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enabled us to introduce new study
programmes aligned with industry
needs, innovative teaching, examina-
tion reforms, and provide research
opportunities to students. Moreover,
autonomy has proved pivotal in en-
abling us to align our curricula with
the National Education Policy (NEP)
2020 and effectively implement its
directives. This includes the incor-
poration of interdisciplinary courses,
skill-based learning modules, and ex-
periential learning. We are committed
to continuous improvement and plan
to introduce new study programmes
in emerging fields, establish research
centres, sign partnerships with for-
eign universities and integrate skill
development programmes into the
curriculum to enhance students’
employability and entrepreneurship Mithibai College, Mumbai’s Prof. Krutika Desai (centre): employability focus
skills,” promises Shinde. Currently,
SXCM has 3,628 undergraduate and seating order. St. Xavier’s College, Top 5 table.
585 postgrad students instructed by Kolkata and Narsee Monjee Col- Prof. Krutika B. Desai, princi-
121 faculty. lege of Commerce & Economics, pal of Mithibai College, Mumbai
This year’s Top 3 table is un- Mumbai have retained their #4 rank (estb.1961), which has an enrolment
changed. SXCM is followed by the even as Loyola College, Chennai of 5,000 students, is pleased that the
also Jesuit-run St. Joseph’s Col- has inched up to #4 (#5 in 2023-24). college has retained its India Top 3
lege, Bengaluru at #2, and Mount Two Mumbai colleges — KJ Somaiya position in a “very competitive cat-
Carmel College, Bengaluru jointly College of Arts and Commerce egory”. “It’s very satisfying that Mit-
ranked #3 with Mithibai College, and RA Podar College of Com- hibai is consistently ranked among
Mumbai. Further down the table merce & Economics — ranked #6 the country’s Top 3 private autono-
too, there’s minor rearrangement of last year, have been promoted to the mous colleges with high scores on all
six parameters of collegiate educa-
RA Podar College of Commerce & Economics, Mumbai faculty
tion excellence. I attribute this to the
multi-disciplinary, balanced educa-
tion we provide combining academics,
co-curricular activities and life skills
to enable all-round development of
our students. After the college was
awarded autonomous status in 2018,
we have worked with speed to intro-
duce new multi-disciplinary courses,
update curriculums and fully integrate
skills-based courses to boost students’
employability. We are the first college
in Mumbai to introduce a B.Sc in psy-
chology with a minor in biotechnology.
Now we are going all out to implement
NEP 2020 and plan to introduce more
multi-disciplinary programmes,” says
Prof. Desai.
Beyond the Top 5, St. Francis
College for Women, Begumpet,
Hyderabad has got a double promo-

APRIL 2024 EDUCATIONWORLD 45