Mumbai University M Com results 2018 declared at mu.ac.in

Mumbai University results 2018: Over 465 exams across all the streams like humanities, commerce, science and technology and other interdisciplinary studies are being held as a part of the summer semester examinations between April and June.

Mumbai University results 2018: After much wait, the Mumbai University declared the results for M Com, semester 1 for which the exams were conducted in the month of January. The pass percentage in the semester 1 examination is 62.48 per cent. A total of 11,210 candidates registered for the examination while only 11,208 were admitted and the admissions of two candidates were cancelled. Out of the 10,854 candidates who appeared for the examination 6,731 passed and 4,042 couldn’t clear it. As many 354 students who registered were absent during the examination was being conducted.

The Mumbai University declared the pending results of the law exams of semesters 3 and 5 for the three-year LLB programme and semester 9 for the five year programme. The exams for the same were conducted between December and January.

Mumbai University results 2018: Steps to check

Step 1: Go to the official website for Mumbai University (mu.ac.in)

Step 2: Click on the link to the results page.

Step 3: Follow the link for your semester results.

Step 4: Enter your details in the fields provided.

Step 5: Download your result and take a print out of the same for further reference.

Last year the Mumbai University declared the results for TYBCOM for which almost 32 students achieved outstanding grades and 7868 students achieved “A” grade. As many as 19,3976 students failed to clear the examination. Among those students who attempted the semester 5 examination, 3 of them achieved outstanding grades and 119 achieved “A” grade and 5,359 failed the semester.

Over 465 exams across all the streams like humanities, commerce, science and technology and other interdisciplinary studies are being held as a part of the summer semester examinations between April and June. A delay in the winter exams led to the postponement of at least six papers which included exams for the law faculty which was scheduled on time from June first week.

Source : http://indianexpress.com/article/education/mumbai-university-semester-1-results-2018-a-tootal-of-6731students-passed-5189599/

From this academic session, universities likely to offer online degree courses

From this academic session, universities likely to offer online degree courses

From this academic session, universities likely to offer online degree courses

UGC Regulation

ODL Regulation 2017

https://www.ugc.ac.in/oldpdf/regulations/distance%20education%20regulations.pdf

ODL Regulation 2017 First Amendment

https://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/9850044_First-amendmenDEB.pdf

ODL Regulation 2018 Second Amendment

https://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/6824217_Second-Amendment-to-ODL-Regulations-2018.pdf

According to people familiar with the matter, these draft regulations will be tabled in the meeting of the commission to be held on Thursday.

Once the draft regulations are approved by the Commission, the UGC will start accepting applications for starting these courses by July.

Criteria

Under the draft UGC (Online Education) Regulations, 2018, any higher education institution will be able to apply to offer such online programmes if they have been in existence for at least five years and

They are accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, with a minimum score of 3.26 on a 4-point scale to maintain quality. 

At the same time, they should have been in the top-100 in the overall category in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for at least two years in the previous three years.

“However, this will not be applicable to Open Universities till NAAC or similar accreditation system or NIRF are made available for open universities,” the draft regulations add. 

The institutions can offer online programmes in those disciplines in which it is already offering the same/similar programmes in regular or open and distance learning. “The delivery of the programme will be through the SWAYAM portal of the government under which online courses are offered,” the draft regulations add. 

Institutions will be able to offer online degrees in all fields, except engineering, medicine, dental, pharmacy, nursing, architecture and physiotherapy. 

Concise From | https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/from-this-academic-session-universities-likely-to-offer-online-degree-courses/story-jNluEW3QQi8cCydbO3NooM.html

• 25 May 2018 | Mumbai | Musab Qazi

Online assessment fallout: 1 less subject to study in BCom final yr

MU says number of final­year answer sheets set to reduce by 80K

MUMBAI: Third-year Commerce (TY BCom) students will have one less subject to study, from the upcoming academic year 2018-2019. Currently, TY BCom students have seven subjects, which will be brought down to six. 

