Panaji: Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, who is chancellor of Goa University, has sought a detailed report from vice-chancellor Harilal B Menon on the integrated five-year master’s degree programmes that were announced for the academic year 2026-27 without taking prior govt approval.The governor requested the details based on a letter from the forum of principals and representatives of managements of non-govt colleges in Goa. “Vice-chancellor has to submit the details by this week,” a senior govt official said. Based on the report, the governor will review and take a decision.Goa University decided to admit students who’ve passed Class XII, a move that has sparked friction with govt-aided colleges, which fear a further decline in student enrolment in existing undergraduate courses. The forum has been opposing the Goa University’s move to start the new courses.In its notification, Goa University invited applications for programmes from April 28, 2026, to May 10, 2026. For each integrated course, 15 seats are for candidates who have passed in Goa, while 35 seats are for students passing Class XII from other states. The university may decide to revise the seats. The annual tuition fee is Rs 40,000 for Goan students and Rs 50,000 for students from other states.On Feb 18, the directorate of higher education instructed the university to ensure that no such programme is introduced without prior govt approval, since this will have a cascading effect and financial burden on govt. The directorate issued the letter following a representation by the secretary of the forum regarding the proposed introduction of integrated UG+PG programmes.However, Goa University on Tuesday issued a notification to start nine integrated programmes in various disciplines after the academic council passed the proposal. Raising concern over the university’s decision, the forum wrote to the governor on Wednesday and sought his intervention.“This development is in contravention of the directions conveyed by the additional director of higher education on Feb 18, 2026, addressed to the registrar, Goa University, wherein the concerns raised by the forum of principals were duly acknowledged,” the secretary of the forum said in the letter to the governor.
