This tremendous growth, obviously, resulted in increase of educational opportunities. and, the Andhra Pradesh youth, like any other Indians, gasping to make use of these opportunities. There is a relentless pursuit to grab the opportunities like never before. So, it’s not surprising, for the Gen, Next, there is no vacation or recreation, but just education! In other words, Education is the ‘Only Mantra’ for the youth today. 

In this changing scenario, how our age-old administrative set up has been coping up with the new developments that are taking place at a breathtaking pace. Besides the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) , many new universities have come up in the state, three new IIITs and there seems to be no looking back. And, the government has been planning to set up at least one university in every district capital.  

The Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) has been working over time to meet the growing demands. The number of universities in the state has gone up from 15 to 36 in the last few years. The IIT, Hyderabad, as it is being called, has been attached to the IIT, Madras for coordination and developmental works. In other words, The IIT, Madras is the ‘Mother University’ for the IIT, Hyderabad as every aspect of its developmental work, from providing basic infrastructure to faculty recruitment – everything will be done under the guidance of IIT, Madras. 

But for the three new IIITs, it’s the responsibility of the APSCHE. Then, how the APSCHE is really managing all these affairs, "we are trying our maximum best to meet the set standards and the guidelines," says Dr MD Christopher, secretary of the APSCHE. "We conduct all our programmes as per the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC)," he added.

The APSCHE truly plays a vital role regarding implementing various important matters like evolving perspective plans for development of Higher Education in the state.

The officials of the APSCHE have said that the Council would monitor all the university matters, including conducting of courses, introduction of new courses, selection of the students for every academic year through entrance tests for various category students, recruitment of faculty, conducting research programmes, even managing of financial issues – all will be done as per the guidelines of the UGC. And, it’s the job of the APSCHE to ensure that the universities under its purview follow the set pattern.

"We forward developmental programmes of various universities and colleges in the state to the University Grants Commission along with a few recommendations from the education experts and the public to promote the talent and skills of the students," the official explained. 

APSCHE, for better cooperation and coordination between various educational institutions, conducts inter-university meetings as well. It formulates and explore the scope for coordination with various industries and other related establishments.

APSCHE will formulate the principles as per the guidelines of the Government and decide upon, approve and sanction new educational institutions by according permission keeping in view, the various norms and requirements to be fulfilled. 

The senior official of the council described that the Council would also take and active part in the academic function to encourage and promote innovations in curricular development, restructuring of Courses and updating of syllabi in the University and the Colleges. The Council also makes several programmes for academic cooperation and inter-action between University teachers and college teachers and to facilitate mobility of students and teachers within and outside the state to chalk out future plans and improve the education standards by the talented teaching staff in the state.

With so many new universities and colleges coming up in the state, "do we really get the faculty and other requirements to meet the growing demands, the official was emphatic in his answer. ``We are struggling hard to make recruitments as there is a severe shortage of faculty in various universities, particularly in the newly set up universities," he said.  

Besides, the APSCHE is the prime authority to conduct entrance examinations for admission to institutions of higher education and render advice on admissions of various common entrance tests like ‘EAMCET, I-CET, LAWCET, EDCET, ECET, PG entrance test and others.  

Officials explained that the Council is now taking up a few crucial decisions on sanctioning new Unaided Private Degree Colleges, new unaided Private Law Colleges, BCA Course in the existing UG Colleges, U.G. Courses in the existing U.G. Colleges, P. G. and P.G. Diploma Courses in the existing P.G. Colleges.  

"Every three months once, the Council would convene a meeting with all Vice-Chancellors in the State to find out progress of academic and other curricular activities. Later, the Council would submit a comprehensive report to the State Government on the key points and required assistance to build the education system in a better way through coordination activities with the Government," officials added. 

However, in matters of collaboration with the foreign universities, every university got the freedom to establish contacts if the feel to do so. "Since many top universities like Andhra, Osmania University have entered into cooperation agreement with various universities under cultural and student exchange programmes.  

However, everything is not so rosy as many universities are facing severe shortage of funds and APSCHE is making its best efforts to deal with the situation. "Many universities in the state are facing shortage of funds unlike University of Hyderabad which gets funds from the central government. At a recent meeting, all the vice chancellors of the state universities have raised the issue and appealed to the state government to increase the budget allocation. Due to shortage of work the research work in the state universities is getting hampered. It’s high time, the central government should increase budget allocation to the state universities," he said.  

With the current rate of growth, how will the future scenario like by the year 2020, "We will be much ahead, definitely,’’ says Christopher. "The state is making rapid strides particularly in the higher education sector" he added. Certainly, higher education is on a pedestal of growth. If the current trends are of any indication, Andhra Pradesh will soon become one of the major education centres in the world.  

1. Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur

2. Adikavi Nannaya University (ANU), East Godavari

3. Andhra University (AU), Visakhapatnam

4. Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Hyderabad

5. Dr B R Ambedkar Open University (BROU), Hyderabad

6. Dravidian University, Chittoor

7. English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad

8. International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad

9. Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Hyderabad

10. Kakatiya University (KU), Warangal

11. Krishna Devaraya University, Krishna

12. Mahathma Gandhi University (MGU), Nalgonda (The University is also popular as Nalgonda University)

13. Maulana Azad National Urdu University

14. NALSAR University of Law, Justice City Shameerpet, R.R. Dist. A.P.

15. National Institute of Technology (NIT) Warangal

16. Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad

17. NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada

18. Osmania University (OU), Hyderabad

19. Palamuru University, Mahaboobnagar

20. Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University (PSTU), Hyderabad

21. Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Tirupati

22. Rayalaseema University, Kurnool

23. Satavahana University, Karimnagar

24. Sri Krishnadevaraya University (SKU) Anantapur

25. Sri Venkateswara University (SVU), Tirupati

26. Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), Tirupati

27. Sri Venkateswara Vedic University, Tirupati

28. Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University (SVVU), Tirupati

29. Sri Padmavathi Mahila Viswa Vidyalayam (SPMVV), Tirupati

30. Sri Sathya Sai University, Prasanthinilayam, Anantapur(Formerly Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL))

31. Telangana University, Nizamabad

32. Vikram Simhapuri University, Nellore

33. University of Hyderabad (UoH), Hyderabad

34. Yogi Vemana University, Cuddapah