Autonomy of the Universities

Autonomy of the Universities. University Departments/

Conducted Colleges, Affiliated Colleges.

1. Introduction

Much ink has been split to convene  how  ‘Education’  can change  and cause to the better  scenario of the country. Educated people are the assets of the country especially  from the  higher education. Therefore  it is the duty of the government to provide the opportunities  to people to get higher education . But it is not possible at the government level .In effect,  the Government  encouraged  the private institutions  to establish colleges and universities. Therefore  many private institutions  sprang up and  started many  Schools , Colleges , Deemed  Universities. etc. Government had kept  control  over these institutions. Therefore  they  do not avail  the Autonomy and out of this  the demand  of  Autonomy come s forward.

1. Meaning of  the  Autonomy

Autonomy  means independency and  includes Administrative Autonomy, Academic Autonomy and Monetary Autonomy for the programmes and courses  run through the institutions or  universities. There will be  no external control  of the  Government or any other outsiders over all the activities  of the Institutions  or  of  the universities.

Administrative  Autonomy

Administrative Autonomy includes  -

i)                    fixing the number of seats for the programme.

ii)                   finalising the shape ,size and number of books to be printed.

iii)                 selecting the kind of paper  and  mode of the printing.

iv)                 fixing the duration of the  academic year

v)                  and such type of administrative activities to be included in.

Academic  Autonomy

Academic Autonomy  includes-

i)                    selecting of programmes.

ii)                   selecting of  the Courses included in the programmes

iii)                 selecting the content of the Courses

iv)                 selecting the teaching methods.

v)                  selecting the evaluation  pattern.

vi)                 holding examinations/ tests

vii)               awarding  Degrees/Diplomas/ Certificates

viii)              declaring Scholarships for the teachers

ix)                 declaring  Scholarships and  Awards  for the Students.

x)                  and any other like academic  activities promoting academic freedom to the teachers , students and institutions , colleges and universities.

Monetary  Autonomy

Monetary autonomy includes –

i)                    fixing the fees for  per  programme .

ii)                   fixing the fees for  per course.

iii)                 mode of collection of fees.

iv)                 fixing the  salary  of the teachers  and mode of payment

v)                  fixing the examination fees and mode of collecting it.

vi)                 and any other like Monetary Autonomy sources of collecting money.

Thus , Autonomy  means and includes administrative autonomy, academic autonomy ,monetary autonomy and other like autonomy which facilitates the  freedom  and  the independence to the institutions , colleges and universities.

Then the question arises  wether  we  are considering  all these type of autonomy   or   only  of Academic  Autonomy.  Here , the whole discussion is only of Academic Autonomy and not other type of autonomy.

1. Education Policies and Its Implementation .

NATIONAL  LEVEL EDUCATION

POLICY

STATE LEVEL  EDUCATION

POLICY

UNIVERSITIES

COLLEGES

Education  Policy is decided at the National  Level . Every State has to follow this  policy with certain necessary  modifications as per the requirement of the State. The  Universities established in the State  follow the policy of the Nation  and also  of the State. Every  University Departments/Conducted  Colleges or Affiliated Colleges of the Universities mostly  follow the policies of the  Universities. They are directly related to the Universities and some sort of relation with the  State  and  with the Nation.

4. Autonomy at Various Levels.

Though     we are  discussing about the  autonomy , it is necessary to observe  Autonomy  at different levels to get the clear idea about it. The following  some points will through  the light on this issue.

4.1 Autonomy  of the  University

Autonomy  of the University means  and includes  all three types of  Autonomy i.e. Administrative  Autonomy, Academic  Autonomy and also Monetary  Autonomy.  Every  University  will have  the freedom to choose  number of the seats for each Programme or the  Course and also the freedom of deciding the  fee structure for each Programme or the Course.

4.2 Autonomy  of the  University Departments /Conducted Colleges

Autonomy of the  University Departments or the Conducted Colleges   means and includes the  freedom  of the University Departments or the Conducted colleges   from various  Bodies  and Boards like  Technical Board ,  National  Commission  for Education,  Research  and Training (NCERT), Medical  Board and Agricultural Board. from whom they seek recognition. The University Department or the Conducted Colleges  will have  the authority to launch any programme or course without the approval of these Bodies or  Boards.  And also they can launch any Programme or Course  after approval of the Body established for the Department  and not to seek approval of the Senate or the Board of Management of the University.

