Page 43 - EW may 2026

come autonomous, self-governing
degree-granting entities or form uni-
versity clusters”.
Since 2021, to enable school-
leaving students to choose most aca-
demically and aptitudinally suitable
undergrad colleges, autonomous and
non-autonomous institutions have
been assessed and ranked separately
in our annual EducationWorld HEIs
rankings league tables.
The 2026-27 league tables of
India’s most respected private au-
tonomous colleges reflect a seismic
change in top table seating order. The
five-year reign of St. Xavier’s Col-
lege, Mumbai (estb.1869) has ended.
This year, 2,175 knowledgeable sam-
ple respondents interviewed by the
Bengaluru-based market research Mithibai College, Mumbai’s Prof. Krutika Desai (left): autonomous status benefits
company AZ Research Partners Pvt.
Ltd have voted Mount Carmel Col- tinuously upgrading the curriculum Mithibai College (Autonomous),
lege, Bengaluru (MCC, estb.1948) every semester in close consultation Mumbai, is happy about this 65-year-
India’s #1 private autonomous college with industry leaders. This explains old college’s steady ascent up the EW
with top scores under three of the six our excellent placement record. Last league table of India’s most admired
parameters of higher education ex- year, 393 companies visited our cam- autonomous colleges with high scores
cellence — curriculum and pedagogy, pus and recruited our graduates at under the parameters of faculty com-
faculty welfare and development and an average starting salary of Rs.4.6 petence, faculty welfare and develop-
leadership/governance quality. lakh per year. Now, we are preparing ment and curriculum and pedagogy.
Dr. Lekha George, Principal of for the next stage of our institutional “I believe award of autonomous
MCC, ranked #3 in 2024-25 and #2 evolution and have applied for univer- status to Mithibai in 2018 marked the
last year, is delighted that this hith- sity status, which we expect to receive beginning of our transition into a top-
erto exclusive all-women private au- soon,” says Dr. George, an alumna of ranked college. Autonomy has enabled
tonomous college, which went co-ed Madras University who, in a three- us to contemporise our curriculum,
in 2024, has received its due. decades career with MCC, served in integrate technology, introduce new-
We are ecstatic that EW’s knowl- various teaching and administrative age study programmes and innovate
edgeable sample respondents positions before being appointed as pedagogies to improve classroom
“have adjudged MCC India’s #1 Principal in 2023. engagement and learning outcomes.
private autonomous college. Over the Though St. Xavier’s College, Moreover in 2023, we commenced
past 78 years, MCC has built a national Mumbai — which recently witnessed implementation of NEP 2020. This
reputation for providing academically a leadership change with Prof. (Dr.) has enabled us to offer several credit-
rigorous and industry-driven under- Karuna Gokarn appointed the based co-curricular courses in dance,
grad and postgraduate programmes. first-ever woman principal of the col- music, theatre, yoga etc. We take spe-
After we were granted autonomous lege last October — is ranked #2 na- cial pride in providing continuous pro-
status in 2005, we have been in the tionally, it has been awarded highest fessional development opportunities
vanguard of HEIs introducing new- score under the critical parameters to our 169 faculty. The result is that
age study programmes. Currently, our of faculty competence and career our students receive well-rounded
four schools offer over 80 undergrad, readiness/placements. Following St. education grounded in experiential
postgraduate and Ph D programmes. Xavier’s is Mithibai College, Mum- pedagogies and life skills development
Therefore, I am very pleased that your bai which has inched up to #3 (#4 in which ensures they are well-prepared
respondents have awarded MCC the 2025-26) and Narsee Monjee Col- for their workplaces. Our high scores
highest score under the parameters lege of Commerce & Economics, under the parameters of faculty com-
of curriculum and pedagogy and fac- Mumbai, ranked #4 (3) jointly with petence, faculty welfare and develop-
ulty welfare and development. Our Loyola College, Chennai (6). ment and curriculum and pedagogy
highly qualified faculty has been con- Prof. Krutika Desai, Principal of are indicative of our consistent focus

MAY 2026 EDUCATIONWORLD 43