The University of Mumbai (MU) has not taken the decision to ease the pressure of the students. It has in fact, taken the decision to ease the assessment burden, currently worrying the examiners.

The change in the syllabus is aimed at spreading out subjects more evenly during the threeyear course. It will reduce the assessment burden on the delayprone examination department, and will likely ensure timely results for the final year students. 

“The university started gradually revising the curricula of the undergraduate courses from 2016-17 and culminated in 2018-19. Under the earlier syllabus, the students studied seven subjects each, in the first and third years and six subjects in the second year. The varsity decided to move one out paper of the special subject chosen by a student [accounting or management] from final year to the second year, as the second year had only one paper of the special subject,” said Siddheshwar Gadade, dean in-charge, commerce faculty, MU. 

With the new curriculum in place, the university will have to assess 70,000 - 80,000 fewer papers in a semester examination. This is because MU only conducts final year examinations for other undergraduate (UG) courses, while the first two years’ tests are conducted by the respective colleges.

Earlier, MU, which is being weighed down by assessments after it adopted the on-screen marking system last year, shifted all but final year examinations of three and five year LLB courses to colleges. 

Teachers hope that, with fewer papers to assess, MU will be able to declare the final year results on time. “Any delay in the third year results, affects the future career prospects of students,” said Jayant Apte, vice principal, KES Shroff College, Kandivli. 

“There is an uproar because final year results are delayed. But number of examiners are not sufficient,” added Gadade. 

Source : http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx#

• 23 May 2018 | Mumbai | HT Correspondent

Varsity hopes to declare results in June; principals think it is ‘farfetched’

MUMBAI: As assessment of answer papers for traditional courses is moving at a steady pace, University of Mumbai (MU) officials said they hope to announce results in June. However, principals and teachers have called it a “farfetched” decision. 

The university’s decision to delay the summer examinations by a few weeks has messed up the assessment period. Most teachers are on vacation, as they were busy supervising exams till May 10.

“At present, only those teachers who are in the city are assessing papers,” said Anju Kapoor, principal of UPG College, Vile Parle. 

For certain courses, including Bachelors in Mass Media (BMM), BCom (Accounting Finance), etc., teachers are yet to finish registration process to become eligible to access On-Screen Marking (OSM) assessment system. 

“We have also complained to the university that despite several attempts, some of us have not managed to finish the registration process. We are wasting our time in this process while answer sheets are waiting to be assessed,” said a teacher. 

The university, however, still insists it are on the right track. “As of now our focus is on the courses with the highest concentration of students — BCom, BA and BSc. We hope to announce all these results by mid-June,” said Vinod Malale, deputy registrar (public relations), MU. 

Source : http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx#

• 23 May 2018 | Mumbai

AN IDEAL PERSPECTIVE PLAN

You can send your suggestions to Mumbai University on ar.affiliation2@fort.mu.ac.in With a view of bringing uniformity in higher education across state and to integrate it with the new national education policy, the Maharashtra government appointed a four-member committee led by economist and educationist Narendra Jadhav The committee had recommended that the state-level perspective plan should have a provision for establishing at least one traditional )Arts, Science and Commerce) college and one professional college in rural and tribal areas lagging behind Universities should set a goal of increasing Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of each district under its purview by 5% every five years, the committee had recommended The committee aims a 30% state GER by the end of 10 years If 25% of seats in a faculty or city remain vacant for three consecutive years, new institutes in that faculty or city must not be allowed 

Source : http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx#

Wed May 23 2018

Students, teachers & industrialists to get a say in MU’s 5-yr plan

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai:

 

First time ever, Mumbai University will seek feedback from students, teachers, principals, industrialists and other stakeholders for the next five-year perspective plan should look like.

A perspective plan looks at MU’s overall academic and infrastructural expansion by outlining the number of colleges and streams, departments and courses required in different regions under its jurisdiction.

