after five years of becoming operational. We personally went to meet the chairman of the UGC Arun Nigavekar and asked for the time waiver. He refused to do so and even said that private universities are not offering quality education and we plan to bring in new guidelines to regulate and control them. We are ready for NAAC accreditation anytime or for any other assessment or accreditation agency appointed by the MHRD. In fact, RU has been awarded ISO 9000 for providing quality in education.</div> </div>