Kolkata’s Loreto College, a 114-year-old higher education institution, has been granted autonomous status by the University Grants Commission (UGC), India’s higher education regulator, allowing the college greater control over what and how it teaches. In India’s university system, many colleges are affiliated with a public university that prescribes the curriculum, conducts examinations, and awards degrees.
An autonomous college gains the authority to design its own syllabus, conduct examinations, and introduce new courses, allowing it to adapt more quickly to changing academic and industry requirements. Degrees continue to be awarded under the university’s framework, in accordance with UGC regulations.
“The autonomy will give us the freedom to choose subjects relevant to young people today and reach greater heights,” Sister Monica Suchiang, provincial, Loreto South Asia, reportedly said.
For students and parents, Loreto College’s new autonomous status could translate into a more relevant and flexible learning experience. The college will now be able to design its own curriculum, introduce courses that reflect changing career trends, conduct examinations and publish results independently. This allows the institute to respond more quickly to changing academic and industry needs.
This flexibility could help students gain skills and degrees that are more aligned with emerging job markets. This could also encourage more students to remain in Kolkata by expanding the range of specialised programmes available locally. The institution also plans to expand its offerings and infrastructure, including introducing co-education from the next academic session and adding more classes over morning and evening shifts to accommodate a larger student body. Overall, autonomy gives the college greater control over its academic direction, with the potential to offer students a more contemporary and career-oriented education.
Why more colleges want autonomy—and what it means for students
More colleges in West Bengal are opting for autonomous status as they look for greater flexibility in academics. In June, Scottish Church College reportedly received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the University of Calcutta, allowing it to apply to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for autonomous status. Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Narendrapur, and Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, Rahara, are already autonomous institutions.
St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, became the state’s first autonomous college in 2006, paving the way for other institutions to seek greater academic independence. While autonomous colleges continue to award degrees under their parent university’s framework, they have the freedom to frame their own curriculum, conduct examinations and introduce courses that better reflect changing educational and industry needs.
For students and parents, a college becoming autonomous can bring several practical benefits. Autonomy gives the institution greater freedom to revise teaching methods and design examinations that better match current industry needs and academic developments. Instead of waiting for changes at the university level, an autonomous college can respond more quickly to emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, sustainability, and digital media.
Students may also benefit from more flexible assessment methods, opportunities for interdisciplinary learning, and stronger links with employers and researchers.
“We are very happy that we received autonomy, which will give us the freedom to revise our curriculum, introduce new subjects that are in demand in the job market…The autonomy will also give us the freedom to implement a credit system,” Sister Nirmala, the teacher-in-charge of Loreto college, reportedly said.