NEW DELHI, DEC 4: If autonomous colleges can be a success in the South, why can't the concept work here? Going by that, the University Grants Commission has offered a programme of autonomy to colleges affiliated to Delhi University (DU).The UGC is holding talks with the heads of various colleges in the Capital to determine their response to the concept.``More than 136 colleges in the South, primarily in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, are autonomous institutions. They are doing well,'' UGC Chairperson Dr Hari Gautam told The Indian Express. ``Now, we are approaching colleges affiliated to Delhi University to consider the idea. We are also offering an incentive grant of Rs 30 lakh to autonomous colleges,'' he added.Once a college is granted autonomy, it will enjoy academic freedom, though the parent university and UGC will retain financial control. The college can conduct its own admissions, determine its independent curricula, hold its own examinations and introduce its own system of evaluation. It would, however, retain affiliation to the parent university. Also, the fee structure will be laid down by the UGC and the university concerned.``If the colleges become autonomous, the quality of education imparted will improve,'' the chairperson said. ``They can update the syllabi in keeping with the latest developments without going through long-drawn bureaucratic hassles. At present, the syllabi in many courses offered by DU have not been revised for years,'' Dr Gautam added.However, not every college will be granted autonomy. Only those colleges that have maintained a record of academic excellence for decades can apply, said the Chairman. After that, a committee comprising senior officials of the university and UGC will inspect the college to determine whether it is eligible for autonomy.Moreover, autonomy will be granted for a limited period, said UGC officials, adding that it may be withdrawn by the inspection committee if the college fails to maintain academic excellence.However, DU Registrar Prof K K Panda did not seem too optimistic about the programme. ``According to the present system, all DU colleges enjoy same status. They follow the same statutory provisions laid down by the university. The concept of having autonomous colleges is not in keeping with the federal structure of the university. It's against our culture,'' he argued.He also said that granting autonomy to colleges of academic excellence would be ``unfair on the lesser known colleges of the university. If the better colleges become autonomous, what will DU be left with?''Though college heads think the concept is worth exploring, they seem to know that getting autonomy would not be an easy task. ``Before we apply for autonomy, the university has to approve the concept,'' said the principal of a premier college. ``The university administrative bodies and faculty of the college concerned, both, have to give their consent. Though it's a long-drawn process, it's an idea worth exploring.''