Not just the direct stakeholders, the university is planning to get suggestions from entrepreneurs, dignitaries of social sector, government representatives and even parents. To design a questionnaire specific to individual group of stakeholders, a 38-member committee has been formed by the university. The committee will also analyse the feedback which will be taken through online surveys that will be available on the university’s website.

“We will ask students which courses they would like to be made skill-based, the location where colleges are needed, courses which are more popular,” said an official from the university.

“Students are an important component in the process of community convergence,” said vice-chancellor Suhas Pednekar.

Officials even highlighted the fact that education sector is expected to grow more than ever before, and therefore, focusing on various aspects like skill education, women empowerment, research status, empowerment of sub-centers, quality improvement, entry capacity, vacancy, gap between two colleges, is essential, said the official. The university even organised a workshop with senior education officials.

Source : https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/#

State govt to set up team of experts to help colleges, univs reach milestones

Wants To Have 3K Accredited Colleges By 2021

Yogita.Rao@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:
 

The state government has prepared a blueprint for enhancing the quality of higher education in the next few years. Increasing the number of accredited colleges from 1,174 to 3,000 by 2021, helping 700 more colleges to attain ‘A grade in NAAC, bringing reforms in curriculum, classroom pedagogy are some of the goals set by the state.

Since most universities and colleges in the state performed poorly in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), the higher and technical education department plans to set up a Maharashtra State Assessment and Accreditation Assistance Cell (MSAAC). The cell’s primary work will be to push institutions into getting accreditation and to equip them to prepare self-assessment reports based on the requirement of the ranking agencies. The state plans to empanel some experts from NIRF to help colleges and universities in understanding their requirements. Help will also be taken from colleges and universities that have performed well in the rankings.

While Savitribai Phule Pune University was ranked among the top 10 universities in the country, Mumbai University dropped from the 101-150band to the 151-200 in NIRF. No other university in the state performed well. Among colleges, only St Xavier’s from the city managed 74th rank.

State’s project director for Rashtriya Uchchatar Shikshan Abhiyan (RUSA), Meeta Rajiv Lochan, said colleges need to focus on increasing their research output and students’ placements. “The ranking agencies consider these as important parameters. 

Many of our colleges, however, do not have postgraduate departments or research centres. Students’ placement cell is another essential parameter where our colleges need improvement,” said the director. The state also plans to help colleges increase the number of research proposals sent to funding agencies. “Some of the colleges in our state are doing really well, we need to just facilitate them and take them to another level,” the director said.

RUSA will use a software used by Punjab University and customise it for colleges and universities in the state. Since the process of getting NAAC accreditation has moved online, institutions will have to depend heavily on data processing and the software will help them in organising their data too.

City's top colleges such as St Xavier’s, Jai Hind, Ruia and Mithibai that want to transform into universities, or the ones that will form cluster universities like HR, KC and Somaiya will have to compete with colleges and universities from across the country to get funding from the Centre. As the central government funding under RUSA will go only to a limited number of institutions in the country, the education department has chalked out a multi-pronged approach to help them to improve their pitch note. For example, the grant of Rs 55 crore for upgrading autonomous colleges to universities will be given only to three colleges in the country. The state has around 45 eligible colleges.

A college principal said the state is actively taking interest in enhancing the quality of higher education and are conducting regular workshops and seminars to create awareness about different grant opportunities. In the past, RUSA has helped setting up six research hubs in colleges and universities for transfer of technology to the industries, considered to be one of their most successful achievements.

TIMES VIEW: Quality improvement measures are much needed in institutions of higher education in the state. The vision document prepared by the education department should be followed in totality if we need results. The government should ensure such initiatives are not abandoned midway but taken seriously by all stakeholders. It also needs to ensure smooth flow of funds. The grants offered by the Centre will also act as an incentive for colleges to do well. Instead of expecting every college to achieve the lowest target, facilitating colleges doing exceptionally well is a good move. 

