Autonomous Status

- Autonomous Status

The Dawn Of A New Era - DIBNS Is Now An Autonomous College

FOR CURRENT & ASPIRING STUDENTS

What’s in it for you? Why should you, as a student, prefer to study in an autonomous college?

1: THE PRESTIGE

Conferment of autonomous status on any college is a prestige for both, its staff and student-body, it entails that the institute has consistently held up its standards in quality and ethics. Your stature as a student is uplifted by being a part of an autonomous college.

2: CURRICULUM ADVANTAGES

Many distinct functioning/administrating powers come with being an autonomous college, especially in regards to a programme’s curriculum –

  • We can review and redesign current curriculums according to evolving industry standards, at our discretion. Thus, ensuring enhanced education and multiplied employment opportunities for you.
  • We can introduce a plethora of add-on courses & boost our infrastructure and amenities to aid your future growth.
  • We are empowered to adopt NEP-2020 and any of its further amendments quickly and effectively, guaranteeing you the benefits enlisted in the policy.
  • We are equipped to set a realistic and detailed academic calendar that is followed religiously and gives you, our student, room to flourish without any unexpected surprises through the university that may disrupt your schedule.

As an autonomous college an all these perks can be redeemed by us responsibly and timely without going through complex procedures, i.e, we are directly accountable to you without being dependant on the affiliating university.

3: EXAMS AND DEGREE PERKS

An autonomous college is self-governed in assessments of its students. We have sole power and responsibility to :-

  • Fix and declare examination dates & time-table and conduct them as obliged.
  • Set pensive question papers and fairly evaluate student performance.
  • Announce results and issue marksheet along with any other certificate.

This influence makes us a 1-stop solution to any of your exam-related queries/difficulties. You will not need to waste precious time going between university and college. We safeguard your peace of mind, so that you can focus on your studies, while we deal with your issues swiftly & efficiently in-house. We are also equipped to conduct repeat examinations for an unqualified semester within its respective year so as to prevent any backlogs. Furthermore, on successful completion of the programme, you will receive a degree that bears the name of the autonomous college and the parent affiliating university, making the degree even more consequential.

All this and more makes an autonomous college superior to a college without autonomous status.

Reap the benefits, choose to study in an autonomous college for a brighter, more empowering tomorrow.

Private University v/s Autonomous College. Which one should you choose and why?

1: ACCOUNTABILITY DIFFERENCE

A private university operates as specified by its own regulations in accordance with the respective state legislation acts. Abundant power is held by university’s administration with respect to introduction and conductance of several professional programmes, in any manner they see fit.The drawback lies in the lack of check and monitoring system on the university.

This results in non-standardized and sometimes even inadequate functioning, as they are not bound by respective statutory councils or UGC’s guidelines.

Whereas, an autonomous college while enjoying full academic & administrative autonomy (just like an university) is still balanced in its powers due to checks placed on its working under UGC (Conferment of Autonomous Status upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges) Regulations, 2023. Thus, keeping an autonomous college accountable to highest education standards in the nation.

2: THE DEGREE'S VALUE

Degree issued by a private university, on successful completion of a programme only carries the name of the university. Whereas the degree granted to a student of an autonomous college carries the name of not only the institute but, also of its parent state/central affiliating university.

This naturally means that value of your degree is higher if you choose to opt for an autonomous college. It will carry more weight and honour in your resume/C.V. and will be regarded highly by all stakeholders of the nation. You are guaranteed to benefit more from studying in an autonomous college rather than a private university .

UGC Conferment Letter
HNBGU Notification Letter
UGC Regulation for An Autonomous Colleges 2023.

"Demand accountability to highest standards. Demand your worth.”

|| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Autonomy of a college may be described as a functional status given to a college by UGC and its Parent University for a greater flexibility towards finance, administration and academic developments with regards to improve and promote overall excellence.Autonomous college enjoy a degree of self-governance which is necessary for effective decision making by colleges of higher education regarding its academic standards, management and related activities.

The power to confer autonomous status in India upon is vested exclusively with University Grants commission (UGC) under section 26 of the UGC Act, 1956. After the UGC confers autonomous status upon colleges it has the power to take measures for maintaining standards in an Autonomous College.
The role of parent affiliating university is also vital for conferment of the Autonomous status to a college as it is the affiliating university who will issue a notification regarding the conferment of the autonomous status after it has been granted by the UGC.

Granting autonomy to a college will directly affect the teaching methodology and quality of education received by the students as the College will be empowered tocurate the syllabus as per the prevailing industry standards which is needed for the students to excel in the competitive environment.
The need of autonomy is also clearly stated in the Preamble of University Grants Commission (Conferment of Autonomous Status Upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges) Regulations, 2023 which states that ‘the University Grants Commission (UGC) is mandated to coordinate and determine the standards of higher education in universities, Whereas college autonomy is instrumental in promoting broad-based quality education and excellence , And whereas there is a need to promote the autonomy of colleges so as to enhance the quality of higher education in the country’.

