Mumbai: A day after TOI reported on the Institute of Chemical Technology’s (ICT) plan to shed its ‘deemed-to-be university’ tag, which restricts access to big-ticket state and central govt funding, faculty members and alumni have expressed opposition to such a move.A section of the institute’s faculty has written to the Board of Governors warning that any shift towards becoming a state university or a hybrid model may undermine its autonomy, academic standards and long-term growth.They have pointed out that the institute’s global reputation has been built on decades of academic independence, merit-based governance and close industry linkages. The faculty added that the transitioning to a state framework could dilute the institute’s control over recruitment and academics-related decisions.Many are concerned about lower faculty retirement age mandated under state norms. While the deemed-to-be status allows a retirement age of 65 years, state regulation requires retirement at 60. This, said a professor, would mean losing at least 20% of senior academics at the institute in one go, which will also impact research teaching and mentorship.Prof MM Sharma, FRS, an eminent alumnus and former director of the institute, believes that ICT should be granted central university status through an Act of Parliament. Sharma, who has been associated with ICT since 1954, told TOI that its ‘deemed university’ status should not hinder access to funding, adding that such limitations are contrary to the recommendations made at the time the status was conferred.“ICT has all the credentials to become a central university. It has always had a national character, with students from across India studying here since early years. Maharashtra, too, will continue to benefit from the institute,” he said, adding that regional engineering institutes have been converted into national institutes in the past.While govt officials said no formal proposal has yet been submitted by the institute, sources indicated that the matter is likely to be placed before the ICT Governing Board for deliberation. Govt sources said the institute’s request was only to drop the deemed-to-be tag to make it eligible for central funding including schemes under Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and that it wishes to retain autonomy in academics and governance.