Source : https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/#

Tech-savvy youth prefer physical books over digital versions

Washington:
Young people still prefer curling up with a paper book over e-readers — even more so than their older counterparts — according to a study which dispels the stereotype that millennials are always hooked to technology.

The study, published in the journal Electronic Markets, found that adult consumers across all age groups perceive ownership of e-books very differently than ownership of physical books, and this could have important implications for those in the business of selling digital texts.

“We looked at what’s called psychological ownership, which is not necessarily tied to legal possession or legal rights, but is more tied to perceptions of ‘what is mine’,” said Sabrina Helm, an associate professor at University of Arizona in the US.

Peoples’ sense of psychological ownership is affected by three primary factors: whether they feel like they have control over the object they own, whether they use the object to define who they are, and whether the object helps give them a sense of belonging in society, said Helm.

Researchers convened four focus groups in different age ranges: one of Baby Boomers; one group of Generation X; and two of millennials. Participants described being more emotionally attached to physical books, and said they use physical books to establish a sense of self and belonging, while the e-book experience feels more like renting. PTI 

Source : https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/#

UGC approves online courses, grants autonomy to 9 deemed universities

The new regulations, however, do not apply for courses that include practical/laboratory classes as part of the curriculum.

education Updated: May 25, 2018 08:16 IST

HT Correspondent | Hindustan Times, New Delhi

The examinations (for online courses) will be conducted in proctored mode (in the presence of an invigilator) and in conformity with any norms for such examinations stipulated by the UGC.(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

 

Universities and institutions will be able to offer certificate, diploma, and degree programmes online from this academic session (2018-2019), after the University Grants Commission (UGC) approved the regulations in a meeting on Thursday.

A senior UGC official, however, said that the institutions can offer only those courses (approved by any one of the 14 statutory councils) that they have already been offering at graduation level through regular or distance learning modes, with at least one batch of students having already graduated. HT had reported this on May 23.

The new regulations, however, do not apply for courses that include practical/laboratory classes as part of the curriculum, the official said. “The examinations (for online courses) shall be conducted in proctored mode (in the presence of an invigilator) and in conformity with any norms for such examinations stipulated by the commission.”

Under the UGC (Online Courses) Regulations, 2018, a higher education institution will be eligible if it has been in existence for five years; is accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with a minimum score of 3.26 on a 4-point scale; and is in top-100 in overall category in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for at least two years in the previous three years.

With these, the Union human resource development ministry hopes to achieve the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) target of 30% by 2020. GER (25.2% in 2016-17) is the percentage of eligible population of students (aged between 18 and 23) enroled in higher education.

Meanwhile, the commission approved new provisions in the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of MPhil/PhD Degrees) Regulations, 2016.

To make these regulations advantageous to students of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), the UGC has relaxed the qualifying marks in the entrance examinations for admission into MPhil/PhD programmes — from 50% to 45%.

“There will be a weightage of 70% to the written test, and 30% to the performance in the interview/viva-voce,” the official said.

The commission also granted graded autonomy to nine more deemed universities, including Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani; Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai; Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi; Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru among others.

The graded autonomy will allow these deemed universities the freedom to start new courses, skill development courses, research parks and any other academic programmes. They will also have the freedom to hire foreign faculty, enrol foreign students, and enter into academic collaborations among others.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/ugc-approves-online-courses-grants-autonomy-to-9-deemed-universities/story-z89GlQ5t7GwV2uZ7sBl2vL.html

• 23 May 2018 | Mumbai

FROM JULY, GET DEGREES ONLINE

From this academic session, universities and higher educational institutions are likely to offer degree and Masters programmes online. The University Grants Commission (UGC) is all set to approve draft regulations, which say students and working professionals can get a UGC-recognised degree online.

