Section 5 in Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University Act, 2019
5. Powers of the University.
(1)The University shall have the following powers, namely: -(i)to provide for instruction in such branches of knowledge, technology, vocations and professions as the University may determine from time to time and to make provision for research;(ii)to plan and prescribe courses of study for degrees, diplomas, certificates or for any other purpose;(iii)to partner with institutions of higher learning in the country or abroad for furtherance of its objectives through sharing of best practices, use of new and emerging technologies, sharing of content and Information Technology based platforms etc.;(iv)to provide for the preparation of instructional materials, and course content using existing, new or emerging form of technology and delivery through a variety of Information and Communication Technology educational aids i.e. online education in the form of Open Educational Resources (OERs) or Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) etc;(v)to hold examinations and confer degrees, diplomas, certificates or other academic distinctions or recognitions on persons who have pursued a course of study or conducted research in the manner laid down by the regulations;(vi)to confer honorary degrees or other distinctions in the manner laid down by the regulations;(vii)to determine the manner in which distance education in relation to the academic programmes of the University may be organized for flexible learning opportunities by overcoming the separation of teacher and learner using a variety of media, including print, electronic, online and occasional interactive face-to-face meetings with the presence of a Higher Educational Institution or Learner Support Services to deliver teaching-learning experiences, including practical or work experiences;(viii)to institute professorships, associate professorships, assistant professorships and other academic positions necessary for imparting instruction or for preparing educational material or for conducting other academic activities, including guidance, designing and delivery of course and evaluation of the work done by the students, and to appoint persons to such professorships, associate professorships, assistant professorships and other academic positions;(ix)to cooperate with, and seek the cooperation of other universities and institutions of higher learning, professional bodies and organizations for such purposes as the University considers necessary;(x)to institute and award fellowships, scholarships, prizes and such other awards for recognition of merit as the University may deem fit;(xi)to establish and maintain such Learner Support Centers as may be determined by the University from time to time;(xii)to organize and conduct refresher courses, workshops, seminars and other programmes for teachers, content writers, evaluators and other academic staff;(xiii)to recognize examinations of, or periods of study (whether in full or part) at other universities, institutions or other places of higher learning as equivalent to examinations or periods of study in the University, and to withdraw such recognition at any time;(xiv)to make provision for research and development in educational technology and related matters;(xv)to create administrative, ministerial and other necessary posts and to make appointments thereto keeping in view the norms prescribed by the University Grants Commission, State Government or any other statutory body applicable on universities;(xvi)to receive benefactions, donations and gifts and to acquire, hold, maintain and dispose of any property movable or immovable, including trust and Government property, for the purposes of the University;(xvii)to borrow, with the approval of the State Government, whether on the security of the property of the University or otherwise, money for the purposes of the University;(xviii)to enter into, carry out, vary or cancel contracts;(xix)to demand and receive such fees and other charges as may be laid down by the regulations;(xx)to provide, control and maintain discipline among the students and all categories of employees and to lay down the conditions of service of such employees, including their codes of conduct;(xxi)to recognise any institution of higher learning or studies for such purposes as the University may determine and to withdraw such recognition;(xxii)to appoint, either on contract or otherwise, visiting Professors, Emeritus Professors, Consultants, fellows, scholars, artists, writers and such other persons who may contribute to the advancement of the objects of the University;(xxiii)to recognise persons working in other universities, institutions or organisations as teachers of the University on such terms and conditions as may be laid down by the regulations;(xxiv)to determine standards and to specify conditions for the admission of students to courses of study of the University which may include examination, evaluation and any other method of testing;(xxv)to make arrangements for the promotion of the general health and welfare of the employees;(xxvi)to confer autonomous status on a College or a Learner Support Centre in the manner laid down by the regulations;(xxvii)to admit to its privileges any College subject to such conditions as may be laid down by the regulations; and(xxviii)to do all such acts as may be necessary or incidental to the exercise of all or any of the powers of the University as are necessary and conducive to the promotion of all or any of the objects of the University.(2)Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, but without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), it shall be the duty of the University to take all such steps as it may deem fit for the promotion of the Open University and distance education systems and for the determination of standards of teaching, evaluation and research in such systems.
