AI Generated Summary
- Even as the Punjab Government prepares to grant university status to two more private institutions in a bid to expand access to higher education, questions are mounting over the lack of a regulatory framework to oversee the burgeoning private university sector.
- A chancellor of a Malwa-based private university noted that the proposed Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), which is set to replace both the UGC and AICTE, could usher in a new era of comprehensive oversight across the country.
- A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted, “Leave apart putting a cap on the number of students in universities, the government has even failed to ascertain the number of students admitted to each university.
Even as the Punjab Government prepares to grant university status to two more private institutions in a bid to expand access to higher education, questions are mounting over the lack of a regulatory framework to oversee the burgeoning private university sector.
On Friday, the Assembly is expected to see the tabling of a Bill to elevate CGC Jhanjeri in Mohali and Rayat Bahra in Hoshiarpur to full university status. With this move, Punjab will house 19 private universities, and at least six more proposals are under consideration.
The expansion follows the July 8 Cabinet nod to the new universities. These institutions are established under the Punjab Private Universities Act, which allows for considerable autonomy but does not currently mandate oversight mechanisms after a university is created.
However, critics within the government are pointing to a glaring gap — there is no regulatory system in place to monitor student intake, fee structures, or institutional performance across these private universities.
A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted, “Leave apart putting a cap on the number of students in universities, the government has even failed to ascertain the number of students admitted to each university.”
Efforts to create a state-level regulatory body for higher education were previously initiated by the Congress-led government under Capt. Amarinder Singh. The proposal, dubbed the Punjab Educational Institute Regulatory Authority, aimed to provide oversight through inspections, penalty mechanisms, and governance checks. But that draft framework has yet to materialize into action.
Current Higher Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains acknowledged the regulatory vacuum but suggested that not all models of oversight have been successful. “A committee under a vice-chancellor has been constituted to examine regulatory frameworks adopted in other states. Himachal Pradesh’s model, for instance, hasn’t worked well,” he said.
While technical colleges in Punjab must adhere to norms laid down by national councils such as AICTE, Pharmacy Council of India, and Dental Council of India, private universities enjoy far greater autonomy. They can offer a wide range of programs, including those not requiring central approval, which has led to calls for greater accountability.
Private university stakeholders, however, are pushing back against the idea of additional regulation. Rashpal Dhaliwal, Chairman of Chandigarh Group of Colleges, defended the operations of his institution — soon to become CGC University — by pointing to oversight from central agencies like the University Grants Commission. “We already follow UGC norms and maintain high standards in education and infrastructure,” he said.
Others in the private education sector are pinning hopes on upcoming reforms at the national level. A chancellor of a Malwa-based private university noted that the proposed Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), which is set to replace both the UGC and AICTE, could usher in a new era of comprehensive oversight across the country. The HECI is expected to streamline accreditation processes and enforce more robust monitoring of academic institutions.
As Punjab accelerates the pace of granting university status to private colleges, educationists and policymakers alike are urging the government not to lose sight of the need for transparency and quality control. Without a functional regulatory mechanism, experts warn, the state’s higher education landscape may expand rapidly — but not necessarily equitably or responsibly.
