New Concept Of Cluster Univerities In Maharastra

The Maharashtra Government had recently given its approval to the Institute of Science, Elphinstone College, Sydenham College, and the Government College of Education (BEd) to form a new multi-disciplinary education University named after Dr. Homi Bhabha under the Centre’s Rashtria Ucharchar Skikshan Abhiyan. 

This will be the first Cluster University of its kind disaffiliated and independent from the University of Mumbai. State Education Minister, Vinod Tawle said the University for these Colleges will help in better functioning by following a special admission process, curriculum, academic calendar and exam pattern developed by its own academic body. 

It is now reported that yet another Cluster University is being set up in South Mumbai, HR College, KC College and the Bombay Teacher Training College will form an independent university also with separate admission process, curriculum, academic calendar, and exam and assessment pattern. The degrees given will also be from the newly formed University. The name of the University will be decided later, but initially is likely to be called HSNC University.

“This is the first cluster managed by a private group in Mumbai,” stated Anil Harish, the President of HSNC. The Board’s Secretary Dinesh Punjwani said that “Under the Mumbai University we are unable to offer interdisciplinary choices to the students. With a smaller cluster University of the kind we can eliminate difficulties and offer more options to students. This will also open up more employment opportunities for students.” Each of the approved Universities will get funding from RUSA and the State Government.

Under the Rayat Shikshan Sanstha Group, the government has also brought together the Yashwantrao Chavan Institute of Science and there colleges of Chatrapati Shivaji College and Dhananjay Gadgil College of Commerce in Satara.

The State Cabinet also seems to have simultaneously given a nod for setting up other private Universities for skill-based and special subjects like sports, pharmacy, agriculture and animal husbandry. Details on these are still to be officially disclosed.

At the same instance, it is worth noting that India’ first RAILWAY UNIVERSITY has been set up in Gujarat. The National Rail & Transportation Institute (NRTI), the country’s first railway university and training institute was recently dedicated to the Nation by the Gujarat CM, in presence of the Railway Minister at a function in Vadodra, Gujarat.

A brainchild of the PM Narendra Modi, it has started functioning with a batch of 103 students from 20 States, in two fully residential undergraduate programmes. Land of 100 acres from the Government has been earmarked to set up a full-fledged. Campus and infrastructure for NRTI of its own, as soon as feasible.

Sushil Bahl

BW Reporters Sushil Bahl is a corporate professional, author and academician with over 35 years experience in communications industry, B-School academics, and comment writing. He is currently editorial lead in BW Businessworld.