4.3 Autonomy  of the Affiliated Colleges

Affiliated  Colleges are  under the control  and supervision  of the Universities. The  Autonomy  of  the Affiliated Colleges means the  freedom  of them pertaining to the launching the  Programmes or  the Courses without the approval of the University Authority i.e. Academic Council  and also  selecting the content ,procedure for evaluation , examination pattern, and awarding degrees / diplomas/ certificates.

4.4 Difference amongst  Autonomy of  the University, University Departments/Conducted Colleges and Affiliated Colleges.

While  discussing about the autonomy of the Universities and  colleges ,one has to take into account the difference amongst these various kinds of Autonomies. Colleges are under the control  and supervision  of the Universities. They need autonomy means they need freedom  from the Universities .

And  Universities need the  freedom from various  bodies  like  Technical Board ,  National  Commission  for Education,  Research  and Training (NCERT), Medical  Board and Agricultural Board. from whom they seek recognition .

Therefore  it is necessary to decide   the role of the universities  if colleges are given autonomy  and the  role of  the other bodies in case of the autonomy of the   Universities as well as autonomy of the colleges.

1. Need of Academic Autonomy

Academic Autonomy  is essential  to the Universities  or  Colleges because university or colleges  can decide the following  matters at the level of them independently.

5.1  Freedom  of  Launching   Programmes or Courses

Academic  autonomy will permit the universities and colleges  to launch their  own programmes or courses as they want  as per their regional requirement. The main reason  behind the academic autonomy is to satisfy the needs of the local area and not to compel the programmes which are irrelevant  to the local needs.

Some times   the programmes or the courses and the content of the courses selected at the level of the Universities may not useful to the students of that area  where the colleges are established.  There are the different problems they face at that area and they can not  launch the programmes or courses to solve those problems.  Therefore  the colleges need the autonomy.

5.2 Freedom of  Choosing the Content  for the Programmes or the Courses

When  the programmes or the courses are developed  as per the local needs , the content of the programmes or the courses has to be selected or written  as per the needs  of the local  area. Academic  autonomy  permits  the universities and colleges  in this regard.

5.3  Freedom of  finding  procedure for  Implementation and Choosing  various  Teaching Methods.

Once a suitable programme is lunched and content is chosen, it is necessary   to decide  procedure for its implementation and also for  method of teaching .Every university or the college is free to decide it when it is an autonomous one.

5.4 Freedom of  deciding the Procedure of Evaluation Pattern

5.5 Freedom of deciding the  Procedure of  Conducting the  Tests or  the Examinations

Every autonomous universities or the colleges have the freedom to decide  the procedure of conducting the tests or the  examinations. They may  choose Class Tests, Assignments and End Examination .They may allow  to appear for six papers or seven papers or eight papers at a time.

5.6 Freedom of  Declaration of Awards of  Degrees/ Diplomas /Certificates

1. Every  autonomous universities or the colleges  have the freedom of declaring awards of  degrees/ diplomas/certificates. They may  select the dates as per their conveyance  and also choose the   kind of paper and  printing as per their choice.

5.7 Freedom of  Declaring  the  Awards of Scholarships to the Teachers and Students

5.8 To avail the freedom and independence  in any other such academic matters

There are any other such type of  academic related matters  which  every autonomous universities or the colleges avail the freedom to decide over the matter.

Thus there are various reasons  behind the necessity of Academic Autonomy of the Colleges and Universities. The demand of  big colleges  are also to be considered  in this regard.

6. Problems of  Academic Autonomy

Amongst  all the problems , following are the main problems  to grant  Academic Autonomy   to the  Universities and Colleges.

6.1 Problem of  Standardisation

1. The question of standardisation  may arise  if the colleges  and universities  are granted  Academic Autonomy. The programmes may have not required courses and there will be no guarantee  in selecting  proper  and suitable content   for the course/s.

