(1) It shall be the general duty of the State Council to co-ordinate and determine standards in institutions of higher education or research and scientific and technical institutions in accordance with the guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission from time to time.
(2) The functions of the Council shall include—
(1) Planning and co-ordination—
(a) to prepare consolidated programmes in the sphere of higher education in the State, keeping in view the guidelines that may be issued by the University Grants Commission from time to time, and to assist in their implementation, bearing in mind the overall priorities and perspectives of higher education in the State;
(b) to co-operate with the University Grants Commission in respect of determination and maintenance of standards of higher education and suggest remedial action, wherever necessary;
(c) to evolve perspective plans for development of higher education in the State;
(d) to forward the developmental programmes of Universities and colleges in the State to the University Grants Commission along with its comments and recommendations;
(e) to monitor the progress of implementations of such developmental programmes;
(f) to promote co-operation and co-ordination of the educational institutions among themselves and explore the scope for interaction with industry and other related establishments;
372 The West Bengal State Council of Higher Education Act, 1994.
XXXVII of 1994.]
(Section 11.)
(g) to formulate the principles as per the guidelines of the Government and the University Grants Commission for starting new educational institutions, keeping in view the various norms and requirements to be fulfilled;
(h) to suggest ways and means of mending additional resources for education in the State;
(i) to work in liaison with the All India Council for Technical Education, Indian Council of Agricultural Research and other national level apex bodies or authorities on higher education in different areas of higher education.
(2) Academic functions—
(a) to encourage and promote innovations in curricular development, restructuring of courses and updating of syllabi in the Universities and the colleges;
(b) to devise methods and steps to improve the standards of examinations conducted by the Universities and suggest necessary reforms;
(c) to facilitate training of Teachers in colleges and Universities;
(d) to develop programmes for grater academic cooperation and interaction between University Teachers and college Teachers and to facilitate mobility of students and Teachers within and outside the State;
(e) to conduct entrance examination for admission to institutions of higher education and render advice on admissions;
to encourage sports, games, physical education and cultural activities in the Universities and colleges;
(h) to encourage extension activities and promote interaction with agencies concerned with regional planning and development of higher education;
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 University Grants Commission and the Government;
(1) to perform such other function as may be prescribed for promoting excellence in higher education and scientific research.
(f)
(i) 373
(3) The West Bengal State Council of Higher Education Act, 1994.
[West Ben. Act (Sections 12, 13.)
Advisory functions—
(a) to advise the Government—
(i) in determining the block maintenance grants and in laying down the basis for such grants;
(ii) on setting up a State Research Board so as to link research work of educational institutions with that of the research agencies and industry, keeping in view the overall research needs of the State;
(iii) regarding improvement on the laws relating to the Universities including laws relating to the establishments of new Universities;
(iv) on the policy of "earning while learning";
(v) towards performing any other functions necessary for the furtherance of higher education in the State;
(b) to advise the Universities to make new Statutes, Ordinances or Regulations on the basis of the respective University Act or to amend the existing Statutes, Ordinances or Regulations, where necessary, keeping in view the various norms and requirements to be fulfilled.
Fund of the State Council.
Release of grants in aid to the Universities, institutions, etc.