Only 18 of 740 colleges took part in best college contest, say MU officials

MUMBAI: On Monday, the University of Mumbai (MU) presented its annual Best College awards to two institutions in Mumbai, one each from Panvel and Palghar. But of

MUMBAI: On Monday, the University of Mumbai (MU) presented its annual Best College awards to two institutions in Mumbai, one each from Panvel and Palghar. But of the 740 colleges under MU, only 18 colleges — 15 from urban areas and three from rural areas — had nominated themselves for the award, said MU officials.

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MU had constituted a committee to evaluate the participating colleges on various criteria such as results, add-on courses, sports and cultural activities and research.

The committee picked Jai Hind College, Churchgate, and MD College, Parel, from the urban category, while Pillai College in Panvel and Godavari Shyamrao Parulekar College, Talasari, were selected from the rural category. The award was constituted around a decade ago.

While most of the colleges HT spoke to did not give a reason, a principal said that colleges don’t participate in the competition because the selection process is not transparent and they are not sure of how fair it is.

However, an official from the university’s academic planning and development section said, “Colleges that have received the award are not allowed to reapply.”

However, the principal of a college from the western suburbs said he did not apply for the award because he had “no faith” in the system. “Ideally, the university should monitor the colleges throughout the year. The evaluation should be done in an objective manner, taking into consideration a wide range of parameters, which doesn’t seem to happen here,” he said.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) has criticised the decision to grant the award to Jai Hind College, Church-gate. The students’ group had filed a complaint against the college alleging it was charging an additional fee for Wi-Fi services on campus, in violation of the Prohibition of Capitation Fee Act.

The joint director of higher education, Mumbai region, had sent a show cause notice to the college, asking it to clarify its stand on the issue. “How can a university accord ