PU misses ‘excellence’ status deadline, Rs 50-crore grant

The Panjab University missed the University with Potential for Excellence (UPE) status and with it a grant of Rs 50 crore. It might have to be content with its two projects getting approval under Centre for Excellence in Particular Area (CPEPA) scheme by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

PU submitted the proposal for University with Potential for Excellence (UPE) status in the year 2007. While, the team from UGC visited the campus in the year 2010, it recently received the communication that it was not accorded the UPE status. Under the UPE scheme, based on the present status of the University and its potential, the upper limit of financial assistance is Rs 50 crore for a period of five years. While 30 per cent of this amount (Rs 15 crore) is to be spent on one or two focused area(s) identified by the university and recommended by the Standing Committee, the remaining amount (Rs 35 crore) shall be spent on holistic development of the university. The specific areas in which the university has already shown excellence (under CAS/DSA) are to be considered as focused areas. Collaborative Research projects cutting across disciplines in the focused areas shall be encouraged. No individual projects shall be awarded to any faculty member.

Both of the projects submitted by the University under the scheme had recently received approval from the UGC with a total sanction of Rs 5.4 crore. The

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