6.2 Problem of  Equivalency

The  question of equivalency  may also arise  pertaining to the various programmes  and  courses  of  different  universities and  colleges.

6.3 Problem of   Acquiring  Additional Qualification

The question may also arise about the entry mode to the programmes or courses if  the student desires to study further or acquire an additional qualification .

6.4 Problem of  Replication

Academic Autonomy may lead  duplication of work and one type of  work may be done by different colleges or the universities and it is loss of expenditure.

6.5 Problem of  Jurisdiction

The  question of jurisdiction  may arise  if  every colleges and universities  are autonomous.

6.6 Problem of  unhealthy competition

Healthy  competition is always welcome .But indefinite jurisdiction may bring  unhealthy competition.

6.7 Problem of fixing the number of seats

If  there is no control over the number of the seats for per programme or   the course , it will be created problem pertaining to the number of seats.

6..8 Problem of treating the financial source

It is  not bad to lunch the programmes to gain monetary benefits to the universities or to the  colleges. But that motto will defeat the aim of the education . It should not be treated as a mere  financial  source keeping aside the extending benefits to the society.

6.9 Problem of Demand and Supply

It is necessary to observe the demand of the society and provide that number of seats through the universities or the colleges. It is not observed presently, too. But it is necessary to strictly adhere to the demand and supply principle.

6.10 Problem of deciding the role of  related bodies

There is a Technical Board  to give recognition to the programmes of technical nature, especially  Science and technological programmes. There is  National  Commission  for Education, Research  and Training (NCERT) to  give recognition for training colleges. Medical  Board and Agricultural Board are also boards to give recognitions  for medical and agricultural programmes It is to be decided the role of these bodies .  Moreover what role will remain to the Text Book  Creation  Body is also  to be decided.

6.11 Problem of deciding the role of Common Entrance Tests.

6.12 Problem of Management Quota

When the colleges and universities  are autonomous , the problem of management quota  will not be needed . They may be free to have the admissions as they decide,

6.13 Problem of  Regional Dominancy

Every  colleges or universities are bound to reserve admissions  at least 90% to the local / regional students and then they may admit external /foreign students . The Autonomy in this regard  may create a problem.

6.14 Problem of Supervision and Control

The  question of Supervision and also of  the  Control may be discussed if the  autonomy is given  to the concern  institutions.

7. Policy  Regarding Autonomy

All  the  following concepts are being used in  Open  Universities and proved  beneficial to the students. Therefore  these concepts are reproduced for solving various problems  illuminated  above  as the problems of  granting Autonomy to the  Universities, University Departments/Conducted Colleges, Affiliated Colleges.

7.1 Concept of   Interdisciplinary  Approach /Multi-skill  Approach

1. The same case of the awarding  any  Degree.

7.2 Concept of  Programme and  Course Approach

It   is necessary   to make available the variety of  courses to the students. The courses  that are  short  term  courses ,medium  term  courses and also long term courses. The duration  of the term is calculated on the bases of  credit points.

1. After completion of the Course/s  the students may be  awarded the Certificates and  after completion of the Programme , the students may be awarded Diplomas or the Degrees as the case may be .

7.3 Concept  of Credit Points  Approach

Every Course  should carry  certain Credit Points. Credit Points  means  the value attached to the  Course in terms of Credits. The time required for studying the  Course is calculated in terms of credit. Generally  30 to 35  hours  timing for study  is calculated as one  credit point. Every  Course is consisted of   Six to Eight Credit points. A Certificate may  be  awarded after  successfully completing  the Courses  prescribed for the programme.

After successful completing the  Four  Courses i.e. 32 Credit  Points (for example) , one should be awarded a Diploma . And  it is required  96 Credit points for awarding the Degree then.

7.4 Concept of  Ladder Approach.

The following ladder will help to know the concept.

