Mumbai: Mumbai colleges, with the exception of St Xavier’s College, Fort, have not made it to the top 100 colleges of India, National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2019. Colleges claims, the lack of global exposure, funding, scope for innovative projects, poor standards of research and restriction on infrastructure expansion are the major drawbacks due to which they lost out.
The ranking of St Xavier’s College, Fort has been slipping since the last two years. It secured the 96th rank in the College category. But this rank too has dipped, as it had achieved the 76th position in 2018 and 46th rank in 2017.
Avkash Jadhav, a senior teacher of Xavier’s college, said, “We have started internal assessments throughout the semester which help students to perform well in academics. Also, we promote unconventional methods and experiment with new techniques of teaching and learning.”
Authorities of other colleges claim there is a lack of global exposure which do not allow students and teachers to expand their expertise. A principal of another South Mumbai college, said, “We do not have international exchange programmes, cultural seminars or tour visits.
These activities can help students to get a better idea of the academic standards outside. Students are restricted to their own college and are unable to come up with innovative ideas for projects and thesis which affects their performance.” Both teachers and students are not upgraded with the changing trends of technology, industry and business models, according to the college authorities.
A senior teacher of a suburban college, said, “There is no mechanism to keep a check whether the teachers and students are aware about the new technology and ideas. Often, the education cycle in colleges becomes a daily routine where a teacher strives to complete the lectures and students just attend to fulfil their mandatory period of attendance.”
In addition, poor standards of research, lack of funding from the government and limitations to provide additional facilities on the campus are other drawbacks. Sangeeta More, a teacher, said, “The government expects world class research work from the students when it is not ready to provide even basic funding to the colleges.”
