Vice-Chancellor Narendra Jadhav had appointed the three-member panel headed by Ekbote. The other members were B R Chopade and Ashok Joshi.

The UGC has already issued new guidelines for the autonomy. The committee recommended amendments based on these guidelines.

While the management council of the UoP has already passed the report of the committee, the academic council recently accepted the report in principle. “The UoP will hold a special meeting of the academic council to discuss the report around February 15,” said Jadhav. The report will be passed over to the senate in March and after the senate’s nod, it will go to the chancellor for final approval.

Autonomy is aimed at making colleges self-sufficient in finance and management. It gives free hand to colleges in revision of syllabus in consultation with the industry and according to the market demand.

“The guidelines say there would not be any cut in grants by the state government and all the present posts of the teachers would be maintained. Moreover, the autonomous colleges can fix up the fees,” said Ekbote.

The other important recommended amendment is that the colleges get autonomy for six years and that the review committee of the UGC inspect the colleges two times during this period. Also, boards of management will also have more members from the colleges and the educationals institute concerned.