UGC invites suggestions on Regulations for Autonomous Colleges
Autonomous status shall be granted to colleges initially for a period of ten years. These Regulations provide freedom to the autonomous colleges to determine and prescribe their own courses of study and syllabi and restructure and redesign the courses to suit local needs
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a public notice inviting suggestions on Draft Regulations for granting autonomy to colleges. The UGC has approved the revised guidelines to grant autonomy to affiliated and constituent colleges of universities.
The higher education regulator has uploaded the Draft Regulations, University Grants Commission (Conferment of Autonomous Status Upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges) Regulations, 2022 on its official website.
Earlier it came up with The Regulations in 2018, to encourage college autonomy for promoting broad-based quality education and excellence. These Regulations provide freedom to the autonomous colleges to determine and prescribe their own courses of study and syllabi and restructure and redesign the courses to suit local needs, make it skill oriented and in consonance with the job requirements. Further, the autonomous college may prescribe its own admission rules; evolve methods of assessment, conduct examinations and notification of results; promote research in relevant fields etc.
Autonomous status shall be granted initially for a period of ten years. As per UGC Notice: The higher education in the country is going through a major transformation with the advent of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. UGC has reviewed the existing Regulations to align them with the recommendations of NEP, 2020 with the help of an Expert Committee.”
The UGC has sought feedback on the draft regulations by October 25, 2022.
Who are eligible for Autonomy
The college should have at least 10 years of existence and must be accredited either by NAAC with a minimum ‘A’ Grade (with a score of 3.01 and above on a 4-point scale of NAAC) or by NBA for at least three programme(s) with a minimum score of 675 individually or a corresponding accreditation Grade/score from a UGC empanelled accreditation agency.
However, if the number of programme(s) being run by the institution is less than three, then each of the eligible programme as per NBA norms should secure 675 or more marks. Accreditation status must be valid at least for one year at the time of application submission.
The constituent colleges shall also undergo separate accreditation by NAAC/NBA/UGC empanelled accreditation agencies to be considered eligible.
A College fulfilling the eligibility as per clause 6 of these regulations, intending to become autonomous shall submit the application on the UGC portal anytime during the year. The parent University will examine the application of the college for autonomous status on the UGC portal and give its recommendations along with reasons/justification, within 30 days on the UGC portal.
“If the University does not respond on the UGC portal within 30 days, it shall be presumed that the University has no objection to the processing of the application by the UGC for conferment of autonomous status,” states UGC Draft Regulations.
A Standing Committee of UGC shall examine the application of the College for conferment of autonomous status. The approval/rejection letters may be issued on the basis of the decision of the Standing Committee. The decisions may be ratified by the Commission subsequently.
Autonomous status shall be granted initially for a period of ten years. If the application of a College for the conferment of autonomous status is rejected by the UGC for any reason whatsoever, the college shall be eligible to reapply on the UGC portal, but not before one year from the date of rejection of its earlier application.
The UGC Regulations reads: “An autonomous College can merge with another autonomous college(s)/institution(s) run by the same Parent Body of the Autonomous Colleges, with the prior approval of the Parent University/Universities.
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Abhay an alumnus of IIMC and Delhi University, has over a decade long experience of reporting on various beats of journalism. During his free time he prefers listening to music or play indoor and outdoor games.