Nepal: Higher Education Reforms Project (IDA Credit 5586-NP) Implementation Review and Support Consultation September 10-25, 2018 Aide Memoire 1. During September 10-25, 2018, a Bank team1 led by Mr. Mohan Prasad Aryal carried out an Implementation Review of the Higher Education Reforms Project (HERP). This Aide Memoire (AM) summarizes the findings on the status of project implementation, and recommendations and agreements reached. The AM was discussed at the wrap-up meeting chaired by Mr. Khaga Raj Baral, Secretary (Education), Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOEST) on September 25, 2018. The AM was also discussed at the debriefing meetings at the Ministry of Finance and the National Planning Commission on October 8 and 9, 20182 respectively. The list of people met is presented in Annex 1. As agreed, this AM will be classified as a public document under the World Bank's Access to Information Policy. 2. The project development objective (PDO) is “to support reforms in selected institutions for improving quality, relevance, and efficiency of higher education; and to assist under-privileged students for equitable access”. The progress towards the achievement of PDO continues to be Satisfactory. The progress of all five Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), except for KPI 1: Number of accredited higher education institutions (HEIs), is largely on track3. The PDO has been rated satisfactory in spite of the Project falling short of meeting the targets set for accreditation and autonomy because the foundation has been laid for further progress. 3. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to make the Quality Assurance and Accreditation (QAA) process mandatory for all HEIs. It has strengthened the QAA Division by recruiting two national experts and five additional staff. As a result, visible improvements have been observed since December 2017 Mid-term Review (MTR). The review of self-study reports has accelerated. Effective implementation of research funding has resulted in notable increase in publications in refereed journals with impact factors. The Monitoring and Evaluation Section has made notable progress in expanding coverage and launching Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping of HEIs. The UGC has completed beneficiary Satisfaction Survey. Draft reports of studies on strategies for increasing the share of science and technology in the higher education enrolment, and pass-rates in higher education are expected to be completed by December 31, 2018. The UGC is also consolidating tracer study reports with a view to conduct a trend analysis. Following the MOEST Ministerial level decision of October 3, 2018, UGC Board meetings, which could not be held since the end of the tenure of the former Chairperson on June 18, 2018, have been revived, and as a result project implementation has been facilitated. Following this decision, the UGC budget for FY 2018/19 has been approved, five HEIs have been recommended for accreditation and five HEIs for QAA cycle completion status. This decision was also facilitated by the GON-WB Portfolio review (October 1-4), which has been proved effective to expedite project implementation with ownership of the line ministries/implementing agencies and the MOF. The operations training that the Bank organized for all Project staff on October 5 would also facilitate expedite implementation. Going forward, it was also agreed that the GON will expedite appointment of the UGC Chairperson by November 30, 2018 as this is critical while Nepal is undergoing major education reforms in the changed federal context. 4. Tribhuvan University (TU) has granted academic autonomy to four community campuses. They have started implementation of academic programs formulated on their own. Two of them - Lumbini Banijya Campus and Janapriya Multiple Campus - are planning to the complete transition from offering centrally formulated programs to programs formulated by the campus within the project period. TU has committed to revise the Autonomy Rules to extend autonomy to Central Departments/Schools and pave the way for establishment of fully autonomous Centers of Excellence by December 15, 2018. TU has recruited first batch of 11 faculty based on the research excellence through global competition open to Nepali citizens. This represents a major initiative for upgrading the teaching and research capacity. TU Service Commission has agreed to complete the selection of remaining 39 faculty under this scheme by June 2019. TU has completed Vision 2030. TU Office of 1 Mr. Mohan Prasad Aryal (TTL/ Sr. Operations Officer), Ms. Maya Sherpa (Economist), Mr. Shiro Nakata (Sr. Education Economist), Mr. Mokhlesur Rahman (Sr. Operations Officer); Ms. Jaya Sharma (Sr. Social Development Specialist), Ms. Annu Rajbhandari (Environment Specialist), Mr. Shambhu Prasad Uprety (Sr. Procurement Specialist), Ms. Timila Shrestha (Financial Management Specialist), Mr. Rajendra Dhoj Joshi, Ms Rashmi KC, Mr. Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, Mr. Prakash Thapa, Mr. Dron Pun and, Mr Ishwor Neupane (Consultants), and Ms. Sunita Gurung (Program Assistant). 2 The MOF meeting was chaired by Mr. Tek Bahadur Khatri, Under Secretary and at NPC by Mr. Radha Krishna Pradhan, Joint Secretary 3 Updated Results Monitoring Framework and DLIs is presented in Annex 2. HERP, Aide Memoire -2- October 29, 2018 the Controller of Examination (OCE) is making good progress on examination reforms including online student registration and certification. The OCE plans to complete it by August 2019. Mid- Western University has passed the Autonomy Rules and it is planning to grant governance and academic autonomy to at least two campuses within six months, and Kathmandu University has also prepared Draft Autonomy Rules expected to be approved by December 31, 2018. Based on the above, the overall implementation progress (IP) has been retained as Moderately Satisfactory. OVERALL STATUS AND KEY PROJECT DATA Project Data Summary Ratings Previous Current Board Approval: February 19, 2015 Progress towards achievement of S S Effectiveness Date: May 22, 2015 PDO Overall Implementation Progress MS MS Closing Date: June 30, 2020 Project Management MS MS Amount: US$65.0 million Procurement MS MS Amount Disbursed (as of September 30, 2018) Financial Management MU MU SDR 22.86 million (Equivalent US$ 32.0 Overall Safeguards MS MU million): 50.9% of the allocated amount M&E MS MS Note: S = Satisfactory; MS = Moderately Satisfactory; MU= Moderately Unsatisfactory. KEY POINTS DISCUSSED AND AGREED ACTIONS 5. Quality Assurance and Accreditation. Following the UGC decision in December 2017 “all campuses to complete the QAA process within five years”, the UGC has expedited the QAA implementation. A total of 306 HEIs have submitted Letters of Intent. Forty-two self-study reports (SSR) are under peer review process, of which eight HEIs have completed the QAA cycle, 24 have completed peer review pre-visit, additional five HEIs have been recommended for cycle completion status and other five HEIs for accreditation. In addition, peer review teams are being formed for four HEIs and 15 HEIs are revising SSR. Despite the above progress, the current institutional arrangement is inadequate for meeting the project target as well as the UGC goal of completing the QAA for all HEIs within five years. 6. A robust QQA system is indispensable not only for ensuring quality of HEIs but also for ensuring the recognition of Nepali universities’ qualifications abroad. Therefore, the need for establishing an autonomous National Accreditation Board (NAB) was agreed during the project preparation, which was later confirmed by the Higher Education Policy. As an interim measure it was agreed to establish an autonomous QAA Agency within the UGC. Since this arrangement has not proved to be adequate to meet the challenges associated with QAA, it was agreed that the UGC will initiate the process for drafting a bill for NAB, and as an interim measure assess the feasibility for establishing an accreditation Board through a formation order by December 31, 2018. Since establishment of the QAA system in 2007, it is being funded exclusively through project resources. To ensure the sustainability of the QAA beyond the project period, the MOEST/UGC have agreed to allocate resources from regular sources from FY2019 and prepare a sustainability plan for QAA by March 2019. Since speedy implementation of QAA has not been possible because of the cumbersome QAA procedures, the UGC would explore possibility of simplifying the QAA procedures engaging national and international experts. 