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Cover Story EW India Private Autonomous Colleges Rankings 2020-21

autonomous status by UGC is domi-
nated by vintage institutions promot-
ed by Christian scholar missionaries,
new genre colleges promoted by lay
philanthropists and trusts are also
rising in the esteem of knowledge-
able monitors of the higher education
sector. Two Mumbai-based private
colleges — the Mithibai College
of Arts, Chauhan Institute of
Science & Amrutben Jivanlal
College of Commerce (popularly
Mithibai College) and the R.A
Podar College of Commerce &
Economics — conferred autonomy
by UGC and well-regarded for their
commerce and finance study pro-
grammes, are tied at #5 nationally
with high scores under the param-
eters of curriculum and pedagogy and Mithibai College’s Dr. Rajpal Hande (centre): university status goal
leadership/governance.
“Naturally we are delighted that and Science, Mumbai (2003-08), College, Kochi (#1 in Kerala) and
our ranking in the properly classi- former director, Board of College the previously unranked Andhra
fied ranking tables, which eliminate and University Development and Loyola College, Vijaywada to #10
apples and oranges type com- international cooperation officer of (#1 in Andhra Pradesh).
parisons, has improved from #9 in Mumbai University (2008-13) who In this connection, it’s important
2019-20 to #5 this year. We owe our was appointed principal of Mithibai to note that colleges that are mod-
continuous improvement to the great College (estb.1961) in 2016. estly ranked in India, i.e, nationally,
support we get from our visionary Beyond the Top 5, several private are often top-ranked in their host
and supportive trustees of the SVKM colleges recently conferred academic states and cities. For instance, the
Trust, dedicated faculty and tal- (and financial) autonomy, have S.S. Jain Subodh P.G. College,
ented, highly aspirational students. bettered their last year’s ranking in Jaipur ranked India #17, is the
As a Grade A autonomous college the EW integrated ASC (arts, sci- #1 private autonomous college of
of Mumbai University we have full ence and commerce) colleges league Rajasthan (pop.78 million). Ditto
freedom to reform and revise our table of 2019-20 and are included in Khalsa College, Amritsar, India
curricula and introduce new degree the Top 10. Among them: the R.A. #39 is top-ranked in Punjab (pop.30
and diploma programmes to prepare Podar College of Commerce & million). Similarly, the #1 private
our graduates to compete globally. Economics, Mumbai promoted to autonomous college of Madhya
Over the past four years we have #5 from #17 in 2019-20; St. Ann’s Pradesh (pop.84 million) is the
revised our syllabuses, updated College for Women, Hyderabad Bhopal School of Social Sci-
our curriculums, and introduced to #6 (#1 in Telangana) jointly with ences (India #45) and the Ewing
new study programmes driven by St. Xavier’s, Kolkata (15); St. Christian College, Prayagraj
latest ICT (information communica- Francis College for Women, (aka Allahabad) ranked #53 nation-
tions technology) to empower our Hyderabad to #7 (15) jointly with ally is top-ranked in Uttar Pradesh
faculty to deliver highly effective, the previously unranked Rajgiri (pop.215 million).
contemporary education and create Among other colleges modestly
conducive learning environments to It’s important to note that ranked nationally but top-ranked in
our students. We plan to multiply their host states: Parvatibai Chow-
the number of innovative inter-dis- colleges that are modestly gule College of Arts & Science,
ciplinary courses and work towards ranked in India, i.e, Margao, ranked #1 in Goa, India
establishing Mithibai as a standalone #54; St. Joseph’s, Jakhma, Na-
university in the near future,” says nationally, are often top- galand #1 (56), Bhadrak College,
Dr. Rajpal Hande, a zoology post- ranked in their host states Bhadrak #1 in Odisha (62) and St.
grad of Mumbai University, former and cities Xavier’s College of Education,
principal of Somaiya College of Arts Patna, Bihar #1 (78).

36 EDUCATIONWORLD APRIL 2020