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moted and government autonomous
colleges have been ranked separately
in the EW India Higher Education
Rankings 2020-21.
Yet it’s important to note that
among (state) government-promoted
colleges countrywide (the Central
government has never promoted col-
leges, only 49 universities), govern-
ment autonomous colleges enjoy spe-
cial standing and privilege by virtue
of their autonomous status for which
a minimum ‘A’ Grade rating of the
Bangalore-based National Assess-
ment & Accreditation Council (NAAC)
is a condition precedent. Despite this
hallmark of academic achievement,
state government autonomous col-
leges rarely figure in the league tables DVSKGDC’s Dr. Lalitha (red saree): Andhra Pradesh #1
of media publications such as India
Today, Outlook, Economic Times etc. After the grant of autonomy in 2014, This college was granted autonomous
Therefore, your editors have accorded we have improved our admission pro- status by UGC in 2011. Since then we
them special recognition and ranked cess, curriculum, pedagogy and ex- have been working hard to design new
the sufficiently well-known 65 among amination system. As an autonomous study programmes, and upgrade cur-
them inter se. college we also intend to introduce riculums and pedagogies. Although
In the inaugural 2020-21 EW gov- several new study programmes in ar- there are many private colleges in
ernment autonomous colleges na- tificial intelligence, molecular biology, Vishakapatnam, we often receive 50
tional league table, Maharaja’s Col- cultural studies, etc. Also an advanced applications for every seat in some
lege, Ernakulam, Kochi (Kerala) instrumentation facility and research courses such as physics, computer sci-
is ranked India’s #1 with top scores centre will become operational in ence and maths. Last year, over 400
under the parameters of faculty com- 2020-21,” says Dr. K. Jayakumar, of our students were campus recruited
petence and curriculum and pedago- principal of Maharaja’s College. by companies such as TCS, Mahindra
gy. Sarojini Naidu Government Founded in 1845 and sited on a lush Tech and Aurobindo Laboratories.
Girls PG College, Bhopal is ranked green 25-acre campus in downtown As an autonomous institution we are
#2 followed by Government (Mod- Kochi in India’s most literate state, constantly revising our syllabuses
el Autonomous) Holkar Science Maharaja’s College hosts 17 academic and curriculums and introducing new
College, Indore at #3. Govern- departments offering undergraduate, study programmes to make our gradu-
ment Science College, Banga- postgraduate and Ph D programmes ates jobs ready. This year we propose
lore #4 and the Dr. V.S. Krishna to 2,522 students mentored by 183 to introduce our BMS in maritime
Government Degree College, faculty (tuition fees: Rs.1,800-2,490 logistics degree programme,” says
Vishakapatnam completes the Top per year). Dr. Lalitha, also assistant professor
5. Your editors’ unprecedented ini- of microbiology at DVSKGDC, which
“We are grateful to your survey re- tiative to evaluate and rank govern- has an enrolment of 2,200 students
spondents for this honour. Once an ment autonomous colleges inter se mentored by 88 faculty.
elitist institution, over the years Ma- rather than against all ASC colleges A highlight of the EW India Gov-
haraja’s College has metamorphosed has also enthused Dr. Ch. Lalitha, ernment Autonomous Colleges Rank-
into an inclusive institution admitting coordinator, IQAC (Internal Qual- ings 2020-21 is the surprising domi-
students from all sections of society, ity Assurance Cell) of the Dr. V.S. nance of the national league table
especially the economically under- Krishna Government Degree by colleges promoted by the Madhya
privileged, but without diluting our College, Vishakapatnam (DVSK- Pradesh government. This Hindi
curriculum and academic standards. GDC, estb.1968). “We are delighted to heartland state has 50 of its autono-
We are the only government college in learn that DVSKGDC is ranked among mous colleges ranked in the 65-strong
Kerala granted autonomous status by the country’s Top 5 government au- national league table with five institu-
UGC which has also designated us as a tonomous colleges and #1 in Andhra tions ranked among the Top 10. (see
College with Potential for Excellence. Pradesh by your sample respondents. p.56)

APRIL 2020 EDUCATIONWORLD 55