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Date/Time
Date(s) - 07/01/2020 - 08/01/2020
9:30 am - 5:30 pm

Location
Century Bhavan, Worli, Mumbai

Categories


Concept NoteCall for Papers

B. K. Birla College (Autonomous), Kalyan and
Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla
Jointly Organize
2 – Day Workshop on ‘Autonomous Colleges in the Country: Way Ahead’
At
Century Bhavan, Worli, Mumbai
7 – 8 January 2020

Autonomous Colleges and National Education Policy –
It is truism that there is a need for big reforms in academic, administrative and governance of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Education is considered as one of the best source of investment when it comes to the future of the country. If we wish to improve the quality of higher education in India, then the role of autonomous colleges will be crucial in the near future.
708 Colleges in the country are autonomous as per the list updated by UGC on 28.06.2019, catering the large number of students under various streams.
Highlighting the importance of autonomous colleges, National Education Policy (NEP) clearly states that: ‘The only safe and better way to improve the quality of undergraduate education is to delink most of the colleges from the affiliating structure. Colleges with academic and operative freedom are doing better and have more credibility. The financial support to such colleges will strengthen the autonomous HEIs.’

Some salient features of the Autonomous Colleges under the new National Education Policy are as follows –

  1. Autonomous colleges will have the freedom to modernize their curricula or make them globally competent, locally relevant and skill oriented to promote employability.
    · An autonomous college is free to start a new degree or postgraduate course / Ph.D. with the approval of the Academic Council of the college and concerned Statutory Council(s), wherever required, provided the nomenclature of the degree is in consonance with UGC Notification (Final Revised Guidelines of Autonomous Colleges dated 19.01.2018) on Specification of Degrees, (2014) as amended from time to time.
  2. An autonomous college may rename an existing course as per the UGC Notification on Specification of Degrees, (2014) as amended from time to time after restructuring / redesigning it with the approval of the college Academic Council as per UGC norms. The university should be duly informed of such proceedings.
  3. Many innovative reforms may be introduced. An Induction Training programme can be organised for newly appointed teachers to make them aware about the work culture of college. Faculty members may be deputed to attend UGC sponsored Orientation Programmes which will create an awareness on issues of the society particularly in the field of higher education and its role. They may be motivated to attend various seminars and workshops related to their area of expertise, so that, they can interact with other researchers in the field and get motivated by eminent academicians and scientists.
  4. The syllabus can be modified for greater employability of students enabling future development with adequate flexibility to respond to future needs.
  5. The assessment pattern can be 60:40. The internal assessment will be based on ppt, tutorials, assignments, projects, model making, field work, book review, reading scientific papers, etc.
  6. The College will not find any difficulty on financial front after receiving the grant from UGC / RUSA / other funding agency.
  7. Skill development centre can be operated as prominent and dynamic centre of skilling initiatives of consistent high standards building up strong nexus with the industries and professionals, thereby, creating opportunities for the students of gaining advanced knowledge, on job training and employment. Objective is to improve the overall personality of the student and to inculcate other personality traits such as smartness, communication skills and general awareness, etc.

National Educational Policy (NEP) has provided the policy on quality Universities and Colleges, revamping the Higher Education system to create world class multidisciplinary higher education institutions across the country by increasing GER to at least 50% by 2035. Higher education must develop good, well- rounded and creative individuals with intellectual curiosity, spirit of service and a strong ethical compass.
In addition to three stages of faculty members (Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor) based on eligibility criteria, there can be a post of Teaching Assistant / Tutors / Demonstrators (in practical subjects) for a period of 3 – 5 years on a fixed salary. During this period, they are supposed to acquire the eligibility for becoming Assistant Professor in addition to their teaching / practical assignments. The faculty members at all the stages should be paid their salary uniformly in all the institutions irrespective of public or private institutions.
The teachers should be appointed by a commission on the line of UPSC in consultation with States Higher Education Departments. At the entry level once teachers are selected, they should be provided minimum six months intense training programme (in core subject,teacher education, IT skills, commitment towards nation building, etc.). Further promotions from stage -1 to stage – 4 should be linked with transparent feedback mechanism.

Aims and Objectives:
To understand wider scope and perspective of Autonomy, the Directors / Principals of selected Autonomous colleges in the country are invited to share the best practices, followed in their Institutions.

