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a young academic of a top-ranked
Delhi college who prefers to remain
anonymous.
Nevertheless this anomaly under
which the country’s best ASC colleges
are denied academic and operational
autonomy is likely to be corrected
soon. The National Education Policy
(NEP), 2020 approved by Parliament
last year, proposes to end the archaic
university-colleges affiliation system
under which some universities boast
600-700 affiliated undergrad colleg-
es, most of them non-autonomous.
Instead, NEP 2020 proposes the evo-
lution of NAAC (National Assessment
and Accreditation Council) approved
colleges into autonomous, multi-dis-
ciplinary degree awarding universi-
ties in their own right by 2035. And Miranda House students: imminent university status
although there is inevitable foot-
dragging of this proposal, it’s logical served when it is adopted in its understand the privilege of studying
to expect that Delhi University’s best completeness, rather than in bits here. The staff, both teaching and
curiously non-autonomous colleges and pieces. For an institution of non-teaching, strive to live up to the
— top-ranked in all media publica- the stature of University of Delhi, standards expected and established
tions, including the EW league table conferment of autonomous status to over a hundred years of service,” adds
of private non-autonomous colleges duly qualified colleges will send out Varghese.
— will be the first to be conferred a strong message regarding the seri- In this connection, it’s notable
autonomous status. ousness with which the government that eight of India’s Top 10 private
In particular, five mainly under- and UGC intend to implement NEP non-autonomous Arts, Science and
grad colleges affiliated with Delhi 2020. Moreover, Delhi University Commerce colleges are affiliated
University which have consistently will showcase itself as a progressive with Delhi University and eminently
topped the annual EW league table of and mentoring institution of higher eligible for autonomous status under
private non-autonomous colleges — learning. For St. Stephen’s, grant of NEP 2020. It’s a measure of the
St. Stephen’s College, Shri Ram academic autonomy will help us forge readiness of the Top 4 non-autono-
College of Commerce, Lady Shri ahead, even globally. Everyone wins mous ASC colleges of DU — SSC, Shri
Ram College for Women, Hindu if autonomy is granted,” says Var- Ram College of Commerce, Lady Shri
College and Miranda House — ghese, an alumnus of Loyola College, Ram College for Women and Hindu
are certain to be among the first to be Madras Christian College (Chennai) College — for autonomy that this year
disaffiliated and awarded university and English and Foreign Languages the 4,067 EWIHER sample respon-
status. University, Hyderabad, who was ap- dents have awarded all of them a
Prof. John Varghese, the pointed principal of India’s highest- greater total score than St. Xavier’s
dedicated principal of St. Stephen’s ranked college in 2016. College, Mumbai, the country’s top-
College (SSC. estb.1881), is mystified That said, Varghese is unsurprised ranked private autonomous college.
why this top-ranked college’s 2017 that SSC has been awarded the high- It’s also noteworthy that four
application to UGC for grant of au- est total score of any ASC under- other non-autonomous DU colleges
tonomous status has not received any grad college across all categories in are ripe for autonomy — Miranda
response. Despite a UGC task force EWIHER 2022-23. “St Stephen’s House (ranked India #1 under the
visiting and inspecting SSC in 2018, College is an institution like no other. Union education ministry’s NIRF Top
there has been a “frustrating silence” I believe one of the main reasons why 100 league table), Hansraj College
on the issue. SSC stands head and shoulders above ranked #6 (cf. #7 in 2020-21), Sri
“Delhi University has formally other undergrad education institu- Venkateswara College #8 (#9),
adopted NEP 2020, but is silent on tions is because of our unwaver- Jesus & Mary College #9 (10) .
the issue of collegiate autonomy. ing commitment to excellence and Only two private colleges outside
It’s self-evident that a policy is best service. All students are made to Delhi — KPB Hinduja College of

APRIL 2022 EDUCATIONWORLD 67