Pune: The Sir Parashurambhau (SP) College has now two feathers in its cap. It has scored the highest in National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) evaluation in the city. Now, the college has been conferred ‘autonomous’ status by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The college received the letter on Tuesday. 

The college applied for autonomous status in November 2018. “It is a proud moment for us. It has enabled us to expand our academic vision and reach maximum students,” said SP College Principal Dilip Sheth. The college scored 3.70 CGPA and received A+ grade. “This has definitely boosted our efforts to achieve the status. The UGC stated that those with A+ grade will be easily granted autonomous status.

Therefore, immediately after we received the grade, we applied for the autonomous status,” said Sheth. 

The primary vision of the college authority is to set up a board of studies for each stream offered in the college. “We offer courses in 28 streams. Therefore, accordingly we will set up 28 boards of studies which will consist of experts and educationists from respective fields who will help in enhancing the courses already offered in the college. Also they will suggest more courses to expand the academics for students,” said Sheth.

The college can now independently form syllabus, collaborate with foreign universities, conduct examination and formulate course fees. “We will be eligible for several grants under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA),” added Sheth. 

“Currently our courses offered to rural and urban students are balanced and defined. Now we can formulate the course as per their requirements,” said Sheth. 

“We are not focusing on fees of the course. Our aim will be to provide courses in reasonable fees so that maximum students can receive it,” he added.