UNIVERSITY AND OTHER HIGHER EDUCATION 

Higher Education broadly comprises education at the University level  which include the degree courses, the post-graduate courses and research work for Doctorate, Post-Doctorate Degree.  Instructional courses of the graduate and the Post-graduate level in different discipline.

Higher Education are provided for  any affiliated colleges (Non-Government and Government) and the departments of Post-graduate studies in the Universities.  The nine     Non-Agricultural Universities are established by Law in the State,   Prior to 1974, Each University was established by a separate enactment.  However, with a view to bring out uniformity in the previleges conferred upon the Universities and with a view to defining the duties and functions of Universities uniform University Act were enacted for the nine Non-Agricultural Universities in 1994.  The Universities were delegated certain well defined functions by the Act and the structure of those Universities was also uniformally  laid down within the frame work of the Universities Act-1994.  Universities have to frame statutes for their efficient functioning, administratively as well as academically.  The primary functions of the Universities are to run courses for instructions at various level of higher education.  To implement them effectively, to bring about improvement in them with a view to attaining excellence in academic standard etc.  each University functions within the area of its jurisdiction laid down in the Act.  As per policy numerated in the statement of educational reconstruction of the state,  it shall be the duty of Universities to provide adequate and equal opportunities of Higher Education learning and

research for the benefit of students of all levels of society.  The new University has been established at Amravati for the four districts of Amravati region viz. Akola, Amravati, Buldhana and Yeotmal with effect from 1.5.1983 ô Yeshwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open Universityö has been started at Nasik from the Year 1989-90 to provide through instructions teaching and training and other educational opportunities,  access to larger and larger segments of the population & in particular to the disadvantaged groups such as those living in remote and rural areas including working people,  housewives and other adults who wish to upgrade or acquire knowledge through in various fields.

As per the demand from the people  of Northern  Maharashtra   Districts,  separate         Non-Agricultural University has been established at Jalgaon from the year 1990-91 for Dhule and Jalgaon Districts.  For development of Marathwada Division a New University viz. Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University has been established at Nanded from the year 1994-95.

THE BOOK PRODUCTION BOARD

Promotion of Research and Production Literature useful for research and studies is achieving, increasing importance today and Universities have therefore,  to pay special attention to this function.  One such measure taken in that direction in the establishment of the Maharashtra Universities Book Production Board.  Under this scheme established the Maharashtra Universities Book Production Board established in 1969 to produce literature in regional languages at the University level.   The Maharashtra Universities Book Production Board, Nagpur has taken up the work of publishing standard books on various subjects,  useful to University or students.  The book published by the Board are the book in original or translations of standard work.  All these are produced in the regional language i.e. Marathi.   The board as so far produced 421 books in various disciplines, under different faculties in the Universities.  The State Government pays as Adhoc grant of RS. 50,000/- every year to meet the administrative expenditure.