The Meghalaya College Principals’ Council (MCPC) has demanded the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) to convene the academic council to address unresolved matters related to the affiliated colleges.
MCPC President Eureka F. P. Lyngdoh in a statement said the matters include the approval of the syllabi for the fourth year of the undergraduate programme, the granting of new and renewal of existing affiliations, amendments to affiliation ordinances and regulations to align with the new curriculum framework, and others.
“Addressing these matters necessitates the convening of the Academic Council at the earliest,” she said.
In light of the state’s likely inclusion in the CUET from the current academic session, she said the NEHU examination department has formulated admission guidelines for affiliated colleges to accommodate both CUET-qualified students and those without CUET scores, in line with the UGC’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). But the pressing issues remain unresolved at the University level, Lyngdoh added.
She also said that the council is observing the ongoing developments at NEHU with “deep concern” since the university plays a pivotal role in Meghalaya’s higher education system, with approximately 85 affiliated institutions and nearly 75,000 students enrolled across them.
The MCPC praised the examination department of the university and Controller of Examination (CoE) under Prof. Sumarbin Umdor stating that despite the then prevailing turmoil at the campus, it successfully conducted the Undergraduate Odd Semester Examinations in November and December 2024, including the first ever examination for the 26 Vocational Training Courses introduced under new UG Curriculum Framework under NEP 2020.
“This timely intervention ensured that the academic progression and future of thousands of students across affiliated colleges were not adversely affected,” the council said, adding that the department has also taken proactive steps to engage with affiliated colleges on key academic issues and has been instrumental in addressing matters related to MOOCs and in framing internship guidelines for the upcoming semester.
Meanwhile, the MCPC has appealed to all concerned authorities and stakeholders to prioritise the issues of the affiliated colleges in the interest of the educational future of thousands of students across the state.