7. Academic Autonomy. The Higher Education Policy articulates autonomy as a major strategy for academic excellence of campuses. Four accredited community campuses have received academic autonomy, under which Lumbini Banijya Campus and Janapriya Multiple Campus have been offering academic programs formulated on their own and administrating the final examinations. Academic autonomy has triggered a process of transformation towards academic excellence in these campuses by providing space to design their own unique curricula, deliver it, conduct exams and publish results and thus foster their unique academic capabilities within the existing affiliation system. Though seven TU constituent campuses have received governance autonomy, they have not applied for academic autonomy. While the project support has made greater impact on community campuses compared to constituent campuses, the recent conversion of community campuses into constituent campuses may derail the gains made with support from the Project. This conversion leads to loosing governance and academic autonomy and local ownership as observed in Kailali Multiple Campus and Tikapur Multiple HERP, Aide Memoire -3- October 29, 2018 Campus in the Far-Western Region (State 7). It was agreed that the UGC in coordination with MOEST will approve a revised formula-based regular funding to community campuses including enhanced funding to accredited and autonomous community campuses by December 15, 2018 with a view to mitigate conversion of community campuses into constituent campuses and thus preserve the potential for excellence of community campuses. 8. To fully tap the potential of autonomy, autonomous campuses should be able to plan their future. The present provision for providing academic autonomy to campuses on program by program basis and resulting inability to determine enrolment in advance has made planning of autonomous campuses virtually impossible. A true assessment of the potential of academic autonomy would not be possible until autonomous campuses are able to fully replace centralized academic programs with their own programs, and plan student intake on their own. In this context, TU has agreed to expedite the approval process for the BBA Hons program submitted for approval by the LBC and other remaining centralized programs of LBC and JMC so that all centralized programs are replaced by programs formulated by these campuses within the project period. TU has also agreed to revise the Autonomy Rules incorporating the provisions for autonomy for Central Departments and Schools, and establishment of Centers of Excellence. TU will complete these tasks by December 15, 2018. 9. Supporting Private Campuses for Excellence. During the mid-term review (MTR), an understanding was reached with the UGC to support private campuses for excellence to maximize the education service delivery. Some preliminary indicators for support were also worked out. During the current consultation, a joint MOEST-WB-International Finance Corporation (IFC) meeting was held to discuss strategies for harnessing the private sector in in higher/ technical and vocational education. The meeting also underscored common aspects of the IFC Country Private Sector Diagnostic and the HERP initiated partnership with private HEIs particularly, accreditation, autonomy, technical education etc. As agreed in the MTR and recent discussions, the UGC will work out further details to forge partnership with private HEIs by December 31, 2018 to help maximizing financing for development. 10. Facilitating Increased Enrollment in Technical Education. The concern about the low share in engineering and technology in higher education, which has caused shortage of human resources to promote technical education as well as other sectors, was discussed. The MOEST and UGC will prepare a plan of increasing the share of technical education by December 31, 2018. 11. Strengthening Student Financial Assistance Fund Development Board (SFAFDB). Poverty targeted scholarship has been well accepted by the Government and stakeholders. MOEST has also mainstreamed the program in secondary education. However, poverty targeted support to Bachelor level students could not be continued for FY 2018/19 because of the lack of funding from GON resources. The MOEST will expedite a decision to allocate NPR 45.0 million for FY 2018/19 for the 4th cohort of Bachelor level students and to allocate required funding in subsequent years. The MOEST/SFAFDB agreed to prepare a draft plan for sustainability of the poverty targeted financial assistance by January 31, 2019. SFAFDB will document the challenges and lessons learned from the implementation of poverty targeting and will also prepare an improved draft communication strategy by November 30, 2018. 12. Aligning HERP with State Restructuring. The consultation reconfirmed the scope of HERP restructuring discussed during the MTR. This includes largely fine tuning of the DLIs as the HERP implementation arrangement and coverage in federal set up remains unchanged so far. The Bank Team will work closely with the GON to complete the restructuring by December 31, 2018. 