PUNE: “Any university, irrespective of whether it is government or private entity should be evaluated or judged on the basis of its quality and merit. Therefore, people should not be prejudiced or have different opinions about a traditional or private university,” said Bhushan Patwardhan, Vice-Chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC). 

He was speaking at Bharati Vidyapeeth Law College on Monday.

He has been former director of Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU).

Patwardhan was felicitated by Chancellor Shivajirao Kadam on behalf of Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed University) in presence of Vice-Chancellor Manikrao Salunke, Executive President of Progressive Education Society Gajanan Ekbote, Bharati Vidyapeeth Pro-Vice Chancellor and Secretary Vishwajeet Kadam and College Principal Mukund Sarda.

“On one hand, expectations of youths about higher education has raised higher and on the other hand, universities in the country have been facing a challenge to impart quality education to students to keep up to the rankings. Those universities which believe in social commitment can only fulfill all expectations of students,” said Patwardhan. Patwardhan also played a significant role in creating dialogues between educational institutions and industries. 

“The perception among people that private educational institutions are not good enough is wrong. All the educational institutions must be judged by their quality and merit of education,” said Patwardhan.