Higher edu sector: Govt proposes outsourcing non-academic jobs

The government has proposed outsourcing non-academic jobs in higher education institutions to specialised agencies in view of rapid expansion and emerging complexities in this sector.

It is of the view that higher education sector is in need of professionals to manage the administrative affairs of universities and institutions.

"Given the heavy involvement of the government in the sector, the option of outsourcing certain functions has not been explored traditionally.

"However, it is time to look at the option of bringing in specialised agencies to undertake functions which are not the core functions of higher educational institutions," the draft Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) document has said.

RUSA, which will be spread over two Plan periods (12th and 13th) will focus on state higher educational institutions. The objective to overall uplift and quality improvement of higher education.

The upcoming general budget could see an allocation of Rs 500 crore for RUSA.

The document also seeks developing a pool of professionals for taking up non-core activities of higher education institutes, noting that like the health sector, with professional cadre of hospital management and administration, there is a need to develop professionals for the higher education sector also.

Observing there are not enough number of academicians who have been groomed to take positions of responsibility in institutions, the document also seeks rejuvenation and strengthening of the academic staff colleges in states to address this issue.

The document also spells out some major amendments in funding pattern to the state-level universities and institutes under RUSA.

Funding of the higher education in state universities will be based on key principles of performance-based, incentivising well performing institutions. At present, central funding is routed via UGC for individual universities and colleges across different states.

There are 316 states public universities and 13,024 colleges which could be covered under RUSA.

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