A college after the conferment of Autonomous status by the UGC and its Parent university will enjoy the following privileges/advantages over and above a non-autonomous college–
• Review existing courses/programmes and, restructure, redesign and prescribe its own courses/programmes of study and syllabi.
• To formulate new courses/programmes within the nomenclature specified by UGC as per the ‘Specification of Degrees, 2014’ as amended from time to time.
• Evolve methods of assessment of students‟ performance, conduct of examinations, and notification of results.
• To announce results, issue mark sheets, and other certificates; however, the degree shall be awarded by the parent University with the name of the College on the degree certificate.
• Autonomous colleges need not pay affiliation fees to the parent University
• Prescribe rules for admission in consonance with the reservation policy of the state government/national policy.
• Autonomous Colleges may fix fees as per the norms of the State Government/ Statutory Council(s) at their own level, as applicable
• Constitute own Governing Body, Academic Council, Finance Committee, and Board of Studies
• The College, on attaining autonomous status will continue to be affiliated with the parent University but will enjoy the privileges of autonomy

Autonomous Colleges can also start new courses subject to the provisions of the above mentioned UGC notification.

In addition to the prestigious image that comes with an autonomous college, autonomy also reflects excellence in academic performance and the capability of self-governance. The quality of education an autonomous college offers with help of its teachers because of their unique teaching methodology as they will no longer be bound to stick with a monotonous teaching style, will ultimately benefit the students.

To confer the autonomous status college must be affiliated with a university and must be recognised by UGC under section 2(f) of the UGC Act 1956 and fulfil the minimum standards laid down by the UGC.
The college should have at least 10 years of existence and the college must be accredited by either NAAC or by NBA.

Our Institute is affiliated to Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar (A Central University) since 2002.

Dolphin Institute is the only Institute/College affiliated to a Central University which is conferred with an autonomous status. In addition to this, Dolphin Institute is the only autonomous institute in India that is affiliated to a Central University which is 100% self-financed.

Yes, In addition to this unique power given to an autonomous college, it also have the power to evolve and implement the methods of assessment of student’s performance and to also publish the results i.e. to announce the results and accordingly issue the marksheets.

Yes, an autonomous college is empowered to prescribe its own rules and regulations for admission in various programmes offered by college however the rules should be in consonance with reservation policy of state government/national policy.

Yes, an autonomous college is free to start Diploma and Certificate courses without needing a prior approval of the parent university (affiliated university). However the college/institute should inform the parent university about the introduction of such new courses. Moreover the Certificates and Diplomas will be issued under the seal of the Autonomous College.

An autonomous college can start a new degree programmes at Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels but only with the approval of the Academic Council of the Autonomous college and other concerned statutory councils. However such courses shall fulfil the minimum standards prescribed by the parent university/UGC/Statutory Councils in terms of number of teaching hours, curricular content and standards, and the Parent University shall be duly informed of such courses.

Yes, an Autonomous College can start Ph.D. programme with the prior approval of the Parent University. However, the UGC Regulations for Ph.D. programmes as notified from time to time, must be adhered to by the Parent University and the Autonomous College.

Yes, an Autonomous College may rename an existing course but it should be 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 Academic Council of the Autonomous College. The parent University should be duly informed of such proceedings. However, this renaming of courses will not be applicable to previous existing batches.

The Degree for each and every Programme offered by concerned affiliated colleges will be issued by the Parent Affiliated University i.e. Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar (A Central University) with the name of the College on it. However, all the exams and evaluation are done by the autonomous colleges at their end.

According to the UGC Regulation 2023 following measures are taken to monitor the quality standard education in an autonomous college –
• IQAC shall be established in the Autonomous College for regular monitoring of the College. The IQAC shall have an external Peer Team comprising of 2 or more members who shall be academicians of repute not below the rank of Professor. The report regarding the performance of the Autonomous College shall also be put on the public domain on the website of the College. The external peer review shall be conducted at least once in a year
• On its own or in case of an adverse report by the external peer team of IQAC or on receipt of any information/complaint, UGC may cause an inspection by constituting an Expert Committee for scrutiny and may revoke the autonomous status of the College after giving due opportunity of hearing to the management by way of notification and by passing a speaking order.
• The Autonomous College shall, without fail, upload on its website, information regarding the courses offered by it, the fees for the courses, the details of the faculty along with qualification and unique ID, the admission procedure, the details of relevant infrastructures, research activities of the Autonomous College along with the details of Ph.D. students enrolled, if any, with the date of enrolment, topics and supervisor.
• The Autonomous College shall also put on its website the constitution of various Committees/Cells as mandated in the various UGC Regulations notified from time to time. The Autonomous College shall conduct the meetings of the statutory bodies regularly and upload the minutes of the meetings on the college website.
• The Autonomous College shall also upload such information on such web portals as may be specified by the Commission, from time to time.
Moreover our institute also facilitate the visit of………report team for the purpose of maintenance of academic excellence.

The UGC notification 2023 lays down a comprehensive machinery of governance in an autonomous college which are as follows –
• The autonomous College shall have the following statutory bodies to ensure proper management of academic, financial, and general administrative affairs:
(a) Governing Body
(b) Academic Council
(c) Board of Studies
(d) Finance Committee
• The above mentioned statutory bodies will include the members not only from the affiliated university but will also include nominated members from the State Government which ensures transparency and accountability at the highest level of administration.
• The Autonomous College shall in addition, have other non-statutory committees such as the Planning and Evaluation Committee, Grievance Redressal Committee, Examination Committee, Admission Committee, Library Committee, Student Welfare Committee, Internal Complaints Committee, Extra- Curricular Activities Committee and Academic Audit Committee, etc.

Certainly, the number of students qualifying for the placement interviews is expected to rise even further due to rigorous and inclusive classroom teaching methodology extensive lab practice and focused move as field orientations, internship and continuous assessment.
Moreover, an autonomous college is more responsive to the ever changing needs of the industry, which will ultimately lead to the prevailing needs of the industry oriented skill development.
Therefore, the graduate from an autonomous college will be better suited for the real world challenges in the industry.