Andhra Pradesh state in India is set to release its much talked about vision document on March 18, 2015 at Vijayawada.

Chief Minister Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, shall unveil the document which contains a massive reform strategy in higher education for the state of Andhra Pradesh.

After the state bifurcation, this document is a game changer for the state as it aims to spearhead the vision of the Mr. Naidu. Attempts are being made to transform the state into the emerging educational hub in the country. The slew of measures included in the document is grading facility for the universities, promotion of innovation and high end research activity, improving and enhancing the tutelage, establishing new universities etc. The document also stresses on skill development of the students.

The government has a full proof plan by its side to transform the existing educational system and spotlight on developing quality, increasing the accountability and maintaining a standardized delivery mechanism for the educational institutions. The government also would like to establish State Assessment and Accreditation Council in line with National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

Its role would be to grade the institutes and universities on the basis of their performance standards. Measures would be taken to restrain the commercialisation of academic sphere in the state; a separate regulating authority shall be in place.

The government is set to form an expert committee consisting of people from top class institutions abroad to assist in elevating the status of primary and higher education in the state.

Currently, grading is being done for the engineering colleges on the basis of available faculty and infrastructure. Under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 11 universities and institutes of national repute are being constructed.

Apart from this, the government on its own motion has sent a proposal to the central government to establish more universities.

It also has sought funds for revamping the existing infrastructure under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiskha Abhiyan (RUSA) scheme.

The proposal includes establishment of Maritime University, Open University, Telugu University, Skill University, Urdu University and Mining University. Moreover, the state has received one IIM in the recent union budget 2015.

Furthermore, the vision document includes plans to set up an ‘Education City’ spread across a 500 acre land in Andhra Pradesh in which smart campuses will be launched. There is also an opportunity for collaborating with the foreign universities. The educational institutes can invite renowned Indian academicians settled abroad as a guest faculty. More effective and productive linkage between industry and academia will be encouraged. The government shall also start Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the state, considering the huge popularity of such methods in abroad.

The ‘cafeteria approach’ formulated, seeks to adopt an innovative practice in whichtrans-disciplinary research activity will be encouraged. This approach allows students to freewheel between any disciplines. For example, if a student from the science department wishes to take a liberal arts course, then he or she has full autonomy over it. They can prefer any elective they wish to study.

As a skill development is the major concern, there are plans to engage corporations to provide apprenticeship to students.