Kolkata: Calcutta University will allow affiliated colleges offering PG programmes to enjoy academic autonomy. Representatives from these colleges will soon be included in the PG Board of Studies as well.The move comes after Asutosh Ghosh took charge as CU vice-chancellor. He recently met the principals of 25 CU-affiliated colleges that offer PG courses. This has been a long-standing demand from a section of college principals, who argued that students pursuing PG courses in colleges were suffering because of the existing system.Ghosh told TOI, “We are considering the matter as we feel all these demands are valid. There needs to be parity. Students’ interests should be prioritised through this system, and it was there in the university system and needs to be reinstated.” He added that the matter has been primarily decided and will be placed before the syndicate at the end of this month.There are 45 CU-affiliated colleges offering PG courses, including Lady Brabourne College, Asutosh College, and Scottish Church College, which earlier enjoyed academic independence in setting question papers and evaluating answer scripts. These colleges will also be allowed to conduct their own admissions, though students will remain registered under CU.College principals have welcomed the move, with many pointing out that there was discrimination between students in CU departments and those in affiliated colleges. A principal said, “Many of our students said earlier that their friends were asked not to share class materials with them, and they faced discrimination repeatedly. The paper setters prepare questions based on classroom teaching at CU, but they do not consider these students. This situation should change to create a healthy academic environment.”Siuli Sarkar, principal of Lady Brabourne College, said, “This is a welcome decision by the university. The new VC has taken a very positive step towards providing academic autonomy to the PG courses run in colleges. If we are allowed to hold our own admissions, then we can select students based on our own parameters.”Asutosh College principal Manas Kabi said, “PG students on CU campuses get an idea of the question pattern while attending classes, but our students don’t, which affects their results.”To ensure parity, the university will allow representatives from colleges to be part of the CU Board of Studies, and results will be declared uniformly. Before the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) was introduced in 2018, colleges conducted examinations and evaluated answer scripts independently. Later, the university adopted a centralised examination system.
