Autonomous colleges to offer 4-yr degree course from this year

Autonomous colleges, university departments and institutes having PG courses will lead the NEP implementation in the state from the academic year 2023-24.

“Autonomous colleges have the liberty to decide their academics. They do not require universities to develop a plan for the same. They can begin the four-year degree courses from the upcoming academic year. For other colleges, however, universities will prepare a detailed plan-of-action,” said Patil addressing media at the Sahyadri guest house.

He added that the universities have been given a deadline of September 2023 to ready the roadmap. It further has to be finalized by the year-end taking into consideration all the confusion faced by students and professors along with details on course contents, flexibility of academic credits among all. And in the first week of January 2024, final details will have to be declared for all colleges to prepare for offering the four-year degree course from the next academic year.

Patil continued, “Currently there is confusion among students as well as professors, regarding implementation of NEP, especially the 4-year degree courses. This can only intensify if colleges which require help from universities to prepare courses, decide structures and other details are asked to offer the courses from the upcoming academic year. Considering that the universities require time for the same, a new timeline has been prepared after consultation with all universities.”

Patil shared that a marathon of meetings was held in the past few days with vice-chancellors (VC) of all state universities and others from the higher and technical education department following which these decisions are taken.

There are a total of 144 autonomous colleges across Maharashtra and 400-450 institutes offering PG courses, including university departments.

An official from the higher education department explained, “There is ample time for PG courses to start as their admissions are done later, leaving enough time to convert them as per NEP. However, converting three-year degree courses into four-year tenure will require more work. Autonomous colleges can do this on their own and PG institutes still have time. Thus, NEP implementation will be limited to these institutes for the upcoming academic year.”

There are around 36 more colleges who will be acquiring status of autonomous institutes in a few months. However, considering that it will be their first year of autonomous status, it has yet to be decided whether they will be part of those allowed to start NEP.