PANAJI
The government has questioned Goa University’s decision to roll out nine five-year integrated programmes for the 2026-27 academic year on ethical, legal, and financial grounds.
UNETHICAL
Officials pointed out that Vice Chancellor Harilal Menon’s term ends on August 31, and major policy decisions with long-term implications should not be taken without broader consultation at this stage. Additionally, the university’s move contradicts its own directive to affiliated colleges not to start new courses without consensus.
ILLEGAL
The programmes have been introduced under Ordinance 39A, which has not received approval from the Executive Council, the government, or the Chancellor. While the Academic Council discussed the matter, the meeting remained inconclusive, and the ordinance is yet to be formally cleared.
Further, key programmes such as public policy and governance, and humanities and social sciences, have been introduced without constituting dedicated Boards of Studies — a mandatory requirement for designing course curricula. Officials allege that external inputs may have influenced syllabus design, bypassing statutory academic processes.
FINANCIAL BURDEN
The government has warned that the programmes could impose a significant financial strain. While the university claims costs will be recovered through fees, any shortfall in admissions would shift the burden onto the State.
Concerns have also been raised over staffing and infrastructure. Existing faculty, whose salaries are borne by the government, cannot be assigned to teach unapproved courses, and hiring new staff would add to the financial load. Additionally, the absence of adequate hostel facilities for outstation students would necessitate further infrastructure creation.
