New Delhi, April 28 (IANS) Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the government will develop a framework to address academic and infrastructural issues across higher education institutions, with a focus on student well-being and institutional ambience, an official said on Tuesday.​

Chairing a high-level review meeting on matters relating to NIT Kurukshetra and the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur in West Bengal, Pradhan issued student-centric measures, including immediate improvement in hostel facilities, adequate sports facilities, and a structured upgradation programme for faculty, focusing on campus life, including student mentoring.​

The meeting decided that a committee comprising directors of HEIs, noted alumni, faculty, and students will be constituted to suggest and monitor measures for a vibrant, student-centric campus.​

Concerted efforts to promote sports culture and to review/revamp academic blocks, labs, libraries, hostels, messes, and recreational clubs will also be made as a priority, said the Ministry in a statement.​

Tuesday’s meeting was attended by the Chairperson, Board of Governors, NIT Kurukshetra, Secretary (Higher Education), and other senior officials of the Ministry.​

Pradhan undertook a detailed review of the academic environment, campus life, and hostel management at these Institutes.​

It was observed that urgent steps are required to enhance campus vibrancy and strengthen systems for constructive student engagement.​

The Minister stressed the need to identify specific themes for intervention, including student engagement, faculty orientation, alumni involvement, academic support, innovation culture, hostel governance, sports culture, and overall campus management.​

The need to standardise faculty recruitment, ensure sensitive and proactive faculty representation in the Board of Governors (BoG), and appoint illustrative individuals with adequate time as Chairperson of the BoG was also discussed.​

With regard to the overall administrative and academic issues of the Institute, the Ministry, on March 29, constituted a high-level committee under the provisions of the NITSER Act, 2007, to review the work, progress, governance, and overall functioning of NIT Kurukshetra.​

The Committee, comprising Anil Sahasrabudhe (Chairman, NETF & Former Chairman, AICTE), M. Madan Gopal, IAS (Retd.) (Chairperson, BoG, VNIT Nagpur), and K.K. Shukla (Director, MANIT Bhopal), has been tasked to assess academic and administrative performance, recruitment and grievance-related issues, and institutional indicators such as NIRF rankings. The Committee is examining the series of issues it has been tasked with and is likely to submit its report shortly.​

–IANS

rch/dan