UGC’s scheme to promote innovative learning

The UGC has invited proposals from universities to introduce a scheme, ‘Innovation Universities’. Financial support will be given to universities during the XIIth plan for innovative teaching, innovative research programmes and organisational innovations. Only universities which have received Grade ‘A’ by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) can apply. The basic objective is to promote innovative ways of learning, sharing and collectively growing within and without. The scheme is meant to support bold and big ideas that require substantial support and flexibility, ideas that usually do not fit into any of the existing patterns of funding and do not see the light of the day. The proposed scheme does not cover up gradation of the overall infrastructure of the university, creation of new departments and centres in the established disciplines or those covered by existing schemes such as areas and women studies, routine improvements in teaching, teachers training and updating of curricula and supporting professional associations and bodies of researchers and regular implementation of the UGC regulations and guidelines about quality improvement and assessment.