The Key areas for discussion –

  1. To review existing courses / programmes and restructure, redesign and prescribe own courses / programmes of study and syllabi in emerging areas.
    · To formulate new courses / programmes within the nomenclature specified by UGC as per the Specification of Degrees (2014) and amended from time to time.
  2. To evolve methods of assessment of students’ performance, conduct of examinations and notification of results, to announce results, issue mark sheets, migration and other certificates; however, the degree shall be awarded by the University with the name of the college on the degree certificate.

Significance of the workshop – How it will create new knowledge or contribute to the discipline?
This workshop may help and provide direction / motivate and guide HEIs to grow to achieve newer heights of glory and excellence. The workshop will be organised under the guidance of Secretary (HRD) / Chairman / Vice Chairman UGC, Officials from RUSA, Maharashtra and Eminent experts.
Many of the Academic Administrators have expressed that there should be a detailed discussion on ‘Future of Autonomous Colleges’, with a focus on issues related to HEIs, Autonomous Colleges, the colleges receiving RUSA grant, NEP, etc.
It is felt that the deliberations on aforesaid issues related to higher education in presence of different invited experts and key stakeholders will serve its purpose to develop a document in a most efficient and effective manner in a timeline planned. The proceedings of workshop will be submitted to the Competent Authorities for consideration. This can be discussed favourably by the Policy making body for the betterment of HEIs.
Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, under its UGC-IUC Centre, has extended support to this workshop that looks after the seminal role of Autonomous Colleges in the coming days. The institute hosts teachers from various colleges across India for a month under its Associateship programme. This workshop will enable a more comprehensive understanding of how the role and working of such colleges that desire autonomy will become both simpler and more effective. As mandated in our MoA, the Institute, through this workshop, will be able to “collaborate with other academic or governmental bodies for dissemination of knowledge”.

Participants:

The workshop will have participation from some of the best colleges across India. It will include both Autonomous Colleges and those Institutes that have not opted for autonomy. Colleges have been carefully selected to compare and analyse why some colleges performed better when they became autonomous and what are their best practices that could be applied to others.
The Vice Chairman of UGC himself has agreed to engage in the deliberations of the workshop. Besides, members of the Birla family, one of the largest corporate conglomerates in India, will also be in attendance.
We expect Directors / Principals of approximately 25 Autonomous Colleges from all over the country and 25 from Maharashtra and University of Mumbai to participate in the Workshop and share their Best Practices, Vision and Suggestions for Future Growth. Eminent experts from Academics, Industry, Officials from Government, UGC, RUSA, University, etc. are being invited to present their views and guide the workshop.

Convener:

· Dr. Naresh Chandra

Director, B. K. Birla College (Autonomous), Kalyan

Former Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Mumbai.

Principal (Retd) B. K. Birla College (Autonomous), Kalyan

Co-Convener:

· Dr. Avinash Patil

Principal, B. K. Birla College (Autonomous), Kalyan

A limited number of participants will be invited for the Seminar. Those interested in participating should send -by email-an abstract of 500 words of the proposed paper along with their brief C.V. (of around 200 words) to:
1. Dr. Naresh Chandra
Director, B. K. Birla College (Autonomous), Kalyan
Former Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Mumbai.
Principal (Retd) B. K. Birla College (Autonomous), Kalyan
Email: director@bkbirlacollegekalyan.com
With a copy to:

2. Ms. Ritika Sharma,
Academic Resource Officer,
Indian Institute of Advanced Study,
Rashtrapati Nivas, Shimla- 171005

Tel: 0177-2831385 Email: aro@iias.ac.in
The last date for submission of abstract (500 words) is 22 December 2019 till 12:00 midnight. IIAS Shimla/B K Birla College intends to send Invitation letters to selected participants by end of December 2019. It is the policy of the Institute to publish the papers not proceedings of the seminars it organizes. IIAS Shimla/B K Birla College will be glad to extend its hospitality (free hospitality is provided only to the seminar participant) during the seminar period and are willing to reimburse if required, rail or air travel expenses from the place of current residence in India, or the port of arrival in India, and back.
Note: Plagiarism is a serious academic offense and the Institute reserves the right to cancel the selection/participation of a candidate found guilty at any stage.

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