Latest news with #HEFA
Hindustan Times
12-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Parl panel flags ANRF's limited focus; seeks parallel push for humanities research
A parliamentary panel, flagging the Anusandhan National Research Foundation's (ANRF) limited focus on science, technology, agriculture, and health, on Monday recommended the Centre to launch a parallel initiative to promote humanities and social sciences research in higher education and to allocate a portion of Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) funds specifically for research. The committee has criticised the ministry for ignoring its recommendations on tailored teacher training. (Representative file photo) Set up in 2023 in line with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, ANRF promotes research, innovation and entrepreneurship across various fields of science, engineering, and technology. Launched in 2017, HEFA funds infrastructure and research in higher educational institutions through loans. Parliamentary standing committee on education, women, children, youth and sports in its report on review of the government's response to its September 2023 recommendations on NEP implementation in higher education, stressed that its call for research support was meant to be broad-based, covering humanities and social sciences, which it said are vital to social, cultural, and economic progress. 'However, it is concerned by the ANRF's limited focus on science, technology, agriculture, and health technology…Therefore, the committee recommends a parallel initiative to support humanities and social sciences research in higher education.' Also Read:Blueprint for becoming a global knowledge power While ministry in its action taken response stated that around 2500 HEIs and 300 universities have established Research and Development (R&D) cells at their campuses and 14,518 Institution's Innovation Council (IICs) have been set up in 28 states and 9 UTs, the panel asked the ministry to provide a report on the progress made in universal establishment of R&D cells in all HEIs. While the education ministry said HEFA funds support research facilities and provides grants to 2500 higher education institutions (HEIs) through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the panel reiterated its call to earmark a fixed share for research and innovation to ensure consistent funding. 'The ministry has unfortunately not acknowledged this recommendation in its response. The committee therefore, reiterates this recommendation,' the committee said in its latest report. The committee has criticised the ministry for ignoring its recommendations on tailored teacher training and incentives for those working in marginalised communities, as well as on research and innovation in this area. It reiterated that training materials should meet community-specific needs, incentives should be provided, and a dedicated centre be set up to conduct community-focused education research to guide policy, curriculum, and teacher training. The panel has called for 'synergized collaboration' between ministry and states for successful implementation of the NEP 2020. It also asked the ministry to develop a formal feedback mechanism for stakeholders on the Multi Entry and Multiple Exit (MEME) scheme and other NEP initiatives, and the creation of a central tracker to monitor the policy's implementation in higher education.
Time of India
10-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Students' body surveys impact of NEP implementation in varsities
Ranchi: The All India Students' Association (AISA) is surveying the impact of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) in the eight state universities. AISA state secretary Triloki Nath said, "The NEP is taking us towards privatisation, centralisation, and saffronisation. The policy is against social justice and equality. Our organisation has started the survey to find out the inadequacies in NEP implementation in higher education institutions. Agitation would be organised on the basis of the report." A team has been formed in each university to conduct the survey. The work was completed in the Central University of Jharkhand (CUJ), the Ranchi University (RU), and the Veer Sahid Budhu Bhagat University. A researcher, Vijay Kumar, said, "There is an acute shortage of faculty in the new courses started under NEP." Earlier this month, the AISA published a report on NEP implementation in 20 universities across the country, claiming that the govt policy of providing loans from the higher education funding agency (HEFA) is leading to a fee hike. Citing the case of the CUJ, the students' body said that after the institution took Rs 397crore loan from the HEFA for infrastructure development, there has been a steep rise in its fees. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Citadel by Mahindra – Homes with a Modern Edge Mahindra Citadel Enquire Now Undo Refuting the claims, CUJ vice-chancellor Kshiti Bhushan Das said, "We have to pay only 10% of the loan while the rest of the amount, along with the interest, would be borne by the Centre. The fund is needed for the infrastructure of the university." Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Auroville board gives nod for residential complex
VILLUPURAM: The 69th meeting of the Governing Board of the Auroville Foundation was held on Tuesday at the Auroville Foundation Bhavan. The meeting was chaired by Tamil Nadu Governor and Chairman of the Governing Board, RN Ravi. The board approved the first phase of a 1000-bed residential complex to house 380 residents under the Line of Progress project in Sector 2. The project will be proposed under the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) scheme. A 100-bed housing facility for long-term volunteers and newcomers was also sanctioned. A dedicated security complex including a Sakshi Kaksh (Master Control Room) will be built in the Southern Service Node. A partnership with NBCC (India) Ltd for a residential-commercial project outside the Master Plan was approved to support financial sustainability. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with IIT Madras to establish a Sustainability Campus. A proposal for a 1000-student university campus with full infrastructure was also discussed for HEFA inclusion. The board cleared the establishment of a Free Progress school and university-level programs under the Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research. Two Standing Order, Code of Conduct for Business Units 2025 and Framework for Functioning of the Residents' Assembly 2025, were ratified. An appellate committee was constituted under the Admissions & Terminations Regulations 2023. The board approved the Auro Mitra and Auro Hiteshi statuses and discussed setting up Auroville Information Centers globally.
