University of Mumbai Attains Class 1 Graded Autonomy Status from UGC

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The University of Mumbai has been granted Class 1 graded autonomy status by the UGC, following in the footsteps of Savitribai Phule Pune University in 2018.

New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has granted Class 1 graded autonomy status to the University of Mumbai (MU), opening the doors for diverse educational prospects. Earlier, the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Pune, achieved this distinction as the first public university in the state in 2018.

With its Class I status, the University of Mumbai has gained the authority to start new courses, departments, campuses, online and distance learning programs without prior UGC approval. It can also start degree and diploma programs in innovation-centric fields like technology, entrepreneurship, design thinking, and sustainable development.

This prestigious status aligns with the UGC’s Grant of Graded Autonomy Regulation, 2018, which, in 2018, extended graded autonomy to 60 higher educational institutions across India.

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Attaining Class I status will enable the university to introduce skill-based courses aligned with the National Skill Qualification Framework. It can establish research parks, incubation centers, and self-financed skill-based programs tailored to local requirements. The university also gained the flexibility to engage foreign teachers for specific durations, subject to terms and conditions, and can directly admit foreign students.

Aligned with the National Education Policy, forging academic partnerships with foreign institutions becomes more accessible, fostering international education. This will open doors for dual degrees, associate degrees, twinning programs, and facilitates student-teacher exchanges on a national and global scale.

Expressing his delight at achieving this status, Prof Ravindra Kulkarni, Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University said that this status provides the university with academic autonomy, unlocking a new field of educational possibilities.

The Class I status is a significant stride toward internationalizing higher education, aligning with the National Education Policy. This designation not only impacts education, research, and innovation but also facilitates diverse activities like skill-based education, novel courses, online programs, and the establishment of campuses. It notably contributes to empowering distance and open learning institutes, Kulkarni added.