This academic year, studying in an autonomous college may not be an expensive affair for students in Karnataka. While a fresh batch of colleges have been granted autonomy from the academic year 2015–16, the good news is that all eight new autonomous colleges are government-run.
This means the students will be able to study a customised curriculum and attempt exams different from that of the affiliating universities — all at a subsidised fee.
The Government College in Mandya was the first State-run institution to gain autonomy in 2005–06. During the same year, 10 prominent colleges under Bangalore University (BU) were granted autonomy, with two other colleges joining them later. A few of them then hiked the fee for courses. However, with all the new eight autonomous colleges being government institutions, students need not fret.
In Bengaluru
In Bengaluru, the Government Science College and Smt. VHD Central Institute of Home Science managed to earn the status.
Welcoming autonomy, K. Ramakrishna Reddy, principal, Government Science College, said the main advantage would be the freedom to tweak the syllabi. “Moreover, we can revise it every two years instead of waiting for five to six years,” he said.
Sticking to the calendar of events will be easier, he said, adding that having its own exam and evaluation pattern will aid the process.
Industry-specific syllabus
Maintaining that the fee structure will be the same as prescribed by the government, H.C. Ramanna, principal, Smt. VHD Central Institute of Home Science, said the syllabus will definitely be more “industry-specific.”
Intake
Intake-wise, the colleges are expected to stick to the existing numbers as of now.
As Prof. Reddy pointed out, the State government has already given the option to colleges graded ‘A’ by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council to increase their intake by 25 per cent.
“With most government colleges doing well when it comes to having enough students for pure science courses, compared to private colleges where there are single digit admissions, autonomy may attract more students towards our college,” he said.
