When the admission process started at the Tezpur Universiy after the first wave of the Covid pandemic, Nilutpal Timsina, currently a final year communication student, Tezpur University found it very easy to process the paper works in his new University. Unlike his classmates, he converted his provisional admission into regular the next day after his admission was accepted. Having studied from an autonomous college in Bengaluru, he says his college made the process easier to get the desired documents such as migration certificate, mark sheets at the earliest amid the pandemic situation.

He said, " there was a travel restriction from Tamil Nadu to Karnataka in November, I was worried to get my graduating documents. My new University was asking us to submit it immediately. I contacted my alma mater Kristu Jayanti Autonomous College in Bengaluru and they were cordial enough to mail me the entire desired document the very next day.” For this, he gives credit to the autonomy of his previous college and says that if it was a non-autonomous college, it would have been tough to get the document without visiting in person. He said, “My College is affiliated to Bangalore University and it is tough to process documents without bribing but UGC [University Grant Commission] has given autonomy to autonomous colleges to issue their documents. I saved myself from visiting the previous university.”

What are Autonomous college ?

Autonomous colleges are some select colleges in India that are granted autonomy by the University Grant Commission (UGC). They are affiliated with a University but they can review existing courses, restructure and redesign courses with the new syllabus on their own. They can introduce new programmes and courses of study with the UGC-specified nomenclature. They have full autonomy to recruit professors, upgrade infrastructure and even in financial matters. However, the degree is awarded by the parent University. According to UGC Regulations on autonomous colleges, it mentions that autonomous colleges have the autonomy to announce results, issue mark sheets, migration and other certificates without the parent university issuing them.

Like Swaminathan, Varsha Baiju, a media student at RMIT University Australia reiterated the benefit of autonomous college. She said, “Apart from the quality education I received, an autonomous college is very efficient when one needs higher education admissions aboard. Due to the collaboration they do with foreign universities, it benefits graduating students to pursue higher education aboard”. Autonomous colleges have easier policies when it comes to collaborating with foreign universities. For Varsha, her college Mount Carmel College (Autonomous), Bengaluru had a tie-up with RMIT University in Australia which eventually helped her to pursue her higher education.

When the pandemic struck and the mode of learning went online, autonomous colleges were the first ones to finish off the final-year exams virtually. They have been given autonomy to conduct the exam and declare the result without having the parent university conduct it.

What benefits does an 'autonomous' tag bring ?

Autonomous colleges have full academic autonomy but without strong financial support, such autonomy would meet a roadblock. Inder Mohan Kapahy, a former UGC member said that the lack of fund would not allow autonomous colleges to effectively implement innovation in the curriculum. He opined that only minor changes can be brought into the picture but the full benefit of academic autonomy would not be seen. However, he said that the “autonomous tag” is a matter of prestige that would eventually help colleges to arrange to fund. “Autonomous tag is a prestigious tag which makes the college special amongst other colleges in a university. Even though there is a funding issue, their tag is enough to get things done, only if done strategically,” he said.

Reverend Father Dr Augestine George, Principal Kristu Jayanti Autonomous College over-phone said, “When our college was granted autonomy, since then our results have improved drastically. With the flexibility in deciding our curriculum and change in the syllabus as per the industry standards, we can impart quality education to the students”. His college—established in 1999—was granted autonomy in 2013 and since then, they have revamped their infrastructure. “After autonomy, we were given free hands to work on research. We have four research facilities which many colleges in India don’t have. We have foreign and domestic collaboration. Above all, we have introduced Choice Based Credit System for the students. I can feel the difference now. Comparing to what we were when it was general college to today, we have come a long way,” he said. Autonomy is prestige and if utilized correctly, the path to success is paved. “It was only due to autonomous tag when our college was chosen as United Nation Academic Impact Hub to work on SDG-1 (no poverty),” he added.

Autonomy allows multidisciplinary education

The grant of autonomy gives room for the colleges to have a high enrollment rate. With a good score from NAAC, added with autonomy status, the college would be recognized across the country. And, it is obvious when a college gets autonomous status, the teaching-learning experience gets enriched. Financial autonomy allows institutions to go beyond a general notion to revamp their infrastructure to a state-of-the-art level.

The flexibility for a student to choose from various electives will impart a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach in their education. In Southern states, in art, science and commerce colleges with autonomy, students are getting an option to choose beyond their discipline. Students have the liberty to choose from subjects, for example, journalism, psychology and computer science as their major in the triple-major programme. Fr. Augustine said, “In our college, we have students who have taken economics, journalism and sociology as their major subject. All three are different subject but when combined, it increases the student’s employability chances. The industry wants someone who knows more than one subject.”

Lower number of autonomous institution in the country

In India, there are 827 autonomous colleges spread across 117 universities in 25 states. The south Indian states account for a lion’s share of autonomous colleges. Tamil Nadu with 227 colleges tops the list, followed by Maharashtra (117), Andhra Pradesh (114), Karnataka (79) and Telangana (74). Large states such as Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, with 12 and 7 autonomous colleges, lag in the list.

The northeastern states have just 8 colleges with autonomy status. Assam and Nagaland have three each whereas, Manipur has two autonomous colleges. For other northeastern states, they don’t even have a single share in the list. Retired Professor Dr Jagannath Upadhyaya said, “There is much reason for the lesser number of autonomous colleges in the northeast. Awareness, lack of interest, no confidence in running an autonomous college and lack of funds are some reason which amounts to this low share. Until 2013, there was just one, however, the situation is going to change.AC

He further adds ,''“Many are not aware whereas, lack of space to expand infrastructure is also another reason for not applying. It’s not that UGC comes to you with autonomy but the college has to apply. They have to fulfil some criteria such as A grade or above in NAAC and such.”

There is lack of motivation of some colleges to apply for autonomous is also considered as a reason for this low share of autonomous colleges. Some are not allowed by the parent universities while, some faces roadblock from UGC. There are many reasons but the lack of interest of educational bodies and government in this regard is not accepted. In Delhi University, even though more than 50 per cent of the colleges are eligible, none are granted autonomy. It is because Delhi University and Government of Delhi works as a barrier which may happen in universities across the Northeast too.

A strong need to have more autonomous institution in the country

Autonomy is an instrument in increasing the excellence of quality education in this country. An autonomous college has many benefits to both the managment as well as students. For colleges which are situated in the far flung and remote places , the tag of an 'autonomous ' institution is the only option to market themselves. State govt especially the education bureaucracy should push to upgrade the standards of educational institutions so that it becomes easier for the institutions to get the autonmous tag.

The autonomous college issue is a new one that is being discussed in the media recently. But the provision of granting autonomy was there with us for four decades.Then 'why there are less number of autonomous college in India?'The answer lies in how the government and educational institutions are functioning towards making it happen. Even if there is no awareness or lack of motivation, were some confidence-building activity conducted in such eligible colleges? It is not yet late. We had zero autonomous colleges a decade and a half ago but today, the numbers have increased considerably by manyfolds. It is a slow process but seeing their neighbouring colleges getting autonomy, others will apply for it. The situation will change, sooner or later.