Pune: Maharashtra’s private university heads have approached the higher and technical education department over concerns affecting university functioning, bringing renewed focus on falling classroom participation, enforcement of the 75% attendance requirement and the growing preference among some students for coaching classes over campus learning.University representatives have stated that treating degrees as the primary objective weakens academic engagement and practical skills, while students cite competing commitments, teaching methods and the perceived usefulness of classroom sessions as reasons for missing lectures. Some parents question whether classroom teaching offers sufficient value when students rely on private coaching for exam preparation.Professors said attendance cannot be improved through rules alone and requires engaging teaching and consistent enforcement. “Universities have become fun places for a few parents and students. Their concern is just the degree, while attendance can be as low as 20%,” said Rahul Karad, executive president, MIT World Peace University, describing a trend that, if supported by institutional data, could point to a widening disconnect between enrolment and meaningful participation in education.He added, “Regular classroom participation is intended to expose students to discussions, practical exercises, peer learning and faculty guidance, experiences that cannot always be replicated through notes or last-minute examination preparation.”Universities are expected to maintain academic standards and ensure meaningful learning, while students and parents expect value for the fees paid.Vishwakarma University vice-chancellor Mukund Kulkarni said, “Classroom engagement plays a vital role in shaping students’ knowledge, skills, confidence and overall personality. We encourage students to view education not merely as a means of earning a degree, but as an opportunity to learn, explore, innovate and prepare for their future careers.”Universities must also make classroom learning more engaging, interactive, practical and industry-relevant so that students feel motivated to participate actively. Kulkarni added, “At Vishwakarma University, we believe in ‘Learning by Doing’ and strive to create meaningful learning experiences that inspire students to attend classes out of interest rather than obligation. Our collective goal should be to nurture skilled, confident and future-ready graduates.”Vivek Saoji, vice-chancellor of Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed) University, said, “The concern is not merely that students are missing classes, but that some see the degree as the final objective rather than the outcome of a learning process. A university education requires sustained engagement, questioning, discussion and independent thinking. If students participate only when examinations approach, they miss much of what higher education is meant to offer.”The National Education Policy and subsequent higher education initiatives have emphasised practical learning, internships and stronger links between academia and industry. Varun Sathe, a student, said, “Attendance becomes difficult when assignments, projects, internships and examination preparation overlap. But the problem is not always that students do not want to learn. Universities also need to make timetables manageable and classroom sessions more interactive.”Aashiya Jain, a third-year student, said, “Some lectures feel too focused on theory, while we need practical knowledge and guidance for competitive exams and placements. When the same material is available through coaching or online resources, students question whether attending every lecture is worth the time.”Recent examination disputes had intensified tensions between students and university administrations. At SPPU, students raised concerns over alleged marksheet and result errors, which the university denied were systemic. At another private university in the city, students questioned discrepancies in examination records, including papers marked ‘not attempted’ despite their claims of appearing for exams, prompting demands for verification and accountability.A parent requesting anonymity said, “We pay substantial fees expecting good teaching, individual attention and career guidance. If students feel they have to depend on private coaching to understand subjects or prepare for exams, universities need to examine what is missing from their classroom experience.”
