Chapter 2 THE UNIVERSITY AND ITS OBJECTIVES

The objects of the University shall include; -

1. (a) to offer wide range of high-quality academic programs that foster intellectual growth, critical thinking and practical skills ensuring graduates are well prepared for professional success;
2. (b) to celebrate and preserve Sikkim’s rich cultural heritage by integrating local traditions, languages and arts into the curriculum, promoting cultural awareness and respect;
3. (c) to establish facilities for education and training;
4. (d) to promote inter-disciplinary research, innovation and collaboration that address local and global challenges, contributing to advancements in knowledge and sustainable solutions;
5. (e) to carry out teaching, research and offer continuing education programmes;
6. (f) to create centres of excellence for research and development, relevant to the needs of the State and for sharing knowledge and its application;
7. (g) to establish campus in the State;
8. (h) to establish examination centres;
   • (i) to institute degrees, diploma, certificates and other academic distinctions on the basis of examination or any other method of evaluation while doing so, the University shall ensure that the standards of degrees, diplomas, certificate and other academic distinctions are not lower than those laid down by the regulating bodies;
9. (j) to set up campus centres, subject to applicable Rules or Regulations;
10. (k) to engage in areas of specialization with proven ability to make distinctive contributions to the objectives of the University education system that is academic engagement clearly distinguishable from programmes of an ordinary nature that lead to conventional degrees in Pure and Applied Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences and Education and Special Education, Law, Vocational Education, Nursing, Pharmacy, Management routinely offered by conventional institutions;
11. (l) to provide opportunities for flexible learning systems and development;
12. (m) to provide equal access to education, promote gender equality, and empower individuals from diverse backgrounds to excel academically and professionally;
13. (n) to exchange expertise and best practices in support of skill development efforts with any other College, Institution, Organization, University, etc;
14. (o) to disseminate knowledge or skill through seminars, conferences, executive education programmes, community development programmes, publications and training programmes;
15. (p) to undertake programmes for the training and development of faculty members and teachers of the University and other institutions;
16. (q) to undertake collaborative research with other organizations;
17. (r) to create entrepreneurs by providing necessary skill and support; to pursue any other objects as may be prescribed;
18. (t) to facilitate international partnerships, exchange programs and cross-cultural experience that broaden student’s horizon and prepare them to be responsible global citizen;
19. (u) to nurture leadership qualities, ethical decision making and a commitment to service shaping graduates who can lead with integrity and make positive contributions to society;
    • (v) to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and provide opportunities for students to develop innovative solutions contributing to economic development and job creation;
20. (w) to instil ethical values and sense of social responsibility in students, empowering them to make principled decisions and contribute positively to their communities;
    • (x) to recruit and retain highly qualified and dedicated faculty members who are committed to teaching, research and mentorship providing students with guidance and inspiration; and
21. (y) to create a dynamic learning environment that prepares students to thrive ina complex and inter-connected world, fostering a passion of knowledge, a commitment to excellence and a desire to contribute to the society positively.

There shall be established and incorporated a University by the name of Shri RukmaniDwarkadhish University of Science and Technology at Sikkim. 2.The University shall situate and have its headquarters in Sikkim. 3.The first Chancellor and the first Vice- Chancellor of the University and the first members of the Governing Body, Board of Management and the Academic Council and all persons, who may hereafter become such officers or members, so long as they continue to hold such office or membership, are hereby constituted a body corporate by the name of the Shri Rukmani Dwarkadhish University of Science and Technology, Sikkim. 4.The University shall have perpetual succession and a common seal and shall sue and be sued by the said name.

5. University to be self-financed The University shall be self-financing and shall not be entitled to receive any grant or any other financial assistance from the State Government.

6. No power of affiliation The University shall have no power to affiliate or otherwise admit to its privileges other institution.

7. Power of the University The University shall have the following powers namely: 1. to establish, maintain and enforce rules determined by the University from time to time in the manner laid down by the Statues, Ordinance and Regulations; 2. to carry out all such other activities as may be necessary or feasible in furtherance of the object of the University; 3. to confer degrees, diplomas, certificate or other academic distinctions that conform to National Skill Qualification Framework on the basis of examinations, evaluation or any other method of testing in accordance with the Statutes, UGC, Statutory Bodies, and to withdraw any such diplomas, certificates, degrees or other academic distinctions for good and sufficient causes; 4. to institute and award fellowships, scholarships and prizes in accordance with the Statutes; 5. to organize and to undertake extra- mural studies and extension service; 6. to confer Pre-University Certificate, Associate, Bachelor, Master and Doctorate Degrees or other academic distinctions in the manner and under conditions laid down under the Act; 7. to hold examinations to grant diplomas, pre-university certificates and to confer degrees or other academic distinctions on person who:

