Gujarat University Granted Category-2 Autonomy Status by UGC

AHMEDABAD: In a major boost to higher education in the state, Gujarat University (GU) has been granted Category-2 status under the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Categorization of Universities for Grant of Graded Autonomy Regulations, 2018. The decision was formally taken during the 587th meeting of the UGC held on July 6, 2024. With this recognition, GU becomes the first state-run public university in Gujarat to achieve Graded Autonomy.

Under Clause 5 of the UGC regulations, the newly acquired Category-2 autonomy permits Gujarat University to launch new academic programs, degrees, diplomas, skill-development courses, and distance learning modules within its academic framework without obtaining prior approval from the UGC or relying on government grants.

Key Privileges Granted Under Autonomy Status:

• Academic Freedom: Freedom to design and introduce new courses, degree and diploma programs, and vocational skill certifications independently.
• Foreign Faculty Recruitment: Permission to recruit up to 20% foreign faculty on a contractual basis from among top-500 globally ranked institutions.
• International Student Admissions: Authorization to enroll up to 20% foreign students in its academic programs.
• Faculty Incentives: Ability to provide special performance-based incentives to meritorious teaching staff out of the university’s internal revenue.

Staff Shortages and Maintenance Provisions

Despite this milestone, the university continues to deal with significant administrative challenges, including a large number of vacant academic and non-academic positions. Moreover, approvals from the state education department following recruitment examinations have faced prolonged delays.

Under Clauses 6 to 10 of the regulations, the university must maintain its requisite accreditation scores and ranking metrics to retain its autonomous status. If quality standard benchmarks drop, the UGC reserves the right to revoke autonomy privileges. Additionally, Gujarat University is required to submit regular progress updates to the Commission regarding all operational changes and academic developments.