The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Madras University Vice-Chancellor lists benefits of autonomy for colleges

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 06, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Madras University Vice-Chancellor lists benefits of autonomy for colleges

Special Correspondent

It ensures "more funds and other benefits for institutions"

CHENNAI: Conferring autonomy on higher education institutions will ensure innovation-linked productivity in higher education, Madras University Vice-Chancellor S.P. Thyagarajan has said.

Fourteen colleges functioning under the university were granted autonomy since 2004. Only 12 colleges held the status prior to 2003, he said while conferring autonomy on seven city-based institutions on Wednesday. With this, the number of autonomous institutions in the city has gone up to 25.

Schemes

Apart from being able to access funds given by the University Grants Commission and apply for a host of schemes, the colleges would also be eligible for financial assistance to revamp curricula, streamline course modules, step up research and start innovative programmes. It would also facilitate independent admission and examination, though the syllabus would have to be approved by the university.

Conferment of autonomy follows adherence to a set of criteria formulated by the UGC, Registrar Anne Mary Fernandez said. The institutions had to be 15-20 years old, must have sound infrastructure and show a penchant for innovation and growth

Mr. Thyagarajan said the university would also submit a proposal for re-accreditation with the National Assessment and Accreditation Council. From this year on, MBA/MCA courses in autonomous colleges would also come under the autonomy stream.

"Autonomous status enjoins on us the responsibility to be accountable and transparent and set our targets higher," Fatima Vasanth, principal, The Madras School of Social Work, said in her acceptance speech on behalf of all the recipients.

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