Symbiosis Drops ‘University’ Tag After UGC Order; 300 Engineering Colleges May Be Shut Down!

In a major, unexpected twist of events, two of India’s largest and most prominent educational institutes: Symbiosis in Pune and Christ in Bengaluru have decided to drop ‘University’ tag from their names with immediate effect after an order from UGC.

These, along with 5 other major educational institutes were at the receiving end of UGC’s ire, regarding the usage of University tag.

Will other such ‘deemed’ Universities also follow suit?

Meanwhile, engineering student, beware! 300 engineering colleges across India will have to shut down their business, and this can prove to be disastrous for the students who are already studying there.

What will be their future?

Symbiosis, Christ Drop University Tag After UGC Order

Last month, we had reported that how University Grants Commission has created ripples across the educational sector, by prohibiting around 120+ educational institutes from using University tag in their names.

We didn’t expect that the reaction and the results would be so instant.

Within 2-weeks of this UGC order, Symbiosis in Pune and Christ in Bengaluru have dropped ‘University’ tag from their names.

Symbiosis International University has renamed themselves to Symbiosis International (Deemed University); meanwhile Christ University is now simply Christ.

Dr Vidya Yeravdekar, principal director at Symbiosis said,

“We have no other option… otherwise, they will withdraw the deemed university status.”

He said that although 5 other major educational institutes were ordered by UGC to change the name, they have now approached the Supreme Court to take a stay on the order.

These 5 institutes which have approached Supreme Court for a stay in UGC’s order are: Manipal University, Delhi-based Indian Agricultural Research Institute (Pusa), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, the National Dairy Research Institute in Karnal and the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun.

Symbiosis has made clear that if Supreme Court announces a stay in the UGC’s order, then they will revert to their old name, instantly.

300 Engineering Colleges To Be Shut Down!

In a related news, HRD Ministry may ask 300 engineering colleges to shut down their business by the year end.

Although no official notification has been sent, speculations are rife that if these 300 engineering colleges don’t comply, then action would be taken.

The reason is that, these 300 engineering colleges had less than 30% enrollment’ in the last five years, and HTD Ministry believes that they are not educationally fit to resume classes.

In fact, as reports, 20% of these 300 colleges had less than 20% enrollment.

Besides, overall 500 engineering colleges are under scanner from HRD Ministry, mainly due to complains regarding their standards, and their false promises. The All India Council for Technical Education has already asked these engineering colleges to either convert into science or vocational training hubs, or simply shut down.

By December end, we will get more clarity into the matter.

At present, there are 3000 private engineering colleges across India, which has a combined capacity of 13.56 lakh students, per year. Out of these, there 800 engineering colleges whose enrollment stands less than 50%, in the last 5-years.

We have already reported about deteriorating condition of engineering institutes, and even corporate word believes that the standard has come down.

Is your college at risk of getting shut down? Ask the management, and raise questions.. After all, it is a matter of your future.

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