NEW DELHI: Union human resource development (HRD) minister Prakash Javadekar spoke to Neelam Pandey on an array of issues ranging from autonomous status to colleges to the CBSE paper leak exams. Edited excerpts:

The autonomy scheme has led to protests by a few colleges.

People think it is a new scheme, which is not correct. There are 800 universities across the country, and there is no protest going on there. The scheme of autonomous colleges is going on since 1970s and there are already 635 autonomous institutes in the country and 335 have applied for autonomous status... We aren’t thrusting autonomy scheme on anyone, institutes are applying on their own.
One of the major fears is that autonomy would leak to a fee hike.
As far as central universities are concerned we have clarified that they will not increase fee. The issue with Delhi university (DU) is... under DU there are some colleges which want autonomy there are some which don’t .

What are the three major achievements of the HRD ministry?
Firstly it is the autonomy that has been given to Indian Institutes of Management under the IIM bill which was passed unanimously in both houses of the Parliament and now the rules are also being framed which will be applicable from July 1...Second is improving quality of education and third is research and innovation. We have also got the scheme of institutes of eminence under which 20 universities will be selected — 10 each from the private and public sectors – and will be given complete autonomy...

Do you consider CBSE’s leak as a major failure of the government?
No, not at all. Paper leaks have taken place in the past too. There used to be more such leaks earlier and it has come down now. We have taken it as a challenge and which is why no other paper was leaked. It is not a policy failure but a challenge. We will ensure there are more online components to the present system...

The National Education Policy (NEP) and a single regulator for higher educational institutions was promised in the BJP manifesto but they are yet to be implemented.




We have progressed on both fronts. NEP has taken a long time because it is a big task and it is meant for the next generation (2020-2040)... We can expect NEP by June end, they have already briefed me and the policy will be implemented soon. As far as the single regulator is concerned, we have prepared the draft. It is actually bringing the processes of the UGC, the AICTE and the NCTE on the same platform ...

Source : http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

Students appeal… ‘Be fair to all, don’t favour the rich’

 

— By Ronald Rodrigues | May 13, 2018 12:12 am

Mumbai University students believe that if 75 per cent attendance is mandatory, then it should be implemented for all without any bias.

Mumbai : “You need to have 75 per cent attendance or will not be allowed to appear for the examination, You need to attend lectures or a strict action will be taken,” We all have heard these remarks in college from our professors which somehow cemented the importance of attendance in our minds. But is attendance stil an important criteria? Or are some students getting away with low attendance while others are enclosing themselves in the four walls of a classroom?

A general rule of 75 per cent attendance is observed and followed by a majority of colleges. While as per the Mumbai University (MU), students should have a minimum of 50 per cent attendance. Even the Bombay High Court (HC) recently passed an order stating students who do not have minimum attendance of 50 per cent will not be allowed to appear for semester examinations.

Despite all of these norms, both colleges and university are bending attendance rules to either help students, favour them or avoid any kind of inconvenience. College faculty revealed they do it to save the reputation of the college and maintain its status. While, the university claimed students are helpless and cannot afford to waste an academic year just because they did not attend a few lectures.

Students claimed the real picture is bigger than it appears. Students revealed attendance issue is generally resolved at college level through various means like showing a medical certificate for illness, completing extra assignments or projects to cover up the lack of attendance or simply appearing for ATKT examination if failed in semesters due to low attendance.

Some students even mentioned they can pay off the peon or staff involved to cover up their attendance. And to hype the issue, they can go out on the street along with their parents and protest outside the college campus which forces the college to save its reputation from media spur and resolve the attendance issue of students. And in worst case scenario, students can knock the door of the university and pay off a fee of Rs 4,000 and appear for the examination.

Last week, the university allowed over 120 students to appear for First Year and Second Year (FY and SY) semester examinations of Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Commerce (BCom) by paying a fee of Rs 4,000 despite having attendance below 50 to 60 per cent. An official of MU said, “We want to help student as some of them have genuine reasons.” While a Yuva Sena senate member said, “We can recover funds through these fees and manage the loss that the university is going through.”

