After 2 decades, NU clears Inst of Science’s autonomy proposal

Nagpur: After efforts spanning over two decades, the Government Institute of Science here may get to realize its dream of attaining autonomy from the next academic session (2021-22). The Nagpur University’s Management Council (MC) has granted its approval for bestowing the coveted status on one of the oldest colleges in Central India established in 1906.
Now, clearance will be needed from University Grants Commission (UGC) for NU to award autonomy to the college.
Formerly referred as ‘Science College’, the college has produced a host of stalwarts. As per NU officials, the prestigious college was the first one to apply for autonomy about two decades back. TOI had earlier reported about how NU administration was nonchalant about granting the approval.
The college administration under director RG Atram moved the proposal again in January 2020. The MC cleared it during its meeting held on Wednesday.
“We are happy the MC has accepted our request. Now, a team from University Grants Commission (UGC) would visit our premises and inspect infrastructure, facilities, teaching and non-teaching staff strength among others. It will also interact with the faculty, staff and students and go through their academic performance,” an elated Atram told TOI.
After NU’s nod, the college administration immediately contacted UGC which agreed to send a team under chairman Naresh Chandra Gautam, who is the vice-chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramoday Vishwavidyalaya, on January 8 and 9. The visit has been deferred till February 12-13 as one of the team members has contracted Covid-19.
MC member Vishnu Changde said the college’s proposal was accepted by voice vote as it was one of the oldest and prestigious institutions in the region.
NU officials said earlier the college lacked the faculty strength which was the main criteria for getting autonomy. The government was reluctant to fill up the posts and like NU, the college also recruited contractual teachers for a temporary period.
Atram, however, said they wouldn’t face any problem this time during UGC inspection as the government can transfer teachers from other colleges in the state to the city. “We are fully geared up for the UGC team’s visit,” he said.
NU officials said after UGC’s team’s clearance, the final proposal would need clearance from its statutory bodies.
Currently, NU has seven autonomous colleges out of 500 affiliated ones, which is very low in comparison to big universities like Mumbai and Pune. Even as the Institute of Science’s proposal is the oldest one, NU first granted autonomy to engineering colleges.
NU has been granting the coveted status to traditional colleges only since last couple of years, with Bajaj Group of Institutions taking the lead.
# Autonomous colleges under NU
* Yashwantrao Chavan College of Engineering
* GH Raisoni College of Engineering
* Ramdeobaba College of Engineering & Mgmt
* Janki Devi Bajaj Science College in Wardha
* GS College of Commerce & Economics
* Datta Meghe Institute of Mgmt Studies (MBA)
* GH Raisoni Institute of Engineering & Tech