13. Additional Support for Consolidation of Reforms. As noted in the MTR, it has been further reconfirmed that a clearer picture of the possible course of reforms has emerged. This includes expansion of autonomy, accreditation of HEIs as a mandatory requirement, developing world-class HEIs, strengthening institutions for enhanced focus on science and technology and for maximizing finance for development with private sector engagement. Given these positive developments additional financing/new project in the range of US$80.0 million may be needed to support the consolidation of reforms. 14. Networking of Universities. The consultation has discussed on a proposed regional higher education project to establish a network of universities, which has been initiated by Bangladesh and Afghanistan. HERP, Aide Memoire -4- October 29, 2018 FIDUCIARY COMPLIANCE 15. Procurement. The team reviewed the project procurement status. The Bank has cleared the updated procurement plan (PP) for FY 2019 for all the three implementing agencies. Though there has been some delay in submitting the PP for the current FY, the rating is retained as “Moderately Satisfactory”. The project team has agreed to expedite the procurement process and meet the annual target on time. 16. Financial Management. The total approved budget for FY 2018/19 under IDA source is NPR 1,108.60 million. There is a budget shortfall of NPR 100 million for TU PIO. TU PIO was advised to implement activities based on prioritization within the approved budget until additional budget is provided as requested by the UGC. It was noted that the UGC had not yet carried forward Opening balances in the system, thus expenditures are not yet recorded for this FY. TU PIO recorded expenditures with some delays. There are no outstanding financial reports for the Project. However, timeliness of reporting needs to be improved. UGC and TU PIO were advised to strengthening monitoring by maintaining checklist to ensure receipt and review of required supporting documents. To mitigate the delays in expenditure reporting of Eligible Expenditure Program (EEP), it was agreed that TU PIO/TU Central office will release subsequent tranches to HEIs upon receipt of required reports. TU PIO will also make addendums to MOUs with eligible campuses for additional activities/ grants specifying the required supporting documents. Apart from the basis of project accounts presentation, the Project’s external audit report for FY 2016/17 was qualified due to non-submission of accounts of TU units for audit including lack of grant utilization report for NPR 6,986 million received by TU. The review team emphasized on the need for timely completion of pending audits for receipt of external audit report for FY 2017/18 by January 15, 2019. 17. Disbursement Status. Total disbursement as of September 30, 2018 is US$ 32.0 million. Additional US$ 12.0 million is expected to be disbursed by May-June 2019.The UGC and the MOEST will expedite implementation of actions on accreditation (DLI 1), academic autonomy (DLI 3), examination reforms (DLI 4), academic reforms (DLI 5) and excellence on research (DLI 7) and efficiently utilize the available resources. SAFEGUARD MANAGEMENT 18. Environmental and Social Safeguards. The UGC and TU PIO have taken proactive steps by forming two separate committees to oversee and manage environmental compliance monitoring and completed three-day orientation program for participating institutions. However, there is a slow progress in enforcing the environmental screening as outlined in the Environmental Management Framework, particularly, for construction and adopting suitable mitigation measures by the beneficiary institutions before the construction is initiated. The environmental safeguard rating is therefore downgraded to “Moderately Unsatisfactory”. The UGC and TUPIO will introduce Environmental Screening requirement in relevant procurement plans and accordingly for other plans they would receive. The UGC/ TU PIO will also simplify the Environmental Screening Template and prepare the Environmental monitoring checklist by November 5, 2018. The Project does not trigger the World Bank’s Involuntary Resettlement Policy (O.P 4.12) and no issues were observed causing any physical or economic displacement. DLI-6 is fully aligned to address the issue of indigenous and vulnerable people through financial assistance to