Foundation  Courses     (32 Credit Points)                  Degree

+

Another  Diploma          (32 Credit Points)                 Diploma

+

Foundation Course (8 Credit Points )                   Diploma

+

Course           (8 Credit Points )                Certificate

+

Course            (8 Credit Points )                Certificate

+

Course            (8 Credit Points )                Certificate

8. Remedies over the Problems.

8.1 To Maintain  the  Standard

1. It is necessary  to  adopt the concept of Credit Points  to maintain the Standard  of the Courses or the Programmes. Each student has to study   certain  Credit point study in that subject without which  he will not be awarded the Certificate or the Diploma or the Degree . Therefore it is necessary to implement it as a policy to maintain the Standard.

8.2 To Decide the  Equivalency of the Courses  or  of the Programmes.

If the standard is maintained  and the concept of  Credit Points is accepted  there will be no any difficulty in deciding the Equivalency  of the  Courses. It is useful to decide  the  Equivalency of the same subject  taught by different Colleges or the Universities or  of the  different  subjects.

8.3 To  Acquire the  Additional Qualification

8.4 To  Avoid  the  Duplication of Work

Autonomous  Universities  or Colleges  must exchange  their  Programmes or the  Courses to each other to avoid the  duplication of work . They may be permitted to make changes in it as per their  regional necessities

8.5 To Decide the  Jurisdiction

The  question of  Jurisdiction  may arise after granting the  Autonomy to the  Colleges as to the Universities. The  Autonomy  grants   the  colleges  to lunch their own  Courses or the Programmes as per their  requirements.  The teaching method  they adopt may be  through internet. Therefore, the question of Jurisdiction  may create the  problem in this regard. And  it needs to Fix the Jurisdiction  of every Autonomous College  or to the University.

This matter  is not so important . It is  better, if arise,  to  control over the unfair means, if any,  because of  this issue 

8.6 To Avoid the  Unhealthy Competition

8.7 To  Fix the Number of  Seats

Now,  various Bodies or the Boards  decide  the number of seats  for any Programme . If the Autonomy is granted , there will be no restriction  remained  to the Colleges especially to the Vocational /Professional /Technical Programmes.  Therefore , while granting the autonomy , it is necessary  to fix the number of seats especially for the Vocational /Professional /Technical Programmes

8.8 To Control  from Treating the Financial Source

1. The Autonomy may  lead  this tendency  but   it is required  to provide the Courses or the Programmes at low prices  to the  local  Students.

8.9 To Maintain the Ratio of  Demand and Supply

Our Planning Commission  may raise the question of  observing   the National /State  Ratio of  Demand and Supply  in the particular  field. More Engineers to the Nations or the States may remain idol  and it will be the loss of the society. Therefore  this issue is to be kept in  mind  while granting the Autonomy. It is better to fix the number of seats for per Course or to the per Programme  before launching  them.

8.10 To Decide the Role of  Related  Bodies

The  related Bodies or the Boards are  to remain as they are  to decide the number of seats and also compelling to keep up with certain  requirements to launch the Course or the Programme . They will carry on their functions under   one National  Commission  of Higher Education and Research. (NCHER)

8.11 To Decide the Role of Common Entrance Tests.

It is necessary to decide the necessity of  CET, PMT,SEE, AREEE, etc One National  Board  for conducting 12th standard examination will be established  as suggested by Yash Pal Committee It  will be the remedy for this issue.  The marks obtained at this examination will be treated for entrance of various professional programmes. Then there will not be such type of  common entrance tests.

8.12 To Fix the  Management Quota

If the Autonomy is given , the answer is very clear. But certain rules must be established for the purpose of deciding  Management quota.

8.13 To Maintain the  Regional Dominancy

The  local students are to be enrolled on priority  basis. The of 90 % seats will be kept for local students.

8.14 To Make Provision for  Supervision and Control

1. Summing up

Autonomy means and includes administrative autonomy, academic autonomy, monetary autonomy and other like autonomy which facilitates the freedom and the independence to the institutions, colleges and universities.           But we are considering autonomy in the limited sense i.e. Academic Autonomy only. Therefore it is to be decided to what extent other type of Autonomy, if we want, is going to be granted. Moreover the problems will be solved with issuing certain policy decisions. The paper  is only to throw light on these all matters and not to suggest all the remedies to solve the problems.

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