Andhra University gets graded autonomy status

Visakhapatnam: Andhra University achieved graded autonomy status. The University Grants Commission (UGC) announced the graded autonomy status to 60 universities across the country and Andhra University is one among them.

Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University G Nageswara Rao in an official release on Wednesday said that the UGC listed the Andhra University in category -1. The universities would get the category-1 ranking which has scored 3.51 and more marks during the NAAC assessment, he added.

With the latest graded autonomous status, Andhra University would independently start new programmes, departments and centres without obtaining the UGC’s permissions. The Andhra University now can also start the skill development courses without any approvals from the UGC, the Vice-Chancellor added.

Furthermore, the Andhra University with graded autonomy status can open the Research Parks, Incubation Centres; Societal Based and Self Finance programmes can be taken up independently and also with the joint partnership programmes with the private organisations, Nageswara Rao said.

Inviting the professors and lecturers from foreign universities to take up classes at the campus and foreign students can be given admissions by considering their merit in the university without UGC approval. 

The fee about the courses and programmes would also be fixed at the university level, the Vice-Chancellor explained about the important issues after getting the graded autonomy status. 

The university also independently conducts the courses in both open and distance mode without any permissions from the UGC, he added. With the new status, Andhra University would manage the courses with latest updates and collaborations with the foreign universities, Nageswara Rao said.