Page 46 - EW April 2024_Neat

Cover Story

for keeping “the college on course in
the past illustrious 65 years of its ex-
istence”. Currently, St. Francis College
has 3,581 women students instructed
by 183 faculty on its muster rolls.
Further down the 236-strong
league table of India’s top-ranked
private autonomous colleges, there’s
been a major shake-up with several
institutions rising in public esteem,
and some ceding ground. Among the
big gainers within the Top 50 are The
New College, Chennai #29 (#77),
Sunbeam College for Women,
Bhagwanpur, Varanasi #30
(#45), Khalsa College, Amritsar
#40 (#42) and KES Shroff College
of Arts and Commerce, Mumbai
#50 (#57).
St. Francis College, Hyderabad’s Dr. Uma Joseph (left): meaningful milestone It’s also pertinent to note that
several private autonomous colleg-
tion to #6 (#9 in 2023-24) even as a holistic educational experience to es modestly ranked in the national
Madras Christian College, Chen- our students. Additionally, autonomy league table are big names in their
nai has retained its #7 rank. Nagin- has enabled us to develop innovative host states with excellent public repu-
das Khandwala College, Malad pedagogies and evaluation systems tation. For instance, Sunbeam Col-
(W), Mumbai and KPB Hinduja and improve our campus placements lege for Women, Bhagwanpur,
College of Commerce, Mumbai record. This freedom of decision mak- Varanasi, ranked #30 nationally is
have been promoted to #8 (#9) as has ing and executing ideas has helped us the #1 private autonomous college of
BK Birla College of Arts, Science emerge as the country’s most pre- Uttar Pradesh (pop.215 million). Like-
& Commerce, Kalyan, Mumbai to ferred college for women. We have wise, The Bhopal School of Social
#9 (#10). The Top 10 table is complet- plans to introduce the MBA program Sciences, ranked India #66 is #1 in
ed by Stella Maris College, Chen- as well as several skill-based and em- Madhya Pradesh (pop.86 million) and
nai at #10 (#8). ployment-oriented PG diploma pro- Kendrapara Autonomous Col-
Dr. Uma Joseph, principal of grams,” says Prof. Joseph, who credits lege, ranked India #78 is #1 in Odisha
St. Francis College for Women, the “vision of the Sisters of Charity” (pop.46 million).
Hyderabad (estb.1959) — one of Stella Maris College, Chennai faculty & students
the first colleges countrywide to re-
ceive autonomous status way back in
1988, and much before the top-ranked
SXCM (2010) — expresses “gratitude
and joy” about the steady ascent of
this all-women college in the EW
league table — from #12 in 2022-23
to #9 in 2023-24 and #6 this year.
“This is great recognition, and im-
poses a greater responsibility to do
better next year. Being an alumna
myself, this milestone holds special
meaning for me. We were one of the
first undergrad colleges granted au-
tonomy in 1988 in the twin cities of
Hyderabad-Secunderabad. The free-
dom to curate and design industry-
relevant curriculums and value-add-
ed courses has enabled us to deliver

46 EDUCATIONWORLD APRIL 2024