So, is it a tactic of the university to amass funds from students? As an amount of Rs 4.80 lakh (4,000×120) has already being collected by the university. While, attendance issues are also resolved by pressurising college principals, head of deapartments and teachers by rich and powerful parents. A parent of Shroff College, Kandivali said, “The college charges us fees so they should allow our chidlren to appear for examination. My child’s attendance is below 50 per cent but I have paid huge fees and my child cannot lose a year.”

So, does this mean just because parents are paying huge fees their children can getaway with anything? Or do the disciplinary rules not apply for the rich? Students are the ones who are most affected by attendance system, and they revealed the attendance rule should be equal for all. Pratik Shahane, a student said, “If there is a rule then it should be applicable for all. If there is a punishment then it should be applicable for all too. We do not fear the failure of examination due to low attendance but we cannot stand the injustice and favourism for the rich, powerful and influential.”

Students claimed either nobody or everybody should be allowed to getaway with low attendance. Tanishka Mukherji, a student said, “Why should a few of us attend lectures while the others play the fool and getaway with it by throwing off some money. All of us should face the consequences of our actions. As students we all know that we bunk lectures and often cook up a medical reason. But if we cross the limits then we should face the repurcussions without involving our parents or our financial and social status.”

Source : http://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/students-appeal-be-fair-to-all-dont-favour-the-rich/1275724

Mumbai University to take care of attendance if students pay Rs 4,000

— By Ronald Rodrigues | May 11, 2018 

Mumbai: In what may prove to be a big advantage to moneybags, students with low attendance have been allowed to appear for semester examinations by paying Rs 4,000 to the Mumbai University (MU).

Over 120 students were not allowed by their respective colleges to appear for First and Second Year (FY and SY) exams of Arts and Commerce since their attendance was below 60 per cent. But now, MU will conduct special exams for these students and is charging Rs 4,000 from each examinee for the same.

On Thursday, hordes of students had assembled at the IDOL building on Kalina campus to fill admission forms. These students were from various institutions — Shroff College (Kandivali), Wilson, Narsee Monjee (NM), Mithibai and a few others. When questioned, the students claimed that they had low attendance and their colleges had barred them from appearing for exams. The colleges claimed that the university should not be lenient in the matter since it is unfair to other students and they too will take advantage of such a clause in the future.

Lily Bhushan, Principal of KES Shroff College, said, “We have only considered those students who have medical and health issues. But we cannot allow students with attendance as low as 50% to appear for the exams.” A teacher of St Andrew’s College said, “These students have a poor attendance because they bunk lectures; but now, they will get away by coughing up Rs 4000. Clearly, this is an unjust benefit for the rich.”

The university has accommodated these students despite the university stipulation of minimum 50% attendance. Incidentally, the Bombay High Court recently passed an order stating that any student with attendance less than 50 per cent should not be allowed to appear for exams.

University officials claimed that they have accommodated students due to genuine reasons. Vinod Malale, a university official who manages these admissions, said, “Some students genuinely could not attend lectures, so this is the first time in the last 10 years that we have taken this decision.” However, Supriya Karande, Senate member of the Yuva Sena, said, “MU is losing funds as admissions are decreasing. We can recover funds through these admissions.” This special examination will be conducted in June.

Source:http://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-university-to-take-care-of-attendance-if-students-pay-rs-4000/1274283

 MU gives a second chance to students barred from exams

 9 May 2018 | Mumbai | Shreya Soni


College principals miffed, say university violating own norms

MUMBAI: A move that can be described as University of Mumbai (MU) undermining its own rules, the varsity’s Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL) has offered to admit students who were barred from ongoing examinations owing to low attendance. This will save the students an academic year, the university said.

On Monday, IDOL released a notification announcing special admissions on May 10 for firstand second-year BA and BCom students, whose names have appeared in the list of attendance defaulters. These students will have to cancel their university enrolment and produce a no-objection certificate (NOC) from their respective colleges.

