Last year, Maharashtra took a big step in academics with the introduction of cluster universities. The state cabinet had approved guidelines for the merger of private colleges into these universities. But now, only two institutions have submitted their applications. They are Malad Kandivali Education Society (MKES) in Mumbai and Shree Warana Vibhag Shikshan Mandal in Kolhapur.
After receiving approval from the cabinet last year, institutions were invited to submit a detailed project report (DPR) for state approval. This application process was announced in January. The state had expected over 15 operational cluster universities in the upcoming academic year.
The cluster university concept allows a minimum of two and a maximum of five colleges from different districts to join together to form a university, provided they meet the required qualifying standards. Each participating college must be an accredited institution, with the lead college having had its own status for at least five years.
The lead college should also have a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 3.25 from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) or an equivalent score from the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), or have 50% of its courses accredited by the NBA.
To ensure efficient operation, seven positions, including the vice chancellor and the registrar, will be established. The state government will provide the university with INR 1 crore for the first five years to facilitate this.
Other eligibility criteria include the number of students enrolled, accreditation of specific courses, the total area of the colleges, and a joint deposit of INR 5 crore with the Directorate of Higher Education.
The main goal of these cluster universities is to provide academic freedom as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This is achieved by letting private colleges offer a diverse choice of courses. Currently, there are three cluster universities in Maharashtra: two in Mumbai and one in Satara.
The guidelines for the establishment of cluster universities were accepted by the state cabinet on November 17, 2023. This decision was well received by several educational institutions in Pune and other regions of the state. The creation of cluster universities is being promoted by the National Higher Education Mission.
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