10 universities notified as Centres of Excellence

Ahmedabad: The state govt late on Monday issued a notification identifying 10 state-based universities as Centres of Excellence (CoE). The move will primarily impact the admission procedures for these universities and their autonomy. The state govt also outlined the primary conditions for the status in the notification.
"Previously, all seats for technical courses such as engineering, pharmacy, MBA, and MCA offered by these universities were filled through the admission committee. With this new status, only 25% of seats will now be filled through the centralised admission process," said an educationist. "The remaining 75% of seats will now be allocated to the universities for their own admission process."

Additionally, these institutions will now set their own fees for technical courses instead of following the Fee Regulatory Committee (FRC), added experts. The duration of this status was extended from three years to six years — till 2030-31, they added. Earlier status allowed the institutions admission to 67% of the seats, which has now been increased to 75%.
The conditions mentioned in the notification included adherence to the rules and regulations of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), and Council of Architecture (CoA); following the academic calendar notified by competent authorities; a maximum of 15% sanctioned intake filled with non-resident Indians (NRIs); and an undertaking that it will not engage in profiteering or charge capitation or donation fees.
"The total scholarship amount per year shall be between 3% to 5% of the fees collected per year by the colleges, institutions, or private universities, out of which 20% scholarship shall be awarded to the students of Gujarat domicile. The colleges, institutions, or private universities may adopt at least three institutions for mentoring and extend their full facilities and support for the betterment and development of the mentee institutions as well as students," mentioned the notification.
Head: Institutions with CoE status
Ahmedabad University | Anant National University | CEPT University | CHARUSAT, Changa | Dhirubhai Ambani University | Ganpat University | Marwadi University | Nirma University | Parul University | PDEU, Gandhinagar