SPURC directsprivate universities to begin classeswithin assigned constituenciesand follow 2025 Act

GANGTOK, : Sikkim Private Universities Regulatory Commission (SPURC) and Higher Education department on Wednesday held a detailed discussion with private universities for establishing a buoyant and dynamic higher education eco-system in the State.

The proceedings were presided over by SPURC chairperson Ganga D. Pradhan, and attended by the members Zigmee Bhutia and PaldenDorjee Lama, special Higher Education special secretary Ujjwal Rai and additional director Sonam Chopel.

During the meeting, two new proposals were thoroughly examined.

The morning session was devoted to presentations by the sponsoring bodies of the two proposed institutions, Soreng Horizon University and Himalayan Skill University. Each set out the rationale for establishing a university in Sikkim, its vision, mission and strategic objectives, and the credentials of its sponsoring body, including registration particulars, governance structure, prior educational experience and financial capacity. Both proposals were accompanied by phase-wise roadmaps for campus development, land procurement and capital investment, and by academic plans spanning undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, doctoral and skill-oriented programmes across several faculties. Appropriate directions have been issued for compliance to the mandates of the Sikkim Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation Act 2025), informs a press release.

In the afternoon session,  Matrix Skill Tech University, Khangchendzonga Buddhist University, Management & Information Technology University, Sengol International University, Gurukul Vidyapeeth University, Sikkim Sardar Patel University, Sri Venkateshwara University, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Skill University, Sikkim Pannadhay University and Shri Rukmani Dwarkadhish University of Science & Technology, were examined one by one on academic programmes, regulatory approvals, admission protocols, faculty strength, physical infrastructure and overall statutory compliance.

The commission's foremost concern is the establishment of permanent campuses within the constituencies allotted to each university, the SPURC said.

Member Zigmee Bhutia directed the universities to cease forthwith all operations conducted from locations outside their allotted constituencies. Any activity being carried on from a non-allocated constituency, he stated, is to be halted immediately.

The chairperson directed the universities concerned to take immediate corrective action on every issue identified and to submit detailed compliance reports, complete with implementation timelines, setting out the measures taken.