Functions of Directorate

Duties and Responsibilities

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The Directorate of Higher Education was entrusted with the responsibility of the Management of Non ‐ agricultural Universities and its Degree Colleges of higher education in the faculties of Arts, Science, Commerce, law, Education, and Non ‐ AICTE courses in the State. The picture presented below will show the scenario of the higher education system in Maharashtra.

In 1969, the State Government introduced 10+2+3 education systems and started the number of Senior Colleges in the State to impart Higher Education. These colleges increased immensely after the Directorate of Higher Education was formed on 31‐10‐ 1984. Consequently, the administrative responsibilities of the Director of Higher Education have enormously increased, and the centralized management of all the colleges has become very difficult from the State level Directorate located at Pune. Thus the need was felt to decentralize the organization, which has resulted in the creation of 10 regional offices in the State to oversee the functioning of colleges in the respective regions. The ten Regional Joint Director offices are at Mumbai, Panvel, Pune, Kolhapur, Solapur, Aurangabad, Nanded, Jalgaon, Amravati, and Nagpur.

The functions of the Directorate are categorized into the following broad categories :

Planning and Coordination

To prepare consolidated plans and policies in the sphere of Higher Education in the State by the guidelines that the University Grants Commission may issue from time to time, and to assist in their implementation, keeping in view the overall priorities and perspectives of Higher Education in the State;
To assist the State Govt. in respect of determination and maintenance of standards and suggest remedial action wherever necessary;
To evolve perspective plans for the development of Higher Education in the State;
To forward the development Programmes of Universities and Colleges in the State to the State Govt. along with its comments and recommendations;
To monitor the Programmes of implementation of such developmental programs;
To promote cooperation and coordination of the educational institutions among themselves and explore the scope for interaction with industry and other related establishments;
To formulate the principles as per the guidelines of the Government and to decide upon, approve and sanction new educational institutions according to permission, keeping in view the various norms and requirements to be fulfilled;
To suggest ways and means of augmenting additional resources for Higher Education in the State;

Academic Functions

To encourage and promote innovations in curricular development, course restructuring, and updating syllabi in the University and the Colleges.
To promote and coordinate the Autonomous Colleges Programmes and monitor its implementation.
To devise steps to improve the standards of examinations conducted by the Universities and suggest necessary reforms;
To facilitate the training of teachers in Colleges and Universities;
To develop programs for greater academic cooperation and interaction between University teachers and College teachers and to facilitate mobility of students and teachers within and outside the State;
To conduct entrance examinations for admission to institutions of Higher Education and render advice on admissions
To conduct sports, games, physical education, and cultural activities in the universities and colleges;
To encourage extension activities and promote interaction with agencies with regional planning and development.
To prepare an overview report on the working of the universities and the colleges in the State and to furnish a copy of the report to the state Govt.

Government of Maharashtra

Directorate of Higher Education

Maharashtra State, India

Duties and Responsibilities

Planning and Coordination

To assist the State Govt. in respect of determination and maintenance of standards and suggest remedial action wherever necessary;

To evolve perspective plans for the development of Higher Education in the State;

To forward the development Programmes of Universities and Colleges in the State to the State Govt. along with its comments and recommendations;

To monitor the Programmes of implementation of such developmental programs;

To promote cooperation and coordination of the educational institutions among themselves and explore the scope for interaction with industry and other related establishments;

To formulate the principles as per the guidelines of the Government and to decide upon, approve and sanction new educational institutions according to permission, keeping in view the various norms and requirements to be fulfilled;

To suggest ways and means of augmenting additional resources for Higher Education in the State;

Academic Functions

To encourage and promote innovations in curricular development, course restructuring, and updating syllabi in the University and the Colleges.

To promote and coordinate the Autonomous Colleges Programmes and monitor its implementation.

To devise steps to improve the standards of examinations conducted by the Universities and suggest necessary reforms;

To facilitate the training of teachers in Colleges and Universities;

To develop programs for greater academic cooperation and interaction between University teachers and College teachers and to facilitate mobility of students and teachers within and outside the State;

To conduct entrance examinations for admission to institutions of Higher Education and render advice on admissions

To conduct sports, games, physical education, and cultural activities in the universities and colleges;

To encourage extension activities and promote interaction with agencies with regional planning and development.

To prepare an overview report on the working of the universities and the colleges in the State and to furnish a copy of the report to the state Govt.