University Grants Commission: Two Colleges in Mumbai declared Autonomous

University Grants Commission (UGC) on Friday announced the autonomous status for SIES college in Sion and on Saturday UGC announced the same for Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala College in Ghatkopar. With this, the number of affiliated autonomous colleges with the University of Mumbai is now 16. 

The autonomous colleges affiliated to Mumbai University have the freedom to decide their own curriculum and with this, the colleges get the freedom to introduce new courses and make changes regarding the examinations. 

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As per the decision, Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala College (RJC) has got an autonomous status until the 2027-28 academic year. RJC has a good reputation, with ‘A’ rank from National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and huge fundings for research projects from Hindustan Unilever, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and UGC.

Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala College Principal, Usha Mukundan informed that “In 2014, the college had been given ₹1.5 million for the 'B' vocational curriculum of the UGC. The grants were received by a few colleges in the city and Jhunjhunwala College was one of them. To make the syllabus easier, it will focus on making more qualitative assessment process.”

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SIES college has also got an autonomous status till the academic year 2027-28. In the last academic year, SIES received special grants of ₹95 lakhs for Science and Technology Department. 

SIES College Principal, Dr Umameshwari Shankar informed that “With this autonomous status given by the UGC, the college will be able to effectively implement activities oriented towards the students and will work for the college’s overall development. The college plans to initiate some special activities in the coming years for the personality development of the students.”

Earlier, the UGC announced that the criteria for providing autonomous status to the colleges – the college shall possess ‘A’ ranking in the NAAC assessment and 3.51 CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average).