the students from disadvantaged groups. As of September 2018, a total of 8,709 students received scholarship with share of 38.2% from the indigenous groups/ethnic minorities and 56.8% girls. The grievance redress mechanism was impressive with about one dozen complaints filed pertaining mainly to financial irregularities, poor work quality and delay in services, 144 complaints were filed by students not receiving the scholarships in FY 2017/18. All the complaints received were properly documented and the complainants were informed about the actions taken through emails, SMS and phones. The social safeguard rating is retained as “Moderately Satisfactory”. The overall safeguards rating has been downgraded to “Moderately Unsatisfactory”. 19. Monitoring and Evaluation. The UGC has made a good progress in M&E. In FY2017/18, 177 community campuses and eight out of 11 universities were monitored. Data from 501 community campuses were collected for performance grants from UGC regular budget, and 477 and 168 campuses respectively have received regular and capital grants. GIS mapping of HEIs is in progress. It aims to capture all universities, academies and campuses including foreign university affiliated colleges. UGC HERP, Aide Memoire -5- October 29, 2018 is procuring services of volunteers and GPS devices for data collection. Monitoring arrangements at TU PIO and SFAFDB are also functional. Therefore, the rating for M&E is retained at “Moderately Satisfactory”. The UGC, TU PIO and SFAFDB have agreed to expand evaluation, the plan for which will be prepared by November 2018. The UGC has been publishing HEMIS Report annually. However, all the HEIs data are not captured because of the poor response rate. The UGC will complete an implementation structure for EMIS strengthening by December 31, 2018. The agreed milestones for the plan are: (i) preparation of a draft EMIS Strengthening Strategy by November 10, 2018; (ii) adoption of the Strategy by MOEST/ Universities/ UGC and formation of an implementation task committee by December 15, 2018. The UGC will use the EMIS data for budget preparation instead of parallel collection of data for this purpose. A MOEST-UGC-TU PIO-SFAFDB joint team would facilitate this process also involving the TU OCE. The World Bank will monitor and facilitate the process. 20. Independent evaluation of various interventions and information dissemination. The consultation also discussed about documenting the challenges and lessons learned from project interventions. The UGC, TU PIO and SFAFDB have agreed to prepare draft Terms of Reference(s) by December 31, 2018 to launch independent evaluation of governance autonomy of TU constituent campuses; effectiveness of formula-based/ performance-based funding; poverty targeted approach and other critical interventions. UGC will also prepare a plan by December 31, 2018 for organizing national workshops and media exposure programs to showcase successful university research projects and raise awareness of policy makers and the public about the role and importance of university-led research. NEXT REVIEW 21. The next Implementation Review and Support Consultation is planned for April-May 2019. Interim periodic reviews will also be carried out to expedite the implementation. Table 1: Summary of Key Agreed Actions SN Actions Due date Responsibility 1 Approve revised formula-based regular funding to community campuses December 15, UGC/ including enhanced funding to accredited and autonomous community 2018 MOEST campuses. 2 Approval of the revised TU Autonomy Rules incorporating the provisions for 15, DecemberTU TU autonomy for Central Departments and Schools, for establishment of Centers 2018 of Excellence 3 Initiation of the process for drafting a bill for NAB, and as an interim measure December 31, UGC/ assess the feasibility for establishing an accreditation board through a formation 2018 MOEST order 4 Preparation of a plan for increasing the share of technical education, and December 31, MOEST/ completion of an implementation structure for EMIS strengthening 2018 UGC 5 Preparation of a plan for ensuring the sustainability of the poverty targeted January 31, 2019 MOEST/ scheme SFAFDB 6 Financial Management. Completion of external audits of all relevant units/ November 15, UGC, TUPIO records for ensuring unqualified external audit report of FY 2017/18 2018 7 Establishing the system of maintaining checklist to ensure receipt and review November 5, UGC, TUPIO of supporting documents for grant management 2018 8 Establishing the system of