Academic Autonomy to affiliated colleges

The University Grants Commission is of the view that, in the light of the increasing number of colleges, the system of affiliating colleges to Universities has now become unwieldy and it is becoming increasingly difficult for a university to attend to the varied needs of individual colleges. The colleges do not have the freedom to modernize their curricula or make them locally relevant. It is also pointed out that Colleges with academic and operative freedom are doing better and have more credibility. It is in this backdrop, that the Govt of Kerala has come up with a policy to recommend deserving affiliated colleges to the UGC for grant of autonomy. Calicut University Act 1975 and other University Acts have been amended by University Laws (Third amendment) Act 2014 incorporating provisions for grant of academic autonomy to affiliated colleges while retaining the affiliated status of the colleges.

8 colleges under Calicut University have so far been recommended by the Kerala Government for grant of academic autonomy and 7 out of them have been granted autonomy by the University Grants Commission for an initial period of six years.

 Autonomous colleges under University of Calicut

Academic Autonomy- Procedure of approval

• The Autonomy Approval Committee constituted by the Govt. Of Kerala as per the provisions of University Laws (Third amendment Act) 2014, receives proposals from aspiring colleges for autonomous status and recommends eligible colleges to UGC after conducting a priliminary evaluation .

• The proposals from the recommended colleges are forwarded to UGC by the University for further necessary action.

• UGC appoints Expert Committees for each college and evaluates the eligibility of the colleges on the basis of specific criteria.

• The Syndicate of the University considers the UGC decision and final orders are issued.