On March 31, 2022, the Gujarat Assembly passed the Gujarat Private Universities (Amendment) Bill 2022, at once allowing 11 new private universities to open campuses in the state. Since the bill was introduced on the last day of the state assembly's budget session, it passed without much debate, discussion or opposition, argued its critics.
Of the 11, two are by two major corporate houses - Adani University in Ahmedabad linked to Gautam Adani's Adani Group and TransStadia University under TransStadia Limited, a Mumbai-headquartered sports development organisation founded by Udit. Sheth. The TransStadia university has campuses in Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
The other universities include Gandhinagar University and SKIPS University in Gandhinagar; Dr. Subhash University and Noble University in Junagadh; MK University in Patan; Vidhyadeep University in Surat; Maganbhai Adenwala Mahagujarat University in Nadiad, Kheda; and Lokbharati University for Rural Innovation, Bhavnagar.
A section of education activists and academics have been against the Gujarat government allowing so many private institutions at once. For them, it signals the state's retreat from funding and expanding public education. The 11 new universities will make Gujarat the state with the highest number of private universities. Others, however, believe the introduction of private players is needed, provided they are properly regulated.
"It's all about privatising education and handing it over to corporations. A decade ago, there were only seven private universities [in Gujarat]. Now, it's 54," said Rimmi Vaghela, research scholar and secretary, All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO), Gujarat.
No opposition
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 2022 من Careers 360.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 2022 من Careers 360.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
The 50 colleges in 5 countries where most Indians go for MBBS abroad
Data on countries and colleges from the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) 2022 - the latest available - shows that most Indians who completed medical degrees abroad and wrote the FMGE went to five countries.
Foreign medical colleges: Look before you leap
A close look at foreign medical colleges that thousands of Indians have graduated from shows that many are unaccredited, don’t have hospitals or even their own websites
'Either I clear FMGE or leave the country'
After spending lakhs on MBBS degrees abroad, thousands spend years trying to clear the FMGE. That is the only option for Indian graduates of foreign medical colleges to build a career in India
Why hundreds of nursing graduates leave India each year
There has been an increase in nursing institutes over the past two decades but policy gaps, lax regulations, poor pay and opportunities are pushing a large number of nursing staff to seek opportunities abroad
In Kashmir, why NEET and JEE candidates flock to private reading halls to prepare for exams
These are accessible round-the-clock, even on public holidays, have private cabins and booths, kitchen, discussion area and some, even places for napping
Battling despair and depression in medical school
Long hours, bullying, lack of support make a difficult programme tougher for medical students. They hope for clear guidelines from the NMC
This father-daughter duo uncovered a scam in NEET admissions in West Bengal
Several generalcategory students had secured admission in medical colleges with forged ST certificates. Ishita Soren spotted the names, and her father followed up
'Forced to take up bonded labour
There's massive resistance to a state policy in Karnataka that requires even private medical college graduates to do one year's mandatory rural service
‘A routine circus': PG medical students lobby, move court to get stipends
Despite NMC orders, many medical colleges still seriously underpay resident doctors and threaten them into silence. In government colleges, stipends can be delayed for months
Why Mizoram wants centre to take over its only medical college
Mizoram got its first state medical college in 2018. In 2023, it asked the union government to take over. Mixed up in this are questions of funding, MBBS seat distribution
