The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Bangalore University versus autonomous colleges

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Wednesday, Jun 18, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Bangalore University versus autonomous colleges

Chitra V. Ramani

It is the university that establishes the benchmark for higher education
Autonomy has helped impart quality education, say college principals

Bangalore: Does an autonomous college offer a better quality of education than a college that is affiliated to Bangalore University? Parents who can afford the much higher fee structure prefer to send their wards to autonomous colleges as they believe that they are paying for higher standards of teaching and a more up-to-date and rigorous academic programme.

Most principals of autonomous colleges agree that while autonomy has helped them impart quality education, it is wrong to assume that the syllabi of the university are outdated. Indeed, in any State, it is the university that establishes the benchmarks for higher education.

Refuting the notion that autonomous institutions are superior to university colleges, Vice-Chancellor H.A. Ranganath said, “With more than 600 affiliated colleges, Bangalore University is one of the biggest educational institutions. It is, of course, difficult to conduct examinations and announce results in time. Unfortunately, the public has misconceptions about the university,” he said.

Prof. Ranganath said that it is not fair to compare a single institution to a university. “The comparison should be among equals. An autonomous institution probably caters to about 1,000 students. The university has to attend to the needs of the students in the 600 affiliated colleges,” he said.

About the difference in the syllabi levels, he said that the autonomous colleges offer an extension of what is offered by the university.

“We cannot make it advanced because we cater to students from rural and urban areas. The autonomous colleges have the flexibility to update the syllabi according to the needs of their limited number of students. The university does not have that freedom,” he added.

A.H. Rama Rao, president of The National Education Society of Karnataka, said that academic autonomy allows colleges to set their own syllabus, conduct examinations and announce results independently.

“Autonomous colleges have the freedom to do things better. The University Grants Commission only grants autonomy to colleges after they have followed the strict norms set by it,” Dr. Rama Rao added.

Abraham V.M., vice-principal of Christ College, said that parents now prefer to send their wards to autonomous colleges because of the strict adherence to the annual calendar and the innovative curriculum. “We have the freedom to modify the curriculum according to the needs of the students and the industry. Bangalore University cannot update the curriculum often, as they will have to think ofthe students in the government and the aided colleges,” he said.

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