Medallists in international sports events to get free university education

PUNE: Medal winners and participants in internationally recognized sporting events, including the Olympics and World Championships, will now be eligible for free education at recognized universities and affiliated colleges across the country. Students who win a medal at the national games or participate in the SAF games will get financial assistance at 75% of their tuition fees. 

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has circulated its latest guidelines related to this provision to all the universities with a view to drawing applications for the scheme, which will be implemented under the 12th Five Year Plan, between 2012 and 2017. The scheme covers degree, postgraduate (PG), PG diploma, MPhil, PhD, management and other professional studies.

"The objective is to provide financial assistance to medal winners and elite sportspersons who are studying full-time regular courses in universities and colleges," the UGC guidelines issued by its under-secretary Satish Kumar stated.

"The scheme aims at motivating sportspersons to achieve higher levels of performance," the guidelines stated.

Deepak Mane, director of University of Pune's (UoP) board of sports, told TOI on Saturday that the UGC scheme would spur increased participation by students in sporting events at the university level with an eventual aim of progression to national and international meets.

Some of the key features of the scheme include full-time scholarship for participants in recognized international sporting events, as enlisted by the World University Service, International Olympic Committee and Olympic Committee of Asia. Such students ought to have taken admission in universities or colleges covered under sections 2 (f) and 12 B of the UGC Act. These sections refer to recognition to university/college and eligibility to receive grants from the UGC. 

Source:The Times Of India