1. (a) have pursued a course of study in the University or under online education system;
2. (b) have carried on research in the University or in the approved institutions or as an external student or under work integrated learning system; or
3. (c) have successfully completed an internship course or practical training under the conditions prescribed by the Regulations; 8. to provide online education in such subjects and in such manners as may be specified by Academic Council of the University, provided that the University may for this purpose establish a resource centre and collaborate with service providers in conformity with the Rules and Regulations of UGC and State Government; 9. to launch academic and research programmes and courses, other disciplines of education deemed suitable; 10. to determine, demand and receive fees, bills, invoices and collect charges to fulfil the objects of the University, as the case may be; 11. to determine the conditions for working in any other University or organization having specific knowledge, permanently or for a specified period; 12. to make provision for extracurricular activities and training for students and employees; 13. to appoint the faculties, teachers, officers and employees of the University; 14. to co-operate, collaborate or associate with any other institution, industry or any other body for such purpose as the University may determine; 15. to establish study centres, skill centres and maintain schools, institutions and such centres, specialized laboratories or other units for research and instructions within the state as are in the opinion of the University, necessary for the furtherance of its objects; 16. to receive donations and gifts of any kind with prior approval of the State Government, to acquire, hold, manage, maintain, lease, mortgage and dispose of any movable property, including trust and endowment properties for the purpose of the University or a Constituent College with the consent of the landowner subject to the relevant laws of the State; 17. to establish and maintain halls and to recognize places of residence for students, officers, teachers and employees of the University or a constituent college or of any other main campus and other campuses within the territorial jurisdiction; 18. to supervise and control the residence, and to regulate the discipline among the students and all categories of employees and to lay down the conditions of service of such employees, including their Code of Conduct; 19. to create posts of academic, administrative and support staff, and other necessary posts; 20. to co-operate and collaborate with other Universities and institutions in such manner and for such purposes as the University may determine from time to time; 21. to offer regular, distance learning, continuing education, industry integrated, collaborative industry- based education programmes: Provided no distance learning programmes leading to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree shall be started before at least one batches of students have passed out in the regular mode or three years from the commencement date of the first academic year whichever is earlier; 22. to organize and conduct refresher courses, orientation courses, workshops, seminars and other programmes for students, industry executives, teachers, developers of coursework, evaluators and other academic staff; 23. to determine standards of admission to the University and constituent colleges, with the approval of the Academic Council; 24. to make special provisions for students belonging to the State of Sikkim for admission in various programmes of the University, regional centre, campus or study centre; 25. to make special arrangements in respect of women students as the University may consider desirable; 26. to do all such other acts or thing whether incidental to the powers aforesaid or not, as may be necessary to further the objectives of the University; 27. to prescribe such programmes of Bachelor, Masters, and Research Degrees and such other Degrees, Diplomas, Charters, Certificates; 28. to provide for the preparation of instructional materials including films, book, e-books, DVD, websites and other software; 29. to recognize examinations or period of study (whether in full or part) of other universities, institutions or other places of learning as equivalent to examinations or period of study in the University and to withdraw such recognition at any time; 30. to raise, collect, subscribe and borrow with the approval of the Board of Management whether on the security of the property of the University, money for the purpose of the University; 31. to enter into, carry out, vary or cancel contracts; 32. to amend the Regulations to fulfil the objects of the University with the prior approval of State Government; 33. to propose to the State Government for amendment of Rules if any difficulty arises in functioning of the University; and 34. to do all things necessary or expedient to exercise the above powers.

The University shall be open to all, irrespective of class, caste, creed, religion, region, language or gender: Provided that nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent the University from making special provisions for admissions to students of the State and socially and economically weaker section of the society.

1. (1) The University shall obtain accreditation from the National Council of Assessment and Accreditation
   • (NAAC) within 3 (three) years of its establishment and such other regulating bodies of Government of India which are connected with the courses taken up by the University and inform the State Government about the grade provided to the University. The University shall get renewed such accreditation from time to time.
2. (2) The University shall obtain prior permission or approval from National Accreditation bodies like UGC (University Grants Commission), NCTE (National Council for Teacher Education), BCI (Bar Council of India), AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education), AIU (Association of Indian Universities), NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework), NBA (National Board of Accreditation), DEC (Distance Education Council), ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), DCI (Dental Council of India), NCHRH (National Council for Human Resource and Health), NMC (National Medical Council), INC (Indian Nursing Council), NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council), PCI (Pharmacy Council of India), or any other body before commencing any course; permission or recognition from concerned bodies, if required by any rule for the time being in force, shall be obtained.
3. (3) The relevant laws, rules, regulations and any such orders in the matter of obtaining approval or recognition or maintaining standards shall apply to the University.

The campus of the University shall be in nearby city of capital of Sikkim strictly in accordance with the UGC (University Grants Commission) Regulations.