releasing tranches to TU units based on receipt of November 15, TUPIO, TU expenditure report for EEP 2018 9 Issue addendums to MOU for additional activities/grants to eligible campuses November 30, TUPIO 2018 10 Safeguard. Simplification of the Environmental Screening Template, November 5, UGC/ TU preparation of the Environmental monitoring checklist and periodic 2018 PIO implementation monitoring HERP, Aide Memoire -6- October 29, 2018 Annex 1 List of People Met Ministry of Education, Science and Technology 1 Mr. Khaga Raj Baral, Secretary 2 Mr. Baikuntha Prasad Aryal, Joint Secretary 3 Ms. Dev Kumari Guragain, Joint Secretary 4 Mr. Jaya Prasad Acharya, Under Secretary 5 Mr. Dhruba Raj Regmi, Under Secretary 6 Mr. Ramesh Mainali, Under Secretary 7 Mr. Bishnu Prasad Mishra, Under Secretary 8 Ms. Mina Poudel, Section Officer Ministry of Finance 9 Mr. Tek Bahadur Khatri, Under Secretary 10 Mr. Chudamani Aryal, Section Officer National Planning Commission 11 Mr. Radha Krishna Pradhan, Joint Secretary 12 Mr. Tirtha Raj Rai, Program Director University Grants Commission 13 Prof. Dev Raj Adhikari, Member Secretary 14 Prof. Hridaya Ratna Bajracharya, Technical Advisor 15 Dr. Deepak Kumar Khadka, Director, Research Division 16 Mr. Kedar Prasad Acharya, Finance Controller 17 Mr. Dinesh Bajracharya, EMIS Specialist 18 Mr. Kapil Risal, Administrative Officer 19 Mr. Dipesh Singh, Planning and Monitoring Officer 20 Mr. Jeewan Koju, Procurement Officer 21 Dr. Dul Raj Chimariya, M&E Officer 22 Mr. Dinesh Prajapati, Program Officer, Research Division 23 Mr. Binod Bhattarai, Planning and Program Officer 24 Ms. Usha Pokharel, Accounts Officer 25 Ms. Punita Upadhyay, Sr. Administrative Assistant – Reforms Quality Assurance and accreditation Division 26 Mr. Subash Chandra Dhungel, Chief Administrative Officer and Acting Director, QAAD 27 Dr. Basu Dev Kafle, QAA Expert 28 Dr. Chandra Lal Shrestha, QAA Expert 29 Mr. Gopal Acharya, Program Officer 30 Mr. Narayan Bhandari, Program Assistant 31 Ms. Mamta Prajapati, Senior Assistant 32 Ms. Sita Dure, Assistant 33 Ms. Nabina Chaulagain, Assistant 34 Ms. Ashma Adhikari, Assistant HERP, Aide Memoire -7- October 29, 2018 Tribhuvan University 35 Prof. Tirth Raj Khaniya, Vice Chancellor 36 Prof. Sudha Tripathi, Rector 37 Mr. Dilli Ram Upreti, Registrar 38 Mr. Chaitanya Sharma, Chairman, TU Service Commission 39 Prof. Chintamani Pokharel, Member, TU Service Commission 40 Mr. Pushpa Raj Joshi, Controller of Examinations 41 Prof. Shankar Prasad Bhandari, Coordinator, TUPIO 42 Prof. Shiva Lal Bhusal, Dean, Humanities and Social Sciences 43 Prof. Krishna Prasad Gautam, Dean, Faculty of Education 44 Prof. Ram Prasad Khatiwada, Dean, Institute of Science and Technology 45 Prof. Tara Prasad Sapkota, Dean, Faculty of Law 46 Prof. Dilli Raj Sharma, Dean, Faculty of Management 47 Dr. Ram Chandra Pokharel, Deputy Program Coordinator, TUPIO 48 Mr. Bhim Lal Poudel, Chief Finance Section, TUPIO 49 Mr. Kedar Nath Dhakal, Chief, Administration, TUPIO 50 Mr Kalyan Paudel, Procurement Specialist, TUPIO 51 Mr Baldev Adhikari, Chief, Monitoring & Evaluation, TUPIO Kathmandu University 52 Prof. Ram Kantha Makaju Shrestha, Vice Chancellor 53 Prof. Subodh Sharma, Registrar 54 Dr. Damber Bahadur Nepali, Dean, School of Engineering 55 Prof. Bim Shrestha, Member, Executive Council 56 Mr. Rupesh Krishna Shrestha, Assistant Professor, School of Management Student Financial Assistance Fund Development Board 57 Mr. Diwakar Dhungel, Executive Director 58 Mr. Tara Chouhan, Monitoring Officer 59 Ms. Bijeta Dangol, Finance Officer Other Universities 60 Prof. Upendra Koirala, Vice-Chancellor, Mid-Western University 61 Prof. Ghanshyam Lal Das, Vice-Chancellor, Pubanchal University 62 Ms. Pramila Thapa, Registrar, Purbanchal University UGC QAA Members and Experts 63 Prof. Kusum Shakya, QAAC Member 64 Prof. Keshab Raj Baskota, Council Member, Nepal Pharmacy Council 65 Prof. Upendra Pradhanang, QAAC Member Consultation with TU Central Departments Central Department Science and Technology: Heads of Departments and other members – total 20 people. HERP, Aide Memoire -8- October 29, 2018 Annex 2 Updated Results Framework Monitoring Matrix Project Development Objective Indicators Year 3 Year 5 Unit of Year 0 Current Indicator Name (2017-18) (2019-20) Remarks Measure (2014-15) Value target target Baseline Additional five HEIs will complete by December, 2018 Number 12 60 21 125 Number of accredited HEIs Percentage of Under Percentag students Graduates: e 15 30.23 17 enrolled in 12.6 identified Post- 20 19.47 23 priority