HRD Ministry says yes to autonomous colleges to offer degrees

The HRD ministry has decided to allow 441 autonomous colleges across the country to offer degrees. This step has been taken to strengthen these autonomous colleges across the country and give some relief to universities. But, it would need an amendment in the UGC Act.

By the end of the 12th Plan, out f 441 colleges 45 colleges would be changed into universities and will get permission to offer their own degrees. This decision was taken at a meeting of selected autonomous colleges with HRD ministry and officials in more than a decade after regulations came into existence.

It was also considered in the meeting to promote the research and innovation, universities should offer affiliation to few colleges. The ministry said, “Some of the universities have more than 800 colleges affiliated to them with the result that their entire time is consumed by routine administrative tasks leaving little time for research and innovation. On the other hand, many of these colleges though imparting high level of education having potential for research are not allowed to grow as they are not allowed to work beyond the limits prescribed by the University system.”

Education secretary Ashok Thakur thinks that the system of autonomous colleges could help in keeping a check on the role of affiliation process. This can be achieved by upgrading the autonomous colleges with ‘A’ National Assessment and Accreditation Council accreditation (46 out of 441 colleges are ‘A’ grade) the status of a Deemed University, State University or just give them autonomy to offer degrees by making changes in the UGC Act.