HRD ministry mulling external peer review for Central Univs

Central Universities in the country may soon be evaluated on certain agreed parameters by a panel of outside experts, with the HRD ministry considering putting in place an external peer review mechanism for them in line with what is practised at the IITs.
At a recent meeting, HRD Minister Smriti Irani asked her officials to explore the possibility of extending to Central Universities the practice of holding External Peer Review as done in the case of IITs, sources told PTI.
"The External Peer Review is a mechanism under which a committee of experts from academia, research and industry, once every five years assesses the performance of an IIT on certain agreed parameters. The ministry, after the suggestion from the minister, is looking at the possibility of extending this practice to Central Universities," an official source said.

There are over 40 Central Universities and it is possible that a team of officials from one could undertake a review of the other as per an agreed format. However, the format for such a review will be worked out.
Sources said that the University Grants Commission (UGC) may also be roped in for finalising details of the peer review process for universities.
Officials said that the system of External Peer Review, which is also followed by many world class institutions, was adopted by the IITs a few years ago following a decision by the IIT Council.
The review committees for IITs consist of five eminent persons from the industry and the academia.