Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University
(Created on 10 Aug 2006)

Right to Information Act

Information to be published under section 4 (b)(i)

1. Particulars of the Organization:
The Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University is established in the State of Maharashtra by virtue of the Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra University Act, 1989 (being the Act XX of 1989). The Act was amended in 2002 by YCMOU Amendment Act 2002.

The YCMOU is a member of Association of Indian University (AIU), New Delhi, Asian Association of Open Universities, Association of Commonwealth Universities and other institutions. The university is recognized under section 12(b) of the UGC Act. The degrees of the YCMOU are recognized at par with those of any other statutory universities for purpose of employment, further education, enfranchisement to the graduate constituencies, etc.

The University operates through a network of eight Regional Centers, and thousands of study centers spread over the state. The Head Quarters of the YCMOU is at Nashik.

2 Powers and Duties of the YCMOU.
As per the section 5 of the YCMOU Act 1989 read with the amendments thereto by YCMOU Amendments Act 2002, the YCMOU has the following powers:

5. (01) The University shall have the following powers, namely :-

(i) to provide for instruction in such branches of knowledge, technology, vocations and professions as the University may determine from time to time and to make provision for research and extension;

(ii) to plan and prescribe courses of study of degrees, diplomas, certificates or for any other purpose;

(iii) to bold examinations and confer degrees, diplomas, certificates or other academic distinctions or recognitions on persons who have pursued a course of study or conducted research in the manner laid down by the Statutes and Ordinances;

(iv) to confer honorary degrees or other distinctions in the manner laid down by the Statutes;

(v) to determi11e the manner in which distance education in relation to the academic programmes of the University may be organised;

(vi) to institute professorships, readerships, lecturerships, and other academic positions necessary for imparting instruction or for preparing educational material or for conducting other academic activities, including guidance, designing and delivery of course and evaluation of the work done by the students and to prescribe their qualifications;

(vii) to appoint or recognise persons as teachers;

(viii) to co-operate with, and seek the co-operation of, other universities and institutions of higher learning, professional bodies and organisations for such purposes as the University considers necessary;

(ix) to hold and manage trusts and endowments and institute and award fellowships, scholarships, medals, prizes and such other awards for recognition of merit as the University may deem fit;

(x) to establish, maintain or recognise such regional centres as may be determined by the University from time to time;

(xa) to start or conduct a sub-centre or study centre in any territory outside the State of Maharashtra, with the approval of the Government concerned;

(xb) to undertake academic collaboration programmes with Universities and Institutions abroad, with the approval of the State Government, and if necessary, of the Central Government.

(xi) to establish, maintain or recognise study centres in the manner laid down by the Statutes;

(xii) To provide for the preparation of instructional materials, including films, cassettes, tapes, videocassettes and other software;

(xiii) to organise and conduct refresher courses, workshops, seminars and other programmes for teachers, lesson writers, evaluators and other academic staff;

(xiv) to recognise examinations of, or periods of study (whether in full or part) at other universities, institutions or other places of higher learning as equivalent to examinations or periods of study in the University, and to withdraw such recognition at any time;

(xv) to make provision for research and development in educational technology and matters related thereto;

(xvi) to create administrative, ministerial and other necessary posts and to make appointments thereto;

(xvii) to receive benefactions, donations, and gifts for educational and other social or national causes and maintain proper accounts thereof;

(xviii) to acquire and hold property both movable and immovable, to lease, sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any movable or immovable property, which may vest in, or be acquired by it, for the purposes of the University, and to contract and do all other things necessary for the purposes of this Act;

Provided that, no such lease, sale or transfer of immovable property shall be made without the prior consent of the State Government:

Provided further that, where the State Government is satisfied that any such property should, in the interest of the University, be given on lease, sold or otherwise transferred or disposed of, the State Government shall issue necessary directions to the University and the University shall comply with such directions forthwith;

(xix) to borrow, with the approval of the State Government, whether on the security of the property of the University or otherwise, money for the purposes of the University;

(xx) to enter into, carry out, vary or cancel contracts;

(xxi) to demand and receive such fees and other charges, as may be laid down by the Ordinances;

(xxii) to provide, control and maintain discipline among the students and all categories of employees and to lay down the conditions of service of such employees and their code of conduct;

(xxiii) to recognise any institution of higher learning or studies for such purposes as the University may determine and to withdraw such recognition;

(xxiv) to appoint, either on contract, or otherwise, visiting professors, emeritus professors, consultants, fellows, scholars, artists, course writers, and such other persons who may contribute to the advancement of the objects of the University;

(xxv) to recognise persons working in other universities, institutions or organisations as teachers on such terms and conditions as may be laid down by the Ordinances;

(xxvi) to determine standards and to specify conditions for the admission of students to course of study of the University which may include examination, eval4ation and any other method of testing;

(xxvii) to make arrangements for the promotion of the general health and welfare of the employees;

(xxviii) to do all such other acts as may be necessary or incidental to the exercise of all or any of the powers of the University and conducive to the promotion of all or any of tt1e objects of the University.

(02) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force but without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), it shall be the duty of the University to take all such steps as it may deem fit for the promotion of the Open University and distance education systems in the State and for the determination of standards of teaching, evaluation and research in such systems.

According to the section 4 of the Act the duties of the university are described as:
04. Objects of University.
The objects of the University shall be to advance and disseminate learning and knowledge by a diversity of means, including the use of any communication technology, to provide opportunities for higher education to a larger segment of the population and to promote the educational well being of the community generally, to encourage the Open University and distance education systems in the educational pattern of the State and the University shall, in organizing its activities, have due regard to the objects specified in the First Schedule.