Section 8(2) in Gujarat State Higher Education Council Act, 2016
(2)The functions of the Council shall be as follows, namely:-I. Planning and Co-ordination functions:(i)to prepare consolidated programmes in Die sphere of higher education in the State in accordance with the guidelines that may be issued by the University Grants Commission from time to time. and to assist in their implementation, keeping in view the overall priorities and perspectives of higher education in the State;(ii)to assist the University Grants Commission in respect of determination and maintenance of standards or higher education and suggest remedial action wherever necessary;(iii)to evolve perspective plans for development of higher education and future vision in the Slate;(iv)to forward the development programmes of the Universities and colleges to the State Government and the University Grants Commission alongwith its comments and recommendations;(v)to monitor the progress of implementation of such developmental programmes;(vi)to promote co-operation and co-ordination of the educational institutions among themselves and explore the scope for interaction with industry and other stake holders;(vii)to formulate the principles in accordance with the guidelines of the State Government for approval and sanction of new educational institutions;(viii)to suggest ways and means of augmenting additional resources for higher education in the State.II. Academic functions;(i)to encourage and promote innovations in curriculum development, restructuring and updating of syllabi with skill development, innovations in Universities, colleges and institutions of higher education;(ii)to promote and co-ordinate programmes of Universities and colleges and set up a monitoring system and its implementation;(iii)to devise methods and steps to improve the standard of examinations conducted by the Universities and affiliated colleges and suggest necessary reforms;(iv)to develop programmes for effective academic cooperation and interaction between the faculties in the Universities and colleges and also facilitate mobility of teachers and students in and outside the Slate;(v)to encourage sports, games, physical education and cultural activities in the Universities and colleges;(vi)to encourage extension activities and promote interaction between Universities and industries through effective consultancy in special areas relevant to the Universities and regional planning and skill development;(vii)to prepare an overview report on the working of the Universities and colleges in the State and furnish a copy of the report to the University Grants Commission;(viii)to identify centres of excellence in the Universities and provide national and international linkage for the growth of science and technology;(ix)to administer and release research funds, if any, received from the national and international funding agencies;(x)to work in liaison with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in relation to technical education;(xi)to advise the State Government or any University, college or institution of higher education on any other matter relating to higher education and research which they may refer to the Council.III. Advisory functions:The Council shall ad vise,-(i)in determining the block maintenance grants to the Universities and institutions of higher education, by evolving suitable guidelines for such grants and monitoring its utilization;(ii)on setting up a State Centre for Scientific Research and to co-ordinate the research activities amongst the Universities;(iii)on the statutes, ordinances and regulations of the Universities and suggest modifications to maintain uniformity in the administration without prejudice to the autonomy for the academic pursuits;(iv)regarding necessary amendments in the laws relating to Universities including the laws relating to the establishment of new Universities;(v)for instituting prestigious awards to outstanding scientists, academicians and technologists for their contributions;(vi)to identify and administer innovative programmes for sustainable growth through self-generating funds from services such as consultancy to industries, institutions and national and international organisations and to create and help intellectual property rights;(vii)on perform such other functions necessary for promoting excellence in higher education and scientific research;(viii)to develop programmes, academic seminars, training programmes, capacity building, national and international conferences, as well as to hold group discussion of scientists and scholars towards framing higher education policy of State Government;(ix)to suggest criteria or rules for recruitment of teachers, officers, principals and other employees;(x)to suggest criteria, rules regarding various promotions, for college teachers, principals, university teachers in accordance with the regulations and guidelines of the UGC, or the State Government policy.
