The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Nepal was established in 1993 as the statutory regulatory body for higher education. The UGC is responsible for [1] funding universities, [2] coordinating and regulating higher education according to national priorities, and [3] promoting quality enhancement. It advises the government on policy and new university establishment. The UGC consists of 11 members and works through various councils and committees. It allocates grants, formulates higher education policy, sets standards, funds research, and manages data to support Nepal's higher education system.

1. Role of UGC in HE
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University Grants Commission
Nepal

2. Introduction
• After the adoption of multi-university concept a
need was felt to establish a regulatory authority
in higher education and UGC came into being.
• It was established under the UGC Act approved• It was established under the UGC Act approved
by the parliament on November 22, 1993 as a
statutory, autonomous body.
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3. The Roles assigned to UGC
1. Funding the universities
2. Facilitation through coordination
3. Regulation by providing guidelines
regarding national prioritiesregarding national priorities
4. Promotion and support for quality
enhancement.
5. Advise the government for policy matters
and establishment of new universities
6. Student services
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4. Organisational structure of higher education system
BPKIHS NAMS
MOH
PAHS
MOE
UGC
TU NSU KU PU PokU LU AFU MWU FWU
KIHS
MOF
4
Affiliated campuses
(1012)
Constituent campuses
(90)
Centrally managed
campuses 15
Autonomous
Campus 3
Decentralized campuses
42
Community CampusesPrivate Campuses
MOE= Ministry of Education; UGC= University Grants Commission; MOH= Ministry of Health;
BPKIHS= Biseswhor Prasad Koirala Institute of Health Science; NAMS= Nepal Academy of Medical Sciences; PAHS= Patan Academy of Health Sciences
TU= Tribhuvan University; MSU= Mahendra Sanskrit University; KU= Kathmandu University; PU= Purbanchal University; PokU= Pokhara University; LU= Lumbini University; AFU=
Agriculture and Forestry University; MWU= Midwest University; FWU= Far west university;

5. UGC Structure
The overall authority of UGC system lies with the Commission
consisting of eleven members
1. Chairman
2. Executive Member Secretary
3. Member of National Planning Commission (Social
Sector/Education Desk) (EO)Sector/Education Desk) (EO)
4. Vice Chancellors (2)
5. Secretary, Ministry of Education (EO)
6. Secretary, Ministry of Finance (EO)
7. Distinguished professors/ educationists (4)
All the members are nominated by the Council of Ministers upon the
recommendation of MOE.
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6. UGC works through Councils and
Committees
UGC has 5 different permanent committees to make policy
decisions
1. Research Council
2. Quality Assurance and Accreditation Committee
3. University Coordination Committee3. University Coordination Committee
4. Academic Committee
5. Scholarship Committee
Almost all committee members are drawn from senior
professors from different universities, few selected from
government officials.
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7. Support system
UGC has different task based committees to undertake its
day to day responsibilities:
1. Project Steering Committee
2. Research Evaluation Committee
3. Quality Assurance and Accreditation Technical Committee3. Quality Assurance and Accreditation Technical Committee
4. Reform grants committee
5. Publication committee
Besides the system is run by small number of professional staffs.
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8. Highlights of UGC Operations
• Allocating grants
(nine universities, 400 community campuses for
current expenditures and infrastructure
development)
• Formulating HE policy• Formulating HE policy
( Redirecting thrust, establishment of new
universities, regulating affiliations, controlling
quality and financing HE )
• Setting criteria, norms and standards of higher
education
• Funding research and academic enhancement
activities
• Managing HE data and publishing annual statistics
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9. Continued ..
• Advising government for establishing new
universities
• Coordination among the universities and
government.government.
• Managing student grants
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