Page 34 - EducationWorld May 2021

Cover Story

INDIA’S TOP-RANKED PRIVATE governance. Dr. Rajendra Shinde,

the cooperative principal of SXM, at-
AUTONOMOUS COLLEGES tributes this 151-year-old college’s
continuous top ranking to its admin-
istration and faculty’s capability to
respond to needs of changing times.
“We are fortunate this institution
attracts committed and dedicated
faculty open to adopting new pedago-
gies and technologies to ensure that
students receive a valuable and enjoy-
able education experience. We are also
fortunate that SXM is the first choice
of top-ranked school-leaving students
who are receptive to innovative peda-
gogies and enthusiastic about making
the most of their college education.
These are the prime factors behind
our continuously high ranking in the
annual EducationWorld and other
media rankings,” says Shinde, himself
a graduate of SXM who served on the
college faculty for 27 years before he
was appointed principal of his alma
mater in 2018.
SXM’s Rajendra Shinde (centre): dedicated faculty & top-ranked students advantage Shinde admits that the past year
during which it was shut down for the
The 2021-22 sample respondents — 1,823 academics and entire year was unprecedented for this
2,133 final year college students in 21 states — have awarded vintage college whose alumni includes
the late outstanding jurist Nani Palkh-
six seats at the Top 10 table of private autonomous colleges ivala, best-selling author Rohinton
to Christian minority promoted institutions Mistry, industrialist Mukesh Ambani
and test cricket star Sunil Gavaskar
among scores of other luminaries.
s noted in our commentary would be apposite to appreciate the “Though we were all — faculty and
in the EducationWorld beneficial role that higher education students — forced to shift to online
India league table of the institutions promoted by the Christian teaching-learning for the first time, af-
Acountry’s most admired minority has played in educating and ter some initial hiccups, with the help
privately-promoted autonomous un- nurturing India’s 300 million-strong of a massive training drive our faculty
dergrad colleges last year, these league middle class — among the largest mastered several new technologies.
tables were dominated by institutions worldwide — which has powered the After that, through digitally-driven
promoted by India’s small minority growth, even if unsatisfactory, of in- programs such as flipped classroom,
(2.3 percent) Christian community. dustry and the economy during the giving students thought-provoking
This year as well, the national Top past 70 years. assignments, and convening online
10 table is dominated by men and In the 2021-22 league table of au- discussion forums, faculty and stu-
women of cassock and habit. The tonomous colleges, St. Xavier’s Col- dents were totally engaged in learn-
2021-22 sample respondents — 1,823 lege, Mumbai (SXM, estb. 1869) ing. The switch to online learning also
academics and 2,133 final year college has retained its last year’s rank as the provided us the opportunity to invite
students in 21 states — have awarded country’s premier private autonomous numerous special guest speakers and
six seats at the Top 10 table of private arts, science and commerce undergrad lecturers. Although science students
autonomous colleges to Christian mi- college with top scores under four of missed hands-on lab experience, they
nority promoted institutions. the six parameters of higher education were enabled to access various online
At a time in the nation’s his- excellence, viz, faculty competence, projects and experiments. Moreover,
tory when Hindu majoritarian fever faculty welfare and development, in- regularly administered, innovative
is spreading across the country, it dustry placement, and leadership/ online tests have ensured minimal

34 EDUCATIONWORLD MAY 2021