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CHAPTER II THE UNIVERSITY There shall be a University by the name "SHRI RAMASAMY MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY, SIKKfM".
(2) The University shall be a body corporate, shall have perpetual succession and a common seal with power, subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire and to hold property, to contract and shall sue and be sued by the said name.
(3) The Headquarters of the University shall be at Sikkim.
(4) The University may establish or maintain education and training institutions, colleges, learning centres either by itself or in collaboration with the industries at Sikkim and in other states of Indian Union and outside country as laid down in section 7 and 8 of the Act.
The University may have constituent Colleges, Regional Centres, Study Centres, Registered Training Organizations, Learning Centres and Skill Development Facilities and Institutions anywhere in India or abroad with required approvals as may be necessary from relevant prescribed authorities as mentioned in sub-section (4) of section 3
(2) The University may, with the prior approval of the Board of Governors, accredit any Registered Training Organizations or facilities in India or abroad after the compliance of the provisions prescribed as mentioned in sub-section (4) of section 3.
The University shall be self-financing. The State Government shall have no objection to. the University obtaining grants, soft loans from various funding organizations, institutions and agencies including International and bilateral agencies, for expansion, modernization of the facilities and augmenting the quality of education, training and research that is carried out at the University and in its accredited training institutions/facilities provided that there shall be no financial obligation on the part of State Government.
The objects for which the University is established shall be as follows :-
(a) providing an open, flexible and continuous learning framework that offers innovative ways for learning and acquiring qualifications through professional and practical programs.
(b) engaging with industry partners and educational institutions, for establishing educational and training institutions and learning centers with the aim of providing 4 Powers of the 7.
University workplace training and familiarization with industry practices.
(c) collaborating with industries and other institutions for providing learning opportunities aligned with the needs of the industrial and other development sectors.
(d) establishing an open and flexible professional education that is relevant and matches contemporary needs.
(e) striving to fulfill the above objects by a diversity of means of distance and continuing education, and make full use of the latest scientific knowledge and educational technology to offer a high quality education which matches contemporary needs.
The University shall have the following powers, namely:-
(i) to provide for instruction in such branches of knowledge, technology, vocation and profession as the University may determine from time to time and to make provision for research;
(ii) to plan and prescribe courses of study for qualifications such as degrees, advanced diplomas, diplomas, certificates or such others for any other purpose;
(iii) to hold examinations, assessments and confer degrees, diplomas, certificates or other academic distinctions or recognitions on persons in terms of awards or fellowships or conducted research as prescribed by rules;
(iv) to confer honorary degrees or other distinctions in the manner prescribed by rules;
(v) to determine the manner in which education, training, knowledge inputs, skill building, competency development and distance education in relation to the academic programs of the University may be organized subject to that these shall be in consonance with the norms prescribed by University Grants Commission;
(vi) to institute Professorships, Associate Professorships, Assistant Professorships and other academic positions wherever necessary;
(vii) to co-operate with and seek the co-operation of other Universities and institutions of higher learning, professional bodies and organizations for such purposes as the University considers necessary;
(viii) to institute and award fellowships, scholarships, prizes and such other awards for recognition of merit as the University may deem fit;
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(ix) to establish, maintain or recognize Learning Centres in the manner prescribed by Statutes;
(x) to provide for the preparation of instruction materials, learning resources, workplace training practices, knowledge repositories. e-Iearning platforms, digital learning experiences, including films, digital media, video / streaming content, multimedia content, visualization, simulations and other software;
(xi) to organize and conduct refresher course, workshops, seminars and other programs for faculty and trainers, learning resource content providers, experts preparing learning resources, lesson writers, evaluators and other academic staff;
(xii) 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;
(xiii) to make provision for research and development in educational technology and related matters and to undertake collaborative research with any organization in India or abroad;
(xiv) to provide consultancy to industry, Government and Public undertakings;
(xv) to ensure that the standard of the degrees, diplomas, charters, certificates and other academic distinctions are commensurate with those prescribed and laid down by the University Grants Commission (UGC);
(xvi) to supervise and control the residence, and to regulate the discipline among students and all categories of employees and to lay down the conditions of service of such employees, including their Code of Conduct;
(xvii) to pursue any other objective as may be approved by the State Government;
(xviii) to create professional, technical, administrative, ministerial and other necessary posts and to make appointments thereto;
(xix) to demand and receive such fees, bills, invoices and collect charges as may be fixed by the Statutes or rules, as the case may be;
(xx) to receive benefactions, donations and gifts and to acquire, hold, maintain and dispose of any property movable or immovable, including that of the trust, for the purposes of the University;
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(xxi) to borrow, whether on the security of the property of the University or otherwise, money for the purposes of the University;
(xxii) to enter into, carryout, vary or cancel contracts;
(xxiii) to recognize any institution of higher learning or studies for such purposes as the University may determine and to withdraw such recognition;
(xxiv) to appoint. either on contract, or otherwise, Visiting Professors. Emeritus Professors, Consultants, Fellows, Scholars, Artists, Course Writers and such other persons who may contribute to the advancement of the objects of the University;
(xxv) 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;
(xxvi) to confer autonomous status on a training organization, college, educational institution, or a Regional Centre in the manner laid down by the Statutes;
(xxvii) to make arrangements for the promotion of the general health and welfare of the employees.
Establishment 8. (1) of off-campus centres, offshore campuses and (2) maintenance of minimum standard The University shall set up off-campus centre(s) and / or with the prior approval of the UGC and that of the State Government(s) where the centre(s) is/are proposed to be opened.
Any off-shore campus(es) in foreign countries shall be opened only after obtaining due permission from the Government of India and also that of the Government of the host country.
(3) The University shall fulfill the minimum criteria in terms of programmes, faculty, infrastructural facilities, financial viability, etc., as laid down from time to time by the UGC and other concerned statutory bodies such as the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the Bar Council of India (BCI). the Distance Education Council (DEC). the Dental Council of India (DCI), the Indian Nursing Council (INC), the Medical Council of India (MCI), the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), etc.
Admission to 9. (1) University The University shall. subject to the provision of this Act and the Statutes be open to all persons irrespective of class, caste, creed, religion, language or gender:
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the University
Provided that nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent the University from making special provisions for admission for students of the State;
Provided further that special efforts shall be taken to encourage the oppressed classes and disadvantaged groups.
(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall require the University;
(a) to admit to any course of study any person who does not possess the prescribed academic qualification or standard;
(b) to retain on the rolls of the University any student whose academic record is below the minimum standard required for the award of a degree, diploma or other academic distinction; or
(c) to admit any person or retain any student whose conduct is prejudicial to the interests of the University or the rights and privileges of other students and teachers.