From the next academic year, the new autonomous colleges can introduce their own curriculum and assessment method. All the institutes had scored 3.51 or more out of 4 during their last assessment by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC),
The University Grants Commission
(UGC) recently granted academic autonomy to eight colleges in Maharashtra, of
which three are from Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The number of autonomous
institutes in the state is now 68.
Dr Bhanuben Mahendra Nanavati
(BMN) College of Home Science, Matunga, became the first college affiliated to
Shrimati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey (SNDT) Women’s University to get autonomy.
Similarly, Hansraj Jivandas College of Education, Khar and Changu Kana Thakur
(CKT) College, Panvel, were granted autonomy. Both the institutes are
affiliated to the University of Mumbai (MU).
All the institutes had scored
3.51 or more out of 4 during their last assessment by National Assessment and
Accreditation Council (NAAC), which made them eligible for autonomy without
undergoing scrutiny by various UGC committees.
From the next academic year, the
new autonomous colleges can introduce their own curriculum and assessment
method. They can also seek Rs 5 crore grant from Rashtriya Uchchatar Shikshan
Abhiyan (RUSA) — a funding agency under the Centre.
“The objective behind seeking
autonomy was to enhance our existing programmes as per industry needs, focus on
skill development, modify assessment system, introduce online courses and need-based
programmes,” said Shilpa Chirankar, principal, BMN College.
Sidheshwar Gadade, secretary,
Janardhan Bhagat Shikshan Prasaran Sanstha, which runs CKT College, said the
institute will offer a new curriculum for undergraduate and postgraduate courses
at one go.
“We don’t need to make drastic
changes to the existing Commerce curriculum. But curricula for Science and Arts
will be updated. Also, we’ll allow 40% marks for internal assessment as
compared 25% by the varsity. We’ll intend to strengthen and revise our diploma
and certificate courses,” he said.
According to the state project
directorate of RUSA, five more colleges from Maharashtra are likely to get
autonomy by January-end.
“We are trying making colleges
understand the benefits of autonomy. We want to create islands of excellence,”
said a RUSA official.
