University gives colleges autonomy to start courses

Autonomous colleges under the University of Pune will soon be able to start degree courses on their own without taking permission from the university. This will now be possible under one of the university statutes revised by a special committee.

The committee had been tasked to revise the statutes to encourage more and more colleges to go for autonomy. Some of the exisiting statutes are 10 years old.

Dr Gajanan Ekbote, who headed the committee, said, “We have suggested around 50 amendments to the present statutes. At present, autonomous colleges can start their own certificate courses but have to take the university’s permission to start any degree course. The new version of the statutes relaxes this norm, giving colleges real academic autonomy.”

The amendment statutes will not give teachers any cause for worry. The panel has recomended that the teachers’ present posts remain as they are even after autonomy is granted to their colleges.

At present, somany colleges are affiliated to the university that it is difficult to handle the procedures such as conducting an examination, changing a syllabus or starting a new course. It is to reduce this load that the UGC has offered autonomy as a option. However, of the total 200 colleges, only fourin Pune district have opted for autonomous status so far.

The aim of revising the statutes is to take up the number to at least 20 in the next two years. “This will be a unique step by the UoP, which can be replicated in other state universities,” said Ekbote.

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