Grant on Autonomy

7/28/2019 Grant on Autonomy

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TAMIL NADU STATE COUNCIL FOR HIGHER

EDUCATION

REPORT ON THE SEMINAR FOR PRINCIPALS

OF COLLEGES BEING CONSIDERED FOR

GRANT OF AUTONOMY

July 2005


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Report on the seminar for Principals of Colleges being considered for

Grant of Autonomy held on 30th

July 2005.

The Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education has been

encouraging colleges to apply for autonomy and has been assisting them in

obtaining autonomous status. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has

called for applications from colleges for consideration for grant of autonomous

status during the year 2005. After scrutinising these applications it proposed to

proceed with inspections of 30 colleges in the country of which 18 are colleges

in Tamil Nadu (Annexure 1). As was done last year a seminar was organised for

the Principals of colleges of Tamil Nadu being considered by the UGC for

approval for grant of autonomy. Accordingly the seminar was organized on

30.7.2005. For the benefit of the participants, study materials were circulated in

advance (Annexure 2).

The following were invited to the seminar as Resource Persons.

Prof. K. Aludiapillai I.A.S. (Retd.), Former Vice-Chancellor, Madurai Kamaraj

University, Dr. E. Ilamathian, Director, Academic Staff College, University of

Madras, Dr. N. Karunanidhi, Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Dr.

Alexander Mantramurthi, Former Principal, Madras Christian College and Dr.

M. Thavamani, Principal, Ethiraj College for Women. All of them participated

in the seminar.

The Vice Chancellors of the universities and the Deans of the Colleges /Registrars were also invited to participate in the programme. The following

Registrars / Deans attended: Prof. V.K. Padmanaban, Dean i/c, College

Development Council, University of Madras, Dr. P. Ramanathan, Dean i/c,

College Development Council, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University and Dr.

V. Algappan, Registrar and Dean i/c, Madurai Kamaraj University.


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The list of Principals or their representatives who attended the seminar is

given in Annexure 3.

At the beginning, the Member Secretary and the resource persons madetheir observations. Thereafter the Principals gave details about their institutions

and explained the preparations made by their institutions and also raised some

doubts. The resource persons provided the necessary clarifications.

Need for Autonomy

It was clear from the observations made by the principals that they fully

appreciate the need for autonomy if the colleges have to develop academically

and offer new innovative programmes to meet the needs and aspirations of the

community they serve. They also feel that autonomy will help the institutions to

become distinctly different from other institutions. They have also been

preparing themselves to take up the responsibilities that go with the autonomous

status. They also felt that autonomy will improve the quality of students and

make them employable in this competitive world.

Anticipated Problems

The institutions were keen to get autonomous status as early as possible.

There were number of tips from the participants, Deans etc about the revision of

syllabi, starting of new courses, getting comments and views from the public

about the course contents, tackling of finance related problems etc. Some raised

doubts about autonomy to institution, autonomy to course, autonomy to regular

course and Self-Financing Course in the same institutions etc.

Initiatives taken by the institutions

From the observations made by the principals, it was seen that most of the

institutions have taken some steps for implementing autonomy. They are the

following:


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* Adequate information about autonomy has been provided to

academic and administrative staff and students.

* Improvement in infrastructure, library equipments and

accommodation for academic activities have been made.

* Various statutory and non-statutory committees including Board of

Studies for various disciplines have been constituted.

* Departments are gathering information and syllabi aboutinnovative courses and restructured courses.

* Preparations are being made to introduce choice based creditsystem.

* Seminars on Autonomy were organised for the faculty members.

* Faculty members have been motivated to get involved in the

planning process of implementing autonomy.

* All institutions have been already assessed and accredited by

National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

* Managements are ready to shoulder new responsibilities for the

cause of higher education.

Concluding Remarks

In general the principals are anxious to get the autonomous status for their

colleges for all the courses offered by the college including the self-financing

courses. The Principals were also anxious to go in for autonomy in the current

semester itself, as it will be helpful in achieving the goal at the earliest. Most of

the colleges are ready to implement autonomy immediately and were pleading

for the grant of autonomy from this academic year itself.


