Scottish Church College Urges CU to Restore PG Autonomy and Revive Academic Freedom

Scottish Church College has urged Calcutta University to restore the postgraduate autonomy that the university withdrew in 2018, arguing that independent academic control is essential for the college’s continued growth. The institution, which has a long history as a minority college, highlighted its strong NAAC performance and the importance of flexible curricula, research-driven teaching, and competitive postgraduate programmes.

In a letter dated December 4, principal Madhumanjari Mandal asked vice-chancellor Ashutosh Ghosh to reinstate the autonomous status earlier granted to the college’s PG department. A copy of the letter was also sent to registrar Debasish Das, who serves on the college’s governing body.

Mandal emphasised that the college had enjoyed autonomy from 2005 to 2018 and has consistently demonstrated excellence in teaching, research activity, and student support. She stressed that institutions with such credentials should be allowed to design and manage their own postgraduate framework. At present, the college offers postgraduate programmes in chemistry and botany.

Other institutions — including Lady Brabourne College and Asutosh College — have raised similar demands, noting that the absence of autonomy makes it harder to uphold high academic standards.

Mandal, who is a faculty member in botany, noted that autonomy would allow departments to introduce innovative learning methods and update their courses to keep pace with modern academic trends, especially at a time when private colleges attract students through more flexible structures. She added that greater independence would also enable stronger research orientation.

A faculty member explained that, before 2018, autonomy made it possible for the college to regularly revise syllabi through its own board of studies, adding contemporary topics and research components. After CU took full charge of examinations and course designs at the postgraduate level, many teachers felt the academic rigor had diminished.