The autonomous Ernakulam Maharaja’s College has decided not to offer any self-financing programmes in the new academic year.
The move comes at a time when most of the autonomous colleges are facing flak for supporting autonomy aimed at commercialising the higher education sector by launching self-financing programmes.
Confirming the development, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis, Chairman of the college governing council, told The Hindu that Maharaja’s will stick to its traditional and core values while trying to modernise itself in tune with the emerging challenges.
“We will ensure the rich heritage and legacy of Maharaja’s. Nothing is going to change other than re-positioning the institution on a new footing,” he said.
Stating that the governing council wanted to constantly engage with the stakeholders including the teachers and students on the campus, Prof. Azis said that they need not feel concerned on whether the college will lose its democratic nature or academic freedom by becoming an autonomous institution. “Instead, we will make sure that the economically backward students in the State get access to excellent standards and facilities,” he said.
Prof. Azis said that government has agreed to release Rs. 10 lakh assistance immediately as special fund towards stepping up various works as part of the new autonomous status for the college. The academic calendar for 2015-16 will soon be put on the college website. The governing council has approved the regulations for the undergraduate courses and the prospectus for admission.
A decision on whether to adopt double valuation for post-graduate courses will be taken at the next governing council meeting.
The council will also discuss whether external evaluation is required for undergraduate courses. The college authorities will soon initiate discussions with government agencies on the online admission process to be implemented from the new academic year.
