The University Grants Commission (UGC) is a statutory body established by an act of parliament [Act No 25 (1993)]. The Commission started functioning since July 1994.

Composition of the Commission

The University Grants Commission is a body consisting of eleven members. His Majesty's Government appoints all the members, excepting ex officio. The Commission has its Chairman and the Member-Secretary as fulltime office bearers. The nine members include the Secretary of the Ministry of Education, the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, a member of the National Planning Commission, two Vice-chancellors; two prominent Educationists and two distinguished Professors. Presently, the UGC Secretariat is located at New Baneshwor, Kathmandu.

Objectives

The main objectives of the UGC are to coordinate among universities; allocate and disburse government grants to universities and higher educational institutions and take appropriate steps for the promotion and maintenance of standards of higher education in Nepal.

• To advise His Majesty's Government on the establishment of new universities,
• To formulate policy for the allocation of government grants to the universities and higher education institutions,
• To disburse grants to universities and make recommendations to the concerned bodies for additional grants.
• To coordinate among the universities.
• To take necessary steps for determination and maintenance of standards of higher education.
• To formulate necessary policies and programs for the promotion and enhancement of quality in higher education.
• To make necessary arrangement on the exchange of scholarships, fellowships etc between the universities and educational institutions within or outside the kingdom of Nepal.

• Allocation and Disbursement of Grants: The Commission recommends a budget proposal to the government after scrutinizing the budget demands obtained from the universities. The amount of the budget sanctioned by the government is allocated and disbursed to universities and affiliated campuses. At present the Commission provides grants to five universities under the headings of regular and development budgets. In addition, it provides some grants to 137 affiliated campuses.
  
  
• Quality Improvement Programs: The UGC has also launched a quality improvement program under which it provides grants to the following schemes:
  1. Refresher Courses/Workshops/Computer Trainings
  2. Research Promotion
  3. Visiting Program
  4. Organization of Seminars/Workshops/Conferences
  5. Grants for Library Strengthening and Equipments
  6. Physical Facilities Development
  7. Teaching Material Development and Broadcasting
  8. Fellowships
  
  
  
• Policy Formulation: The Commission has taken initiatives towards formulating policies on funding of higher education, establishment of new universities and setting the norms and standards of teaching, learning and research. To this end, it has conducted the following studies:
  1. Policy for Allocating Funds to Institutions of Higher Education.
  2. Norms and Standards of Teaching, Learning and Research.
  3. The Establishment of New University: The Process and Prerequisites.
  4. Policies and Processes of Affiliation of Campuses of Higher Education in Nepal.