areas Graduates: 16.7 Number of (a) Higher (a)HS total: (a) HS total: (a)HS Bachelor level: year-three under- Secondary (HS) 1,500; 1,387; Total: cumulative target privileged Total: 0 Female: Female: 2,000 overachieved including students Female: 0%; 45%; 26.6% Female: female share supported (b) (b) (b) Bachelor 45%; Higher Secondary level: 87% under the Bachelors Bachelors: total:7,322; (b) of year-three cumulative Project Total: 0 Total: Female: Bachelors target achieved. Female Female: 0% 7,500 62.6% Total: share, which is in science Number/ Female: 40% 7,500 stream is lagging behind Percentag Female: (year three cumulative e 40% achievement: 60%). Government is also making additional intervention to increase overall science enrollment and female share in Plus two science stream Average time Year-three target of 5 months taken for not yet achieved. announcement of results of Bachelors Months >7 5 5.43 3 programs with centralized examinations at TU Number of Publications by UGC 104 publications in research grants recipients in (NPHERD) refereed 2016-18 under the National 46 (HERP journals by Number 0 25 85 Program for Higher only) research grants Education Reform and recipients Development HERP has been supporting, and HERP. HERP, Aide Memoire -9- October 29, 2018 Intermediate Results Indicators Year Year 5 Indicator Unit of Year 0 Current (2017-18) (2019-20) Remarks Name Measure (2014-15) Value target target Baseline 1. Number of institutions undertaking Number 15 135 131 135 specified reforms 2. Number of TU Four additional campuses institutions have received academic Number 4 11 7 14 granted autonomy autonomy 3. Number of academic Number 0 50 32 75 programs revised 4. Number of new academic programs Number 0 45 38 65 introduced in identified priority areas 5. Computerization Records of students from of records of all Education, Management, students eligible Humanities and the for appearing in Humanities and Social examinations Percentage 0 100 95 100 Science Faculties of TU from TU computerized by OCE using constituent and a new software program. affiliated campuses 6. Number of RDI projects PhD level: supported in 0 80 105 130 identified 100 faculty research projects, Number Faculty priority areas 19 collaborative research Research: 160 213 220 projects and 94 small 0 research development and innovation projects 7. Direct Project Number 0 300,000 280,000 500,000 Beneficiaries 8. Female Percentage 0 35 53.32 40 beneficiaries HERP, Aide Memoire -10- October 29, 2018 Disbursement Linked Indicators Current Year 0 DLI Year 3 (2017-18) Value Year 5 (2014-15) Remarks target (Year 3 (2019-20) Baseline achievement) Target Achievement 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 DLI 1: National A QAAA Not yet 30 HEIs accredited 9 HEIs 35 HEIs Cabinet has accreditation with achieved (cumulative 60) accredited accredited approved system functional (cumulative (cumulative QAAA Rule. established and autonomy 21 including 125) Pending functioning established at 12 at baseline) further clarity on UGC financial autonomy of the QAAA. Appointment or Deputation of experts and key staff completed. 21 HEIs accredited. Additional five HEIs will complete by December 2018 DLI 2: Guidelines for Achieved Third Group of 45 Total 124 Release of final Performance- PBF of HEIs selected as HEIs selected performance- based financing campuses per PIM, MOUs as per PIM, based grants to (PBF) extended published by signed, and MOUs at least 45 to HEIs UGC performance based signed, and HEIs from the grants released to performance three selected the first, second based grants groups as per and third batches released to PIM (total at (total 135 HEIs) 124 least 135 HEIs) HEIs against the year-two cumulative target of 90 and year-three cumulative target of 135. 471 community campuses have received Formula Based Funding (FBF) against the year two target of 30 and year-three cumulative target of 60 community campuses. HERP, Aide Memoire -11- October 29, 2018 Current Year 0 DLI Year 3 (2017-18) Value Year 5 (2014-15) Remarks target (Year 3 (2019-20) Baseline achievement) Target Achievement 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Formula- Achieved FBF based funds FBF has been FBF based based funding released to at least released funds released (FBF) for additional two to three to at least autonomous autonomous autonomous additional three campuses campuses campus autonomous adopted by (cumulative four); against the campuses UGC and year-three (cumulative PBF based regular cumulative ten); and funds released to