Fresh Impasse In DU Over ‘Tripartite MoU’

Delhi University is undergoing a severe crisis moment as thousands of teachers and students are in a flash protest regarding the ‘Tripartite MoU’. They are protesting against the tripartite memorandum of understanding that the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), University Grants Commission (UGC) and University of Delhi were supposed to sign, in order to access financial power from the Higher Education Funding Agency. Last year, the UGC in a move to enhance autonomy and financial powers to the Institutions issued circulars to the Universities to sign a tripartite agreement with the commission and the ministry of Higher education. The Delhi University is yet to sign that ‘tripartite MoU’. According to many Academicians, the MoU is both devious and pernicious. It restricts any commitment on the part of the UGC and MHRD for facilitating additional funds to the Universities. Moreover, it binds university to commercialize its activities and ensure structures that facilitate private players in higher education.  Instead, it is compelling universities to raise fees to meet the maximum cost of providing services, infrastructural requirements. To improve its finances the tripartite agreement asks the universities to raise revenue through “innovative academic and training programmes”. Recently, the Ministry of Human Resources and Development(MHRD) has sent a letter to the Delhi University send the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)- between the MHRD, the commission, and the Delhi University- after getting it approved by the Executive council (EC). The MoU needs to be sent at the earliest to receive government funds. It includes ways in which the universities will pay back the loans which they will get from the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA), such as increasing fee receipts and research earnings. As per revised draft issued by the UGC dated October 03, 2017, the Tripartite MoU is required to be signed with the objectivity to access and improve the functioning of the Central University on selected parameters so as to incrementally improve the performance of the University. The MoU has been structured into four parts. Part 1- Vision, Mission, and  objectives Part 2- Exercise of Enhanced Autonomy and Delegation of Financial Powers Part 3- Facilitation/Assistance from the Government/UGC Part 4- Action Plan for Implementation and Monitoring of the MoU Part 5- Requirement from UGC and MHRD Some of the most important parameters of this revised draft MoU (https://ugc.ac.in/cup/notice_upload/CUP-Notice-04-10-2017-03-55-38.pdf) are as follows: 1.3.2 To adhere to global best practices and benchmarks in respect of … Quality Publication, Academic and sponsored research output, and Industry driven initiatives. 1.3.3 To increase the student capacity to meet the growing demands for competent manpower from National and International markets.benchmarks 2.2 Central University shall endeavor to ensure a gradual annual increase in the user charges/ fees charged by it for its various courses and facilities. Some of the main outcome-based “Performance Parameter[s]”, according to the draft MoU are: The number of students placed through campus interviews, qualified for NET/SET/SLET/Ph.D., cleared competitive exams – civil services, judiciary etc. A number of papers published in UGC listed journals (which were vastly reduced earlier this year), and research projects sanctioned/completed. Patents filed and awarded, and exceptional international awards/ honors. The main weight has not been given upon the quality, the representations of marginalized society (students, teachers, and non-teaching staff) and contents of syllabi. The parameters discussed above are outcome-based are not compatible with the higher education system which is affordable and accessible to the weaker and marginalized sections. The main focus is only on attracting private investment. The imposition of HEFA for funding infrastructural development means that the Physical infrastructure, University’s property and intellectual assets may be used as collaterals to secure loans raised from capital markets in which the private financial institutions and the public sector have a big stake. Various teachers’ associations, students’ organizations and civil society are denouncing the setting and promotion of HEFA and have come out on the streets to spread awareness about such destructive moves amongst the masses. What is HEFA? Higher Education, Funding Agency (HEFA) was established by the Union Cabinet in September 2017. Canara Bank has been selected as the partner for setting up the company. RBI granted a license under the RBI Act for HEFA to operate as NBFC on November 21, 2017, and to mobilize money from the market as per the requirements of the institutions. It was envisioned as a special purpose vehicle for financing infrastructure and development projects by central universities – by raising funds from the markets, which in turn would be provided as zero-interest loans to the varsities. In a Nutshell So, slowly and steadily we are moving towards privatization of higher education. The current intention of the government is to establish a system of higher education with a lass division for the elite, middle class and for the masses. We will have ‘world- class’ universities with full autonomy and charging exorbitant fees.