Mumbai: Autonomous colleges affiliated to Mumbai University will have to ‘mandatorily’ seek approval for all their programmes and courses from the university’s academic council. Till date, colleges were only expected to ‘inform’ the university of the new courses they planned to offer. Additionally, these colleges will have to submit their examination committee minutes and status of their question paper and answer sheet audits to the university’s board of examinations and evaluation (BEE) on a regular basis.These guidelines in a recent circular issued by the university’s examination board, aimed at enhancing transparency, strengthening data integration and standardising processes. It has drawn mixed reactions from the academic community. Another decision was also taken at the university’s academic council meeting on Wednesday to regulate their courses. The administration, in a move to frame regulations for courses offered by autonomous colleges, directed them to design curricula in line with the National Education Policy, adopt course nomenclature as per the regulations of relevant apex bodies, and strictly adhere to the university’s passing scheme and standards.With a sharp rise in the number of autonomous colleges under the university, academicians have welcomed the initiatives to regulate courses and examination systems, saying they will help maintain checks and balances. The number of autonomous colleges affiliated to MU has increased from 39 to 130 over the past five years, particularly after the University Grants Commission relaxed the eligibility norms by removing the requirement of an ‘A’ grade from NAAC for autonomous status. A section of principals, however, also argued that it could violate the rights of colleges to exercise autonomy. A principal, however, said that colleges which are striving to become better will continue to do so.In Wednesday’s meeting, the university also issued the much-awaited guidelines for the fourth year under the NEP, for the first cohort from autonomous colleges. To offer the fourth year, the concerned college must have a postgraduate programme or a research centre on the subject. Colleges that conduct PG programmes will be able to offer four-year honours programmes and the ones with a research centre can offer the honors with research ones. Under the Honours Degree option, students are required to complete 160 to 176 credits over four years, with the fourth year dedicated to an in-depth study of their major subject along with a mandatory 4-credit internship. Under the Honours with Research option, students must undertake a 12-credit research project or dissertation in their major subject during the seventh and eighth semesters, with a minimum eligibility requirement of a CGPA of 7.5.
