UGC issues norms for ethics in higher education

Syllabus subtopic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies

Prelims and Mains focus: about the guidelines issued by UGC and their significance; About UGC and HECI

News: Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ on Thursday launched new guidelines for values and ethics in higher education.

What are the guidelines issued?

In a section on the role of different stakeholders, the guidelines prepared by the University Grants Commission (UGC) has the following advice for student unions:

Support the administration for right and timely decision [and] raise legitimate issues in dignified manner.
The guidelines also call for students to “observe modesty in their overall appearance and behaviour”, “maintain good health and refrain from any kind of intoxicants” and “maintain harmony among students belonging to different socio-economic status, community, caste, religion or region”.
With regard to professional ethics, the UGC now requires all Ph.D. candidates to complete two compulsory credit courses on publication ethics from the coming academic session. The 30hour courses would provide awareness on publication ethics, misconduct and research integrity.

About UGC

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of India is a statutory body set up in 1956, and is charged with coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of higher education.

Background

Previously, UGC was formed in 1946 to oversee the work of the three Central Universities of Aligarh, Banaras and, Delhi. In 1947, a Committee was entrusted with the responsibility of dealing with all the then existing Universities.
After independence, the University Education Commission was set up in 1948 under the Chairmanship of S. Radhakrishnan and it recommended that the UGC be reconstituted on the general model of the University Grants Commission of the United Kingdom.
The UGC was however, formally established in November 1956, by an Act of Parliament as a statutory body of the Government of India.

Important functions performed by the commission:

It provides recognition to universities in India.
It oversees distribution of grants to universities and colleges in India.
It provides scholarships/fellowships to beneficiaries.
It monitors conformity to its regulations by universities and colleges.

Note: To know the difference between the proposed HECI and UGC click on the link below:

https://www.thehindu.com/education/colleges/how-different-is-the-proposed-heci-from-the-present-ugc/article24287473.ece

Source: The Hindu

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