Hyderabad: All is not well between OU and TGCHE

Osmania University has outrightly rejected the TGCHE recommendation of introducing BE Biotechnology and BA (Hons) Telugu programmes from the academic year 2025-26, citing a dearth of faculty, classrooms, hostels and infrastructure. The University accused the TGCHE of taking the top-down approach, undermining its autonomy

Hyderabad: Trouble seems to be brewing between Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE) and Osmania University over introducing new courses in the latter.

What began as a recommendation from the Council to add new programmes, including undergraduate biotechnology programme at University College of Technology, has now appears to have turned into a conflict.

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The TGCHE has recommended introduction of BE Biotechnology and BA Honors Telugu programmes from the present academic year. However, the OU responded sharply to the Council’s recommendation and outrightly rejected it.

In a strongly worded letter to the TGCHE, the OU said as per norms, for offering new programmes, adequate classroom and hostel facilities, infrastructure for creating new labs were mandatory. However, the University College of Technology does not have requisite regular faculty classrooms and hostel facilities.

Stating the college was already overburdened with only five faculty members for four UG and 12 PG programmes, the University said the College was not in a position to introduce new programmes from the academic year 2025-26.

It also criticised the TGCHE’s announcement of a new BA (Hons) Telugu programme in Osmania University College of Arts and Social Sciences from academic year 2025-26 without any consultations.

Mentioning the Arts College offers only PG and PhD programmes, the University said such announcements were made without university consent, creating confusion among the student community as well as the varsity administration.

“To this extent, the university has already declined the request for introduction of BA Telugu (Hons) programme for the academic year 2025-25,” the University said.

A senior OU official said the TGCHE has been undermining the University autonomy and passing directions for introducing new programmes without even consultations.

“The varsity Standing Committee is the decision-making body for introduction of any programme. Without consultation with the university, the Council has been asking the university to implement academic programmes. Though we have highest respect for the Council, it is just a nodal agency between the universities, government and UGC,” a senior official said.

The official added that as Council was taking the top-down approach, it should also extend necessary grants to the tune of Rs 30 crore towards construction of a new classroom complex, besides facilitating sanctioning of necessary posts and staff recruitment for new programmes.