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MANGALORE: Union ministry of human resource development (MHRD) has given category ’A’ status to eight deemed-to-be universities in India, which includes KLE University, Belgaum and Nitte University, Mangalore. Category ’A’ is the top most rating for deemed-to-be universities.

In 2009, Committee for Review of Existing Deemed-to-be Universities headed by PN Tandon formed by MHRD, in its report had given category ’B’ status to 44 deemed-to-be universities. Of these universities, eight deemed-to-be universities received ’A’ status this year.

Category ’A’ has been declared based on comparative assessment of deemed-to-be universities of 2009 Tandon Committee’s report and after consideration of compliance report, by another committee in 2012.

However the compliance report copy, which is available with TOI, states that both KLE and Nitte Universities have not shown any appreciable changes in areas like admission process, awarding of degrees, and in teaching-learning process.

After the review of these two universities in 2009, Tandon Committee report had given score of 26 and the same has increased to 32 in compliance report (2012), while KLE University’s score that was 21 has gone up to 31. The minimum score for the award of category ’A’ status is 30.

The compliance report has also mentioned that there has been a perceptible improvement in research output (research publications, books monographs, and patents) in KLE University while there has been an appreciable research output in Nitte University.

On deficiencies of university, M Shantharam Shetty, pro-chancellor of Nitte University told TOI that thr university will start integrated training for students and teaching faculties to enhance quality of teaching and learning process. "We will also strengthen teaching program and curriculum. Category ’A’ status will benefit university to attract more students, particularly foreign students to provide admissions in Nitte University," he added.

Chandrakant Kote, vice-chancellor of KLE University, said "within three years, we will strengthen courses offered and category ’A’ status will help our university for collaboration with foreign universities."