Shillong, Jan 24: Education department has sought allotment of land for setting up of Shillong campus of the Captain Williamson Sangma State University.
Informing this on Friday, education minister Rakkam A Sangma said the Shillong campus of the state university will initially start at a temporary campus.
“We are looking for space at NIT campus since it has been shifted from there, but as it belongs to NEHU, we are looking for that place as temporary campus”, he said.
The department has sought land from Urban Affairs department for setting up the permanent campus in Shillong.
Meanwhile, he refuted allegations that colleges currently affiliated to NEHU are being forced to affiliate with the state university.
“The CM had already stated that it is the choice of the institutions on whether to affiliate with the state university,” he said.
He informed that the university has written to all the colleges to discuss and decide on the matter.
One of the objectives of setting of the state university was to overcome inconveniences faced by state institutions in following certain norms of central universities, he said.
Mentioning that due to the norms, the government had to seek exemption from Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for students from the state, he said, “But it is not wise to seek exemption again and again. We should find a permanent solution.”
“It is a state university which will go by state rules and calendar and of course will be governed by UGC norms,” Sangma said.
Informing that some colleges have submitted applications for affiliation, he said, “There are a lots of procedures to be followed and it will take some time. The university will have to take a call on the regulation and other related formalities.”