The bifurcation of older universities in Karnataka has severely impacted their academic quality and financial health. The creation of new universities from existing ones has led to a dilution of resources, leaving both parent and offspring institutions struggling.
Resource Dilution and Infrastructure Strain
When a university is split, assets, libraries, laboratories, and faculty are divided. This often leaves the original university with diminished capacity while the new one lacks adequate facilities. For example, the University of Mysore, one of the oldest in the state, saw its resources divided to form new universities, affecting its research output and infrastructure maintenance.
Faculty Shortages and Administrative Challenges
The division also leads to a shortage of qualified faculty. Many experienced professors opt to stay with the parent institution, leaving the new universities with a high proportion of temporary or less experienced staff. Administrative burdens increase as both entities must establish separate governance structures, often duplicating efforts and increasing costs.
Financial Constraints
Funding from the state government has not kept pace with the creation of new universities. The per-student allocation decreases, and universities struggle to maintain libraries, update laboratories, or invest in research. This financial strain is evident in the deteriorating infrastructure and reduced academic programs.
Impact on Students and Research
Students face larger class sizes, limited access to resources, and fewer extracurricular opportunities. Research output has declined as faculty grapple with teaching loads and lack of funding. The quality of education is compromised, affecting the employability of graduates and the reputation of these institutions.
Way Forward
Experts suggest that the government needs to increase funding proportionally and allow universities to generate revenue through industry partnerships and alumni contributions. A phased approach to splits, with adequate preparation and resource allocation, could mitigate the negative impacts. Additionally, sharing of resources between parent and child institutions could help maintain quality during the transition.
The situation calls for urgent policy intervention to prevent further decline of these historic universities, which have been pillars of higher education in Karnataka.
