Mumbai: Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil on Wednesday chaired a meeting to discuss the establishment of a separate arts university in Maharashtra, addressing a long-pending demand from students and faculty in the arts sector. The meeting, held at the state ministry, brought together key officials and experts to deliberate on the feasibility and implementation of the proposal.
Senior officials in attendance included Additional Chief Secretary of the Higher and Technical Education Department B. Venugopal Reddy, Vice-Chancellor of De Novo Deemed University and Committee Chairman Dr Rajnish Kamant, as well as Associate Professor and Acting Director of Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art Santosh Kshirsagar.
Minister Patil directed the committee to conduct a thorough study and submit a detailed report on the matter. His instructions were based on concerns highlighted in a memorandum submitted by the Maharashtra State Arts Education Board Removal Action Committee, which has been advocating for reforms in arts education.
The minister also emphasised the need to classify arts colleges in the state for funding purposes and instructed officials to prepare a comprehensive proposal. Once finalised, the proposal will be submitted to the Finance Department for further action.
Currently, students graduating from government or university-affiliated institutions receive a ‘graduate’ degree, while those from other arts colleges are recognised only as ‘diploma holders’. This disparity has raised concerns about academic and professional disadvantages for many students. The Maharashtra State Arts Education Board Removal Action Committee has urged the government to address this issue by converting arts colleges into universities.
During the meeting, participants expressed confidence that the establishment of a separate arts university would enhance the quality of education and improve career prospects for students pursuing the arts. The proposal is expected to undergo further review before any final decision is made.
