Autonomous Institution - Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q1. What is autonomy related to educational institutes?

    Autonomy is a functional status given to the colleges, by the University Grants Commission (UGC) with an aim of  providing greater flexibility towards academic development with respect to frame their own regulation /curriculum and syllabus .

  • Q2. Who grants Autonomy?

    In case of colleges affiliated to a University, it is the parent university that grants the power of Autonomy in concurrence with UGC and the respective state government.

  • Q3. What is the difference between a deemed university and an autonomous college?

    A deemed university is established by an act of Central Govt. functionally similar to the responsibilities of a University to the extent of awarding its own Degree. But, whereas an autonomous college uses the academic independence by framing a regulation, modern curriculum/syllabus, adopts its own way of conducting end semester examination and follow various methods for assessment but still degree awarded by the Affiliating University i.e Anna University, Chennai.

  • Q4. Does the autonomous college has the freedom to award its own degree

    Refer Q.3

    For autonomous colleges, the Degree will be awarded by the Affiliating University with the name of the college mentioned on it.

  • Q5.What are the benefits of autonomy?

    An autonomous college, according to the National Policy, is free to frame their own regulation, modern curriculum/syllabi, devise methods of teaching, conduct end semester examinations and evolve methods of assessment of students. For achieving higher standards and greater creativity, it is free to use modern tools of educational technology.

  • Q6. What are the objectives of autonomy?

    The National Policy on Education (1986-92) formulated the following objectives for autonomous colleges. An autonomous college will have the freedom to:

    • Determine and prescribe its own courses of study and syllabi, restructure and redesign the courses to suit the modern and also local needs
    • Prescribe rules for admission in consonance with the reservation policy of the state government
    • Evolve methods of assessment of student’s performance, the conduct of examinations and notification of results
    • Use modern tools of educational technology to achieve higher standards and greater creativity

    Promote healthy practices such as community service, extension activities, projects for the benefit of the society at large, neighborhood programmes, etc

  • Q7. How far the syllabi could be changed?

    Autonomy allows the freedom to change the syllabi as often as the institution needs after obtaining the concurrence from the Affiliating University.

  • Q8. Can the autonomous colleges provide a provisional degree certificate?

    As the end semester examination shall be conducted by the college and results will also be declared by the college, the autonomous college, with the prior permission of affiliating university, is entitled to award a provisional degree certificate to the students.

  • Q9. Will the academic autonomy make the positive impact on the Placements or Employability?

    Yes. It is often observed that autonomous colleges bring in more opportunities of employability or placement: because of its revised education, regular assessment of students, industry-oriented practical education, along with a progress in research and novel administrative ventures.