HEIs need to be proactive in sharing their resources for optimal utilisation – Times of India

UGC has released guidelines that advocate the optimal utilisation of resources and infrastructure by all higher educational institutes (HEIs). This practice will extend various benefits to undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) students and research scholars. Educators say that the guidelines are in coordination with the NEP 2020 and formalise similar practices that are already being informally followed by various universities.
In a letter to the vice-chancellors (VCs) of various universities, the UGC has said that HEIs may allow their resources, like libraries, laboratories, and equipment to be shared/used during free time by students and researchers of other HEIs.

Need of the hour

It is not possible for all colleges to be multidisciplinary, which is where the practice of sharing resources will act as a boon, says Lingaraja Gandhi, VC, Bengaluru City University. “Our university may need to use UGC’s Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) centre services, which are currently not available at the campus. In return, the institute can either take a pre-defined amount from us or request to use any of our resources, such as our sports infrastructure.”
With NEP advocating multiple changes in the education curriculum, sharing of faculty by HEIs should be the top priority, says Danish Moin, HoD (department of History), Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU). “As has been the practice thus far, instead of inviting faculty members from other universities for a few lectures in their respective areas of specialisation, the UGC guidelines pave the way for HEIs to invite them to offer more in-depth knowledge to students,” he says.
However, universities need to communicate better with each other to make the best use of this opportunity, adds Gandhi. “Proper coordination is needed between both the universities so that the entire system works smoothly, and students can avail the maximum benefits in the form of a variety of skill enhancement and value-added courses that are made available to them,” he says.

Already in place

Gandhi adds, “Colleges under the ambit of any university already follow the practice of sharing resources with each other. The UGC guidelines emphasise upon extending this practice to other universities as well. The path ahead requires colleges to become proactive and requesting to share the resources they need to have better infrastructure.”
Vikas Gupta, registrar, University of Delhi (DU), says, “Since 2020, we have already signed multiple MoUs with universities in remote districts of Sikkim, Gangtok, and Ladakh among others. The aim is to improve the research and innovation infrastructure at these HEIs by handholding them and providing adequate support in the form of laboratories, books, journals and more.”