Maharashtra government sets up committee for establishment of online university

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday set up a 10-member committee for the establishment of an online university in the state along the lines of Kerala and a few countries abroad. The committee is headed by former Vice Chancellor of Savitribai University Phule Pune–RK Shevgaonkar and it consists of another VC of Savitribai University Phule Pune–Vasudev Gade, Dean of the University of California –Dr. Agappa Gunshekharan, Professor Suraj Shrinivasan of Harvard Business School among others.

The committee held its first meeting on Wednesday and is expected to submit a report to the state government in two months.

A member of the committee told the Free Press Journal: “The government has proposed the establishment of an online or digital university given the current trend. During the coronavirus pandemic, offline courses could not be delivered as universities and colleges had to rely on online education. The proposed online or digital university will be for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.” He said the state government will decide whether it will be formed and run by the government or by the private sector.

Another member, however, said the committee will recommend the technology platform to be used for the operation of the proposed online or digital university. “However, the committee will recommend that there is no compromise on the quality of education,” he said.