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Annexure 1

List of Colleges

University of Madras

1. Madras School of Social Work,2. Justice Basheer Ahmed Syeed Women's College,3. Shrimathi Devkunvar Nanalal Bhatt Vaishnav College for Women4. Dr.Ambedkar Govt. Arts College,5. Lady Willingdon Institute of Advanced Study in Education,6. The New College,7. Meston College of Education,8. Dhanraj Baid Jain College,

Madurai Kamaraj University

1. Subbulakshmi Lakshmipathy College of Science,2. Yadava College,3. E.M.Gopala Krishna Kone Yadava Womens College,

Thiruvalluvar University

1. Dhanabagiyam Krishna Swamy Mudaliar College for Women,2. Auxilium College for Women,

Periyar University

1. Government Arts College, Salem

Manonmaniam Sundaranar University

1. St. Xaviers College of Education,

Bharathidasan University

1. Government Arts College, Karur2. Government College for Women, Kumbakonam

Bharathiar University

1. Karpagam Arts & Science College,


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Annexure 2

Study Materials

TAMIL NADU STATE COUNCIL FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

SEMINAR FOR PRINCIPALS OFCOLLEGES BEING CONSIDERED FOR GRANT OF AUTONOMY

2.1 NOTES ON AUTONOMY

Need for Autonomy

The affiliating system of colleges was designed when there were a

small number of colleges in every university. The university could then

effectively oversee the working of the colleges. The system has now becomeunwieldy and it is becoming increasingly difficult for a university to attend

to the needs of the individual colleges. The academic development of the

colleges has also suffered because of the rigidity of the regulations of the

university. The Education Commission (1964-66) pointed out that colleges

which have the potential for offering newer programmes or programmes of

higher standard need the freedom to offer such programmes. Therefore, it

recommended grant of autonomy to colleges in order to promote academicexcellence.

When the University Grants Commission decided to promote granting

of autonomy to colleges it introduced a scheme in 1978 for providing

financial assistance to the autonomous colleges.

Tamil Nadu State was the first in the country to grant autonomy to

colleges in 1978. Even to this day Tamil Nadu stands foremost in granting

autonomy with more than 30% of the colleges in the country granted

autonomy being in Tamil Nadu. The Government of Tamil Nadu last

reviewed the working of the autonomous colleges in 1989. The University

Grants Commission last revised its guidelines for autonomous colleges in

1998. The Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education, established in

1992, has been anxious to promote autonomy of educational institutions


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from its very inception; and it has been encouraging the colleges to apply for

autonomy and assisting them in obtaining autonomous status.

Achievements of Autonomous CollegesThe State Council organised a workshop to have a frank and free

discussion on how to make the best use of autonomy. In that workshop the

following observations were made regarding the achievements of the

autonomous colleges:

The autonomous scheme has made it possible for the colleges to

include in the curriculum elements of personality development apart

from updating and upgrading the syllabus resulting in an overall

development of the students of these colleges. When the teachers

observe their products are blossoming into better citizens, they have a

sense of satisfaction.

Academic freedom has provided opportunity for

- revising the curriculum with a focus on need based courses and

current trends

- introduction of inter-disciplinary courses, job-oriented courses,

skill-based training

- computerisation and modernization of traditional subjects in

tune with recent up-to-date developments

- introducing extension programmes, like literacy with social

relevance

- introducing value-based education

- introduction of credit based system with varying optionals

providing flexibility to the students to study the subjects of their

choice and interest

- introducing broad-based education

- wholesome personality development of the students.


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With reference to examination and evaluation,

- the continuous assessment and the innovative methods of

evaluation help in assessing the students more effectively

- the imbalance in question paper is averted and

- results are published promptly.

The students have derived the following additional benefits:

- relevant education makes the students resourceful and

successful

- dynamic equilibrium in tune with academic and recent

development- participation in academic governance

Factors Considered for Grant of Autonomy

The University Grants Commission in its guidelines for grant of

autonomy during the X Plan has identified the following factors to be

considered for granting autonomous status to a college:

(a) Academic reputation and previous performance in university

examination and its academic/co-curricular/extension activities

in the past.

(b) Academic/extension achievements of the faculty.

(c) Quality and merit in the selection of students and teachers,

subject to statutory requirements in this regard.

(d) Adequacy of infrastructure, for example, library, equipment,

accommodation for academic activities, etc.

(e) Quality of institutional management

(f) Financial resources provided by the management/State

Government for the development of the institution

(g) Responsiveness of administrative structure

(h) Motivation and involvement of faculty in the promotion of

innovative reforms.


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Preparing a College for Autonomy

There are several areas where proper preparation is necessary if

college autonomy is to be implemented successfully. These are: faculty

preparation, departmental preparation, institutional preparation and

preparation of students and the local community. Such multi-pronged

preparation should be completed well before autonomy is sought and

conferred upon a college so that no part of the college community is found

unprepared for the new responsibility which it is called upon to shoulder.