By missing the examinations, the defaulters could not have been promoted to the next class. However, this provision will now allow them to save their year by appearing for IDOL examinations held by in May or early June — a month after the regular exams conclude. Upon clearing these exams, students can continue their course in colleges for the next academic year.

“Students had approached authorities regarding exams and attendance issues. We are giving a second chance to students so that they can save a year,” said VM Malale, deputy registrar (public relations), MU.

The students, though, will have to study and take tests as per to IDOL curriculum , which follows an annual examination pattern as opposed to the semester pattern of the varsity-affiliated colleges. Once students pass the exams, they can take admission in the same college or any other college in the subsequent year.

Principals, however, are unhappy with the varisty’s decision. “This is incorrect. The university is violating its own norms. We are doing what the rules require us to do. We will provide NOCs, but it is too early to say whether we will take these students back,” said the principal of a college in western suburbs, which barred several students from appearing for exams owing to low attendance.

Asgar Lakdawala, principal, Royal College, Mira Road, said, “It’s an unethical move by the university.”

As per MU’s ordinance, which lays down rules for attendance, a student can only be allowed to keep terms if he maintains at least 75% average attendance in lectures, practicals and tutorials. HT had reported that at least four colleges in Mumbai — Mithibai College in Vile Parle, KES Shroff College in Kandivli, Narsee Monjee (NM) College of Commerce and Economics in Vile Parle and PD Dalmia College in Malad — had barred more than 500 students from appearing for semester exams.

The students, on the other hand are relieved. “My mother was suffering from a serious disease. She passed away recently, which is why I couldn’t attend my classes. Hopefully, this will save a year,” said Maitree Bhatt from NM College.


Source : http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

Cluster varsities will give colleges academic freedom

Yogita.Rao@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:

Three groups of city colleges are coming together to form three universities soon. The first proposal considered for the RUSA scheme was the one of the state colleges, with Government Law College and without Sydenham in 2015.

A statement issued by higher and technical education minister Vinod Tawde said, “To increase the academic quality of higher education, the state has decided to send three proposals to RUSA. It will give students more options in the rightful implementation of choice-based credit system. RUSA will facilitate the setting up of these universities.”

The decision was taken at a meeting with representatives from these colleges and their managements. Tawde clarified that existing state funding to these colleges will not be impacted. The state will have to make a legislation for cluster universities to impose some minimum norms such as NAAC accreditation, resourceful research centres and quality checks, which could take time, said an official.

RUSA’s state project director, Meeta Rajiv Lochan, said students from a commerce college in the cluster can choose to do a minor in chemistry from the other constituent college offering science. “Several interdisciplinary options can be explored. They can share costs and resources, create curriculum, courses etc. It will also give them autonomy to build international linkages. If they enhance brand value, in future, there could be scope for more colleges to get affiliated to the newer universities,” she said.

A government official said the current batch of graduating students from Mumbai University did not learn GST as part of its curriculum as the syllabus was not updated. “Cluster university will allow academic freedom to colleges to develop skill-based curriculum from time to time and allow horizontal mobility of students to choose courses. It will not be the same as the freedom granted to autonomous colleges, as cluster universities will have independent academic bodies of their own, with no representatives from the parent university,” said the official.

Three to five existing colleges with adequate academic, physical and technical infrastructure can come together to form a cluster university, and the participating colleges eventually become constituent colleges of the newly-created university. Since such universities will have multiple campuses, RUSA recommends the constituent colleges to be within a radius of 15-20km to allow sharing of resources. One of the colleges will be the lead college, which will host the vice-chancellor, among other responsibilities.

The Centre had initially floated a plan to start 35 cluster universities across India. The initial scheme was to grant Rs 55 crore to each of the cluster universities to facilitate the process. Jammu and Kashmir already has a cluster university in Srinagar.

 

Source : https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/#