The Commission recommended that all universities and Higher Education Institutions in the country follow these guidelines in order to improve the educational opportunities of students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The university body has asked that universities and Higher Education Institutions implement bridge courses, earn-while-learn schemes, and outreach programmes to provide students with good employability opportunities while also increasing their participation in Higher Education Institutions through access, equity, and inclusion.
In its notice, the UGC outlined specific courses of action, some key steps suggested in the document include-
- Flexibility for learning and earning: Universities should ensure students have flexibility in gaining knowledge and skills essential for earning a living while they learn.
- Identify on-campus part-time work: Identify types of part-time work on campus that students can engage in, aligned with local needs and regional languages.
- Promote “Earn while Learn”: Widely publicize opportunities for students to “Earn while Learn.”
- Transparent selection process: Establish a clear and transparent selection process, with priority given to students in financial need.
- Collaboration for funding: Collaborate with government, non-government agencies, and the corporate sector for funding or seeking projects to implement the scheme.
- Weightage in assessment and accreditation: Provide necessary importance to the scheme by including it as a criterion for assessment and accreditation.
The Commission also said that in order to increase understanding and acceptance of inclusive policies, such as the reservation policy, sensitization programmes for teachers, administrators, staff, and students in Higher Education Institutions must be implemented. It is critical to maintain inclusion and equity principles throughout all levels of engagement with students from socioeconomically disadvantaged groups (SEDGs). This includes being more sensitive to the challenges these students face, particularly in terms of self-respect, self-esteem, and dignity.
Setting up of SEDGs Cell in all Higher Education Institutions
The UGC mandated that dedicated SEDGs cells shall be set up in all to ensure that students from socio-economically disadvantaged groups (SEDGs) have access to inclusive, equal, and quality higher education. The SEDGs Cell should operate independently, without interfering with other Cells’ activities in Higher Education Institutions . Each HEI’s SEDGs cell will be responsible for safeguarding the constitutionally guaranteed rights, dignity, safety, and security of individuals from SEDGs.
Further breaking down the structure of the SEDG cell that is to be constituted, the UGC sates that the chairperson and members are to be nominated by the Head of the Higher Education Institution. The Governance structure of the Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) Cell should comprise of a committee with the following members:
- Chairperson – SEDGs Cell
- Senior Professor – Member
- In-charge of Internal Complaint Committee – Member
- Coordinator/Director of IQAC – Member
- SC/ST Representative – Member
- OBC Representative – Member
- Two Students’ Representatives belonging to SEDGs – Members (one male and one female)
- Assistant Registrar/Administrative Officer – Member Secretary
Read the “Guidelines to Provide Equitable Opportunity for the Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) in the HEIs” issued by the UGC below.