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Cover Story EW India Non-Autonomous Colleges Rankings 2020-21

programmes without having to go
cap-in-hand to the university for
permission to upgrade this top-
ranked 139-year-old institution to
global standards. Interviewed last
year after St. Stephen’s was ranked
India’s #1 private (Narain disputes
this description) arts, science
and commerce college in the EW
2019-20 league table, Prof. John
Varghese, principal of this blue-
chip institution, expressed optimism
that St. Stephen’s would be granted
“autonomous status soon”. “This will
enable us to introduce new study
programmes and further upgrade
our academic standards,” Varghese
informed EW’s Delhi correspondent
Autar Nehru last year.
Obviously dismayed that the col- NMCCE’s Dr. Parag Ajgaonkar (left): great opportunity
lege’s faculty has sabotaged this ini-
tiative, this year Varghese has gone management. The good news is that and curriculums to align them with
into lockdown and refused to talk to NMCCE was conferred autonomous the requirements of industry and
EW. Curiously neither Narain (a self- status in October last year, and will bridge the academia-industry gap.
confessed adherent of Nehruvian so- become a fully autonomous insti- We’ll be free to introduce contem-
cialism) nor the St. Stephen’s faculty tution from the start of this new porary multi-disciplinary degree,
are perturbed by the possibility that — 2020-21 — academic year. The and diploma/ certified courses.
with the acquisition of autonomy award of autonomy will enable us to I believe that autonomous status
status, private colleges in other states realise our full potential and take this gives NMCCE a great opportunity to
of the country are likely to challenge institution to greater heights,” says attain substantially higher rankings
and end St. Stephen’s high standing Dr. Parag Ajgaonkar, a commerce in national and international league
in the public perception. postgrad and business management tables and to develop this college
Be that as it may, private col- alumnus of Mumbai University and into a truly evolved and preferred,
leges elsewhere in the country have IGNOU and former professor at the globally respected international level
few misgivings about aspiring for Mithibai College (1993-2017), who higher education institution,” says
autonomous status. For instance, was appointed principal of NMCCE Ajgaonkar.
the management of the Narsee in 2017. Currently, NMCCE has Beyond the Top 10, several
Monjee College of Commerce 5,700 students and 94 full-time and non-autonomous colleges across
and Economics (NMCCE, estb. 50 visiting faculty. the country, which were modestly
1964) affiliated with Mumbai Uni- According to Ajgaonkar, NMCCE ranked in the integrated EW national
versity, which has raced forward in will start going places after it begins Arts, Science and Commerce (ASC)
the reclassified non-autonomous a new innings as an academically Colleges league table of 2019-20,
colleges 2020-21 league table to #7 independent college. “Academic have made dramatic advances fol-
(cf. its #13 ranking in the amal- autonomy will enable us to meet sev- lowing the new segregated rankings.
gamated national arts, science and eral immediate, medium term and For instance, Jesus & Mary Col-
commerce colleges league table last long-term goals including introduc- lege, Delhi, ranked #16 last year,
year), yearns for full autonomy. ing consistency and regularity in the has made a dramatic Top 10 debut.
“I am very pleased that NMCCE academic calendar. We won’t have Similarly, two previously un-
is ranked among India’s Top 10 non- to wait for Mumbai University to set ranked Goa-based colleges — Car-
autonomous colleges, and especially examination papers, and schedule mel College for Women, Nu-
with our #1 rank in Maharashtra and and conduct exams as we will be vem and Rosemary College for
Mumbai. The credit for this great conducting our own exams and will Commerce & Arts — are ranked
achievement should rightly accrue introduce our performance evalu- #11 and #13. Moreover, the low-
to our dedicated faculty, aspirational ation systems. More important, we profile Lady Brabourne College,
students and strongly supportive will be free to revise our syllabuses Kolkata ranked #20 in 2019-20 in

62 EDUCATIONWORLD APRIL 2020