Introduction
During the IX Plan period, the University Grants Commission (UGC) had introduced a Scheme called “College with Potential for Excellence” (CPE) to encourage selected colleges to reach world-class standards in theirnchosen domain(s) by providing additional funds to them under the Scheme. This has helped a few colleges to better their achievements during the IX and X Plan periods.
Apart from universities, there are colleges in the country where teaching and research are of high quality. These colleges have achieved better standards of teaching and research by harnessing human and physical resources in innovative ways. Many of these colleges have potential for academic excellence.
Recognizing the need to pay special attention to such colleges, the UGC introduced a Scheme, corresponding to the one for the colleges, during the X Plan called “College with Potential for Excellence” (CPE). This Scheme is to identify colleges which have attained high standards in teaching, research and extension activities and hold promise of excellence. A college selected under the CPE Scheme is provided substantial funds to
improve and strengthen its infrastructure that would help it in attaining further higher academic standards.
Excellence
Excellence refers to a state of exceptional or outstanding achievement in one’s field of activity. Excellence of an academic institution involves reaching outstanding levels of performance in teaching, research and related academic pursuits, and attaining peerless position in the areas offered for study and research. Excellence is achieved in stages through a process of continuous improvement in content and quality of the pursuits. Committed academic community and adequate infrastructural facilities are essential ingredients of excellence. Often institutions with such potential merit need to be recognized and nurtured for the realization of their full potential.
Objectives
To define and manage the processes included in the design, development, and delivery of the chosen academic programmes.
To strengthen the academic and physical infrastructure for achieving excellence in teaching, research and outreach programmes that would be
comparable to global standards.
To promote flexible and effective governance.
To enhance the quality of the learning and teaching process at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels with the help of a flexible credit based modular system, and the whole range of innovations currently accepted globally.
To promote academic programmes relevant to the socio-economic needs of the nation in general, and the region in particular.
To improve undergraduate education in colleges by the interfacing of the postgraduate programmes.
To promote networking with University departments, research centres and laboratories in the country.
To promote skill oriented programmes.
Target Group
The Scheme targets the colleges with potential for excellence. The number of such colleges to be supported under the Scheme in each State and Union Territory shall be 3 % of the number of colleges covered under Sections 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act. If 3 % of such colleges in any UT is less than one, at least 1 college in that UT shall be given the CPE status, provided the UT has at least 2 colleges covered under Sections 2(f) and 12(B). Due weightage shall be given to factors like the geographic region, urban and rural areas, backward region, women’s colleges and colleges with predominance of SC/ST/OBC (excluding creamy layer) students. The UGC has funded 97 Colleges under the CPE Scheme during 2004-2005
(47) 1st Phase and 2006-2007 (50) 2nd Phase. 100 new colleges are proposed to be selected under the CPE Scheme during the XI Plan period
subject to availability of funds.