Economic Times
16-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
From new rooms to smart classrooms: JNU's management, engineering await big upgrades
For the first time since their launch in 2018, Jawaharlal Nehru University's engineering and management schools will soon have their own academic buildings and hostels, reported TOI. As part of a ₹483.66 crore infrastructure overhaul under the Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA) scheme, the university will construct a modern academic block and two purpose-built hostels for the School of Engineering and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Management and Entrepreneurship. Modern academic hub for technology and business According to the report, the upcoming ₹142-crore academic centre will span 29,000 square metres and include advanced lecture halls, simulation labs, interdisciplinary collaboration zones, faculty offices, and subject-specific laboratories. The design aims to support both cutting-edge research and applied learning in technology and business studies. These facilities are meant to match the academic demands of programmes that, unlike most JNU courses, charge significantly higher tuition fees. General category students pay ₹12 lakh for the full MBA, while OBC (non-creamy layer) students pay ₹8 lakh and SC/ST/PWD students pay ₹6 lakh—raising long-standing concerns about the mismatch between cost and infrastructure. New hostels with upgraded amenities Students will also get brand new hostels—JNU's first ever built specifically for a single academic programme. Together, they'll accommodate 2,600 students, helping end years of dependency on shared, cross-disciplinary housing. The School of Engineering hostel will cover 34,500 square metres and house 1,950 students at a cost of ₹126.69 crore. It will include furnished rooms, reading lounges, green spaces, and a dining hall, noted the news oulet. The management school hostel, sized at 11,500 square metres and costing ₹42.23 crore, will provide space for 650 students in modular rooms with shared workspaces suited for postgraduate life. Part of a larger push to modernise JNU These upgrades are part of a broader development vision. Under the HEFA scheme, JNU has received clearance for nine major infrastructure projects. TOI further reported these include a trans-disciplinary research and academic block (₹41.24 crore), an advanced animal research centre (₹22.92 crore), a cutting-edge instrumentation facility (₹27.05 crore), a start-up incubation hub (₹17.69 crore), and a 2,000-seat lecture hall complex (₹52.85 crore). 'These projects mark a major milestone for JNU,' said vice-chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit. 'They reflect our commitment to creating a globally competitive, research-oriented university. As we align with the National Education Policy 2020, we're building a future-ready campus for both students and faculty.'
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
From new rooms to smart classrooms: JNU's management, engineering await big upgrades
For the first time since their launch in 2018, Jawaharlal Nehru University 's engineering and management schools will soon have their own academic buildings and hostels , reported TOI. As part of a ₹483.66 crore infrastructure overhaul under the Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA) scheme, the university will construct a modern academic block and two purpose-built hostels for the School of Engineering and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Management and Entrepreneurship. Modern academic hub for technology and business by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gold Takeover Alert: 3 Stocks to Watch Now Fat Tail Daily Learn More Undo According to the report, the upcoming ₹142-crore academic centre will span 29,000 square metres and include advanced lecture halls , simulation labs, interdisciplinary collaboration zones, faculty offices, and subject-specific laboratories. The design aims to support both cutting-edge research and applied learning in technology and business studies. Live Events These facilities are meant to match the academic demands of programmes that, unlike most JNU courses, charge significantly higher tuition fees. General category students pay ₹12 lakh for the full MBA, while OBC (non-creamy layer) students pay ₹8 lakh and SC/ST/PWD students pay ₹6 lakh—raising long-standing concerns about the mismatch between cost and infrastructure. New hostels with upgraded amenities Students will also get brand new hostels—JNU's first ever built specifically for a single academic programme. Together, they'll accommodate 2,600 students, helping end years of dependency on shared, cross-disciplinary housing. The School of Engineering hostel will cover 34,500 square metres and house 1,950 students at a cost of ₹126.69 crore. It will include furnished rooms, reading lounges, green spaces, and a dining hall, noted the news oulet. The management school hostel, sized at 11,500 square metres and costing ₹42.23 crore, will provide space for 650 students in modular rooms with shared workspaces suited for postgraduate life. Part of a larger push to modernise JNU These upgrades are part of a broader development vision. Under the HEFA scheme, JNU has received clearance for nine major infrastructure projects. TOI further reported these include a trans-disciplinary research and academic block (₹41.24 crore), an advanced animal research centre (₹22.92 crore), a cutting-edge instrumentation facility (₹27.05 crore), a start-up incubation hub (₹17.69 crore), and a 2,000-seat lecture hall complex (₹52.85 crore). 'These projects mark a major milestone for JNU,' said vice-chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit. 'They reflect our commitment to creating a globally competitive, research-oriented university. As we align with the National Education Policy 2020 , we're building a future-ready campus for both students and faculty.'
