New autonomy guidelines to benefit St Stephen's College

NEW DELHI: With the University Grants Commission (UGC) coming up with new guidelines on autonomous colleges, institutions would be required to move a fresh application based on the revised format.

According to an UGC official, with this move, an institute would also be able to set it up own rules for admission, evolve an assessment policy and conduct independent examinations.

These steps, as per UGC would help colleges with the necessary means to venture ahead and work towards the aspiration of better quality higher education in the country.

However, Delhi's St Stephens has long been famous within Delhi University for setting its own admission criteria and separate cut-off list.

With the new UGC guidelines, the college will get more freedom to independently frame its admission policies.

The premier Delhi University's college on March 25 filed for autonomy once again, after UGC released fresh guidelines for the same.

According to an official: "The step was protested against by the teachers and the students, who claimed that the management had taken the decision without consulting the parties involved. The application, however, was rejected after UGC released fresh guidelines for applying for autonomy.

"Principal John Varghese later confirmed the decision of the college to reapply for autonomy."

Autonomy, essentially means the power to decide the basic policies and guidelines.