INDIAN VARSITIES NEED TO FOCUS ON RESEARCH AND QUALITY TEACHING

Why does India need autonomous colleges? Such institutes can help in the growth of more research-oriented universities, say experts. While there are autonomous colleges with a standing of more than 100 years that still cannot grant degrees, others, especially several new private universities, with no track record in teaching or research, have permissions to do so.

Ashok Thakur, former secretary to the government of India, department of higher education, HRD ministry, says, “The first right of an institution to become a university should be that of an autonomous college both for a private university as well as deemed university. Currently, the autonomous colleges identified by the UGC have earned this status on the basis of their proven record on a number of indicators. As a consequence, they are supposed to enjoy considerable academic and administrative freedom. Many of them have a glorious legacy and continue to be excellent centres for teaching and research. Stella Maris (established 1947) and Women’s Christian (1915) in Chennai, St Xavier’s (1869) in Mumbai, Nizam College (1887), Hyderabad, St Joseph’s College in Bengaluru (1882) have excellent claims to be converted into universities. They deserve to become a university first than an upstart private state university.”

Thakur feels the affiliation system is a major stumbling block in achieving excellence. “Colleges cannot grow beyond the limits set by the university no matter how good they are; they cannot start new programmes, amend their curriculum or conduct their own exams. Some of the oldest universities in the country – University of Mumbai, University of Pune, Osmania University, University of Nagpur have over 700 colleges affiliated to them. No wonder none of the Indian universities figure in the top 200 universities of the world as there is no time for research or quality teaching,” he adds.