target of 4 PBF based at least additional campuses. regular funds 30 community 471 released to at campuses community least additional (cumulative 60) campuses 20 community have received campuses Formula (cumulative Based 100) Funding (FBF) against the year three cumulative target of 60 DLI 3: TU autonomy Achieved Autonomy granted Autonomy There are no Autonomy campus rules to three campuses granted to Year 5 targets extended to for /schools seven on DLI 3 – it additional constituent (cumulative 11) constituent completes in campuses/ campuses campuses Year 4 schools revised by TU Senate TU adopts Achieved Two autonomous Four Two rules for /accredited accredited autonomous academic campuses or campuses /accredited autonomy of schools exercise have started campuses or affiliated academic new programs schools campuses by autonomy under exercise TU Senate (cumulative six) academic academic autonomy autonomy (cumulative eight) has reached an advanced stage DLI 4: (i)Academic Achieved Academic calendar Academic Academic Target Examination rules of TU of three program- calendar of calendar of overachieved reforms revised and years of fifteen three program- implemented approved by centralized program-years years of and academic TU Academic Master’s programs adhered to centralized calendar Council for adhered to Master’s enforced in TU completing (cumulative nine) programs academic adhered to calendar (cumulative within one 15) academic HERP, Aide Memoire -12- October 29, 2018 Current Year 0 DLI Year 3 (2017-18) Value Year 5 (2014-15) Remarks target (Year 3 (2019-20) Baseline achievement) Target Achievement 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 year; and (ii) a plan for examination reforms approved by TU (with especial focus on centralized examinations) The average Results for . Results for regular time taken for regular centralized announcement centralized Bachelor’s of results is Bachelor’s programs 5.4 months. programs published within published five months on an within three average months on an average DLI 5: Academic Areas of Achieved A total of 60 Total 70 Implementation reforms priority for programs revised academic of all 140 introduced: new programs or introduced programs programs Revision of approved by (cumulative 140) revised or continued existing and introduction of UGC; and introduced new programs at guidelines for (38 new undergraduate selection of academic and graduate programs and programs levels institutions introduced approved by and 32 UGC revised) against the year-three cumulative target of 140 DLI 6: Poverty- PMT Achieved (i) Third cohort (at (a) Third (i) Funds targeted financial processes for least 3,000 cohort (3003 released to at support for selection of students) selected students) least 2,000 under-privileged students through PMT; and selected students as per students revised by (ii) funds released through PMT; schedule; and SFAFDB; and to at least 6,000 (ii) funds (ii) Plan for database and students as per released to sustainability process schedule 8,535 students of the scheme computerized approved DLI 7: (i) Existing Achieved (i) Third batch of A total of 532 (i) Final release Target Institutions research projects (at least research of funds to at overachieved supported for guidelines additional 150) project least 250 active academic reviewed and selected; and selected and projects as per excellence in priority areas revised by (ii) funds released funds released schedule; and through RDI UGC; and to the three to these (ii) Plan for awards (ii) Priority batches as per projects sustainability areas for schedule against the approved support year-one to approved by year-four UGC cumulative targets of 500 HERP, Aide Memoire -13- October 29, 2018 Current Year 0 DLI Year 3 (2017-18) Value Year 5 (2014-15) Remarks target (Year 3 (2019-20) Baseline achievement) Target Achievement 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 research projects selected and funds released Parallel Achieved Third batch of 11 faculty Fifth batch of TUSC has recruitment faculty (at least members (six faculty (at least completed first and additional ten) Professors, additional ten) round of promotion recruited and/or and five recruited selection. TUSC rules adopted promoted based on associate and/or plans to complete by TU the excellence professors) promoted the next two Executive selected from based on cycles of Council among 66 excellence selection (2nd applicants cycle: by June from global 2019, and 3rd competition cycle: by June 2020) and the project target would be met.