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  • Difference between Institutes of National Importance and Institutes of Eminence

Institutions of Eminence
Institutions of Eminence scheme was launched in order to implement the commitment of the Government to empower the Higher Educational Institutions and to help them become world class teaching and research institutions, as announced by the Hon’ble Finance Minister in his budget speech of 2016. This was to make available affordable access to high quality education for ordinary Indians.

Attributes of IOEs that will separate them from other universities:

  • The institutes will be free from most UGC regulations which are binding on other universities, except for some flexible guidelines
  • They will not have to adhere to UGC mandated curriculum and would be free to fix their own curriculum and syllabus
  • They would be able to admit 30 per cent of foreign students on merit and deciding the fee charged from foreign students will also be their prerogative
  • They can recruit foreign faculty upto 25 per cent of its faculty strength
  • They will have the flexibility of course structure in terms of number of credit hours and years to take a degree, after approval of their Governing Council and broadly conforming to the minimum prevailing standards
  • They shall be free to enter into academic collaborations with other institutions of India.

Institute of National Importance
Institute of National Importance (INI) is a status that may be conferred on a premier public higher education institution in India by an act of Parliament of India, an institution which “serves as a pivotal player in developing highly skilled personnel within the specified region of the country/state”.

Which institutes are eligible to apply under Institutes of Eminence?

    Sarvesh
    Public Institutes that are eligible to apply under Institutes of Eminence are as follows:

    • Central Universities
    • Government-owned and controlled Deemed to be Universities.
    • lnstitutions of National lmportance such as IITs, NITs, etc.
    • State Universities set up under a law made by Legislative Assembly of a State.

      Will the institutes of Eminence get any financial assistance?

        Sarvesh
        Institutes of Eminence would be awarded financial assistance amounting to Rs 1000 crore or 50% to 75% of the requirement projected by the institution in the proposal, whichever is less. The financial assistance provided to the institute would depend on the detailed plan proposal of the institute that is assessed and accepted by UGC’s Empowered Expert Committee.

          Sarvesh
          Institutes of Eminence would be given the below mentioned privileges and advantages if they are selected as an Institute of Eminence:

          • Would be given freedom to admit foreign students on merit to fill a maximum of 30% of the strength of admitted domestic students.
          • Would be given freedom to charge fees from foreign students without restriction.
          • Would be given freedom to determine the fee of domestic students, subject to the condition that no student who gains admission should be turned away for lack of finance. This should be accompanied with a credible programme of scholarships and loans to ensure that the needy are able to pursue higher studies without any financial problems.
          • Would be given freedom to offer courses within a programme as well as to offer degrees in newer areas, including inter-disciplinary ones, after approval of its Governing Council and broadly conforming to the minimum prevailing standards which shall be intimated to the Commission or Professional Regulatory Councils.
          • Would be given flexibility to determine course structure with respect to number of credit hours and years to take a degree, after approval of their Governing Council and broadly conforming to the minimum prevailing standards.
          • Would be given flexibility to fix curriculum and syllabus, with no UGC mandated curriculum structure.
          • Would be given freedom to offer online courses as part of their programmes with the restriction that not more than 20% of the programme should be in online mode. However, this 20% restriction would not preclude the institutions from offering certificate courses entirely through online mode.