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Gujarat University pushes for autonomy, 5 colleges in the fray

NEW AVENUES: Many colleges have been seeking academic independence to frame curriculum

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Gujarat University
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After the success of St Xavier's college as an autonomous institution, the Gujarat University (GU) is pushing other colleges to gain autonomy. Of the 297 colleges affiliated to the GU, only St Xaviers College gained autonomy in 2014. Under the liberal and conducive norms of the University Grants Commission (UGC), many colleges have been seeking the status for academic independence to frame a curriculum, evaluate students, and start new courses.

Himanshu Pandya, Vice-chancellor, GU said, “We are pushing for autonomy of more colleges, especially teh ones that are doing well. Currently, we are mentoring five colleges that include; HA College of Commerce, Gujarat College, KK Shastri Government College, Khokhra College, and the HL College of Commerce. The idea is to make them independent and gain autonomy. We are preparing them to have their own admission process, examinations, academic council, financial committee, building committee, and so on.”

Adding to the benefits of an autonomous status, Pandya said, “Through autonomy, colleges will be able to offer their own courses and an independent evaluation system.” Over the past one year, autonomous colleges are also being considered for additional grants under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shikshan Abhiyan (RUSA), which is indeed a plus point.

The ease of conducting exams independently implementing new and flexible curricula aided by funds from the Centre, have turned out to be a blessing for colleges aiming for self-administration, an academician said on the condition of anonymity.

“Our management has been proposing autonomy and we have had one meeting with the University, but as of now, we are focussing on NAAC accreditation. Autonomy will help us set our own evaluation system to assess students, which is the need of the hour, said Mona Kelshikar, principal, HL College of Commerce.

Fact File

  • St Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad was the first college under the Gujarat University to secure academic autonomy in ’14
  • It helped students to receive more exposure to industries
  • Colleges were free to decide their own syllabi
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