Faculty preparation: It is essential to get the staff of the college

involved in the thinking and planning processes from the beginning.

Seminars, workshops and consultations may be organised to make the staff

familiar with the concept, objectives and rationale of autonomy. (This will

help them have a sense of participation in decision making and motivate

them to get involved in the entire exercise). This could form part of the

academic calendar of the college.

Departmental preparation: An important responsibility of the

department is that of designing suitable courses in the major and related

subjects, introducing new courses of study, renaming obsolete courses by

changing their content, updating existing courses to match the current

state-of-the-art in each discipline, and preparing course materials and

human resources. These will be done in the light of the general objectives of

autonomy and the specific objectives of the education institutions.

Academic innovations: The following academic innovations are to

adopted:

(a) Semester pattern of study

(b) Continuous internal assessment

(c) Credit/grading system

(d) Student feedback

(e) Self-appraisal by teachers


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Institutional preparation: Since an autonomous college is called

upon to perform many of the functions that the university has hitherto

performed, it must study the academic, administrative/management and

financial implications of such a changeover and prepare itself to discharge

its new functions efficiently.

Concluding Remarks

The academics of every educational institution must realise the need

for autonomy and aspire for autonomous status for their institution. The

achievements of those institutions which have been enjoying autonomy for

some years now may be studied in order to understand what are the

advantages of autonomous status. A study of the criteria for grant of

autonomy and the steps in preparing for autonomy will provide the

necessary information for guiding the institutions to take up the new

responsibility and achieving academic excellence.


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Dr. K. Vasantha,Principal,E.M.Gopala Krishna Kone

Yadava Womens College,Madurai 625 014.

Thiruvalluvar University

Prof. R. Manimekalai,S.G. Lecturer, Dept. of Mathematics,Dhanabagiyam Krishna Swamy

Mudaliar College for Women,Sainathapuram,Vellore 632 001.

Sr.Alphonsa Mary R.Principal,Auxilium College for Women,

Gandhi Nagar,Vellore 632 006.

Periyar University

Prof. S. Murugesan,Principal,Government Arts College,Salem 636 007.

Manonmaniam Sundaranar University

Rev. Dr. S. Sebastian, S.J.Principal,St. Xaviers College of Education,Palayamkottai,Tirunelveli 627 002.

Bharathidasan University

Tmt. P. Chandra,Principal,Government Arts College,Thanthonimalai,

Karur 639 005.

Ms. Shirin Harris,Lecturer in English (S.G.),Government College for Women,Kumbakonam 612 001.

Bharathiar University

Dr. G. Sekar,Principal,Karpagam Arts & Science College,

Pollachi Main Road,Eachanari Post,Coimbatore 641 021.


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2.2 Points that emerged during the workshop for Principals of Colleges

which have applied for autonomy held on 30-7-2005 at Chennai

Prof. K. Aludiapillai, IAS (Retd.)

1. Universities in Tamil Nadu are playing a pro-active role in enabling

colleges acquire autonomous status

2. Freedom is given to autonomous colleges to design and offer new and

innovative course not available at present in any college

3. Universities will place at the disposal of autonomous colleges their

expertise in all academic matters including innovative evaluation systems

and framing of curriculum in new and emerging areas

4. Frequent interaction between autonomous college Principals and the

university might be helpful. However, within the framework of rules and

regulations autonomous colleges should take their own decisions making

the term autonomy more meaningful.

5. Since the tempo for grant of autonomy has picked up the status may be

granted with effect from the current academic year itself (2004-05).

6. Any delay in the grant of autonomy might slacken the enthusiasm of

students and staff who have been prepared to work under autonomy

7. Government should play a facilitating role in filling up/permitting the

filling up of vacancies immediately.

8. The visits of the inspection commission (for grant of autonomous statusto colleges) from University Grants Commission, University and

Government should be arranged very early.

9. The need for detailed examination of the college for grant of autonomy

by various agencies can be reviewed in the context of the institutions

having been assessed and accredited by National Assessment and

Accreditation Council.


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10. Timely action by the Deans of the College Development Council to get

the applications processed and follow up action for nomination of

university representatives on the Academic Council, Boards of Studies,

Awards Committee, etc. will he helpful

11. Frequent interaction between colleges which are to be granted autonomy

shortly may be arranged so that they can benefit from mutual experience

particularly to overcome certain bottlenecks and constraints experienced.

12. Participative approach is being followed by Principals in bringing

together all faculty, non-teaching staff and students and the right mood

and expectation created among all stakeholders and hence the grant ofautonomy should be speeded up since the time is most opportune.


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2.3 PREPARATION FOR AUTONOMY

Dr. A. Mantramurti,

Principal,Madras Christian College

(Autonomous)

The concept of autonomy is a dream dreamt at two different levels, one,

the UGC and the other, the Institution of Higher Learning the College. The

UGC in its X Plan Guidelines has authentically articulated its dream for

autonomous colleges by granting almost unfettered freedom in the realm of

academic innovation. Some Colleges on their part have been fortunate in

dreaming along with the UGC and realizing the dream almost to the fullest

extent.

For the dream of autonomy to be effectively realized, there is yet another

major component acting as the enabler comprising the State Government and

the affiliating University. Autonomy can be a success only when there is a

judicious combination of these three components, viz. the UGC, the State

Government and the Parent University and the College. Even if one of these

three does not rise up to the occasion, the dream cannot be realized. The

experience of autonomous colleges in general which have completed two

decades and more under autonomous mode is that there is an inherent lack of

desire to let go the umbilical cord and let the autonomous institutions really

blossom as envisioned by the UGC.

The State Government and/or the parent university, instead of playing a

decisive role as an enabler tends to evolve under the guise of monitoring, a

mechanism that really undermines the spirit of autonomy. Instead of identifying

and addressing erring institutions, a blanket sanction is imposed crippling

academic innovativeness. For instance, the UGC's opening statement in the X


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Plan Guidelines says The only safe and better way to improve the qualify of

undergraduate education is to delink most of the colleges from the affiliating

structure. Colleges with academic and operative freedom are doing better and

have more credibility providing absolute academic freedom for evolving

innovative courses, the only requirement being that such a programme should

be passed by the Academic Council of the respective autonomous college as

there is no other external body that has to ratify such an initiative. But some

universities in Tamil Nadu through their Syndicate have set aside such a

provision of the UGC under the by that they are mere guidelines.

If autonomy is to really blossom and fructify in full, the following issues

are to be addressed with all earnestness. Despite such unwarranted constraints,

those colleges which have completed 25 years of autonomy like Madras

Christian College have much to offer by way of learning and preparative

strategies to those now seeking autonomous status as autonomy has been a great

experience as indicated below:

Advantages:

(i) Innovative curriculum can be framed within the nomenclature of the

degree offered by the parent University. For instance, the curriculum

of the BCA programme the College offers has many of innovative

papers not offered by the University of Madras.

(ii) Innovative learning techniques can be adopted to suit the innovative

curriculum such as field trips, surveys, use of audio visual aids, etc.

(iii) Innovative assessment methods can be evolved for the internal

components like quiz, peer assessment, problem solving, etc.

(iv) Credible evaluation pattern can be drawn for early publication of

results and also effective grievance redressal system.


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Syllabi can be reviewed periodically even if required every semester to

ensure updating of courses such as Computer Science as Board of Studies and

Academic Council can be convened every semester

Autonomy has enabled student involvement in the academic affairs of the

College right from being active members of the respective Boards of Studies to

the highest academic policy making body such as the Academic Council.

Genuine innovativeness is possible, despite constraints, on academic

initiatives under autonomy. The basic pre-requisite is that one must bedistinctly different and continue to be different. Autonomy provides for this

within the framework permitted by the affiliating university. Some like the

Madurai Kamaraj University has a proven track record of enabling autonomy to

blossom to the fullest by implementing the guidelines of the UGC in toto.

While some others have not be so.

If autonomy is to be popularized, constant effort should be taken by

authorities at different levels. The UGC should give a clear mandate to

affiliating Universities to be generous in enabling colleges to blossom under

autonomy. The University statutes should also be so amended as to provide

sufficient scope for Colleges to function autonomously and this relationship

should be strengthened through consultations between the autonomous colleges

and the parent university at the instance of the latter.

Independent agencies like the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher

Education must take proactive role in trying to obtain the concerns of

autonomous colleges and address them with the appropriate authorities by way

of championing their cause instead of letting autonomous colleges to fend for

themselves.


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Only when the College dreams along with the UGC and the University

understands the need for such a dream and regulates itself to help the College

in realizing the dream can autonomy ever succeed.

Grant on Autonomy

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