MHRD Grants Category A Status To 8Deemed Varsities

The 8 Deemed Universities in India get a Category 'A' status from the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). Which includes KLE University, Belgaum and NITTE University University, Mangalore. Category 'A' is the top most rating for deemed-to-be-universities.

In 2009, Committee for Review of Existing Deemed-to-be-universities headed by PN Tandon formed by MHRD, in its report had given category 'B' status to 44 deemed universities. Of these universities, 8 deemed-to-be-universities received 'A' status this year.

Category 'A' has been declared based on comparative assessment of deemed-to-be-universities of 2009 Tandon committee's report and after consideration of compliance report, by another committee in 2012.

However the compliance report copy, states that both KLE University and NITTE University have not shown any appreciable changes in areas like admission process, awarding of degree and in teaching, learning process.

After the review of these two universities in 2009, Tandon Committee report had given score of 26 and the same has increased to 32 in compliance report in 2012, while KLU University's score that wad 21 has gone up to 31. The minimum score for the award of category 'A' status is 30.

The compliance report has also mentioned that there has been percentile improvements in research output in KLE and NITTE Universities.

M Shantharam Shetty, pro chancellor of NITTE University said that, "We will also strengthen teaching program and curriculum. Category 'A' status will benefit university to attract more students, particularly foreign students to provide admissions in NITTE University.

Chandrakant Kote, vice-chancellor of KLE University said, "With three years, we will strengthen courses offered and category 'A' status will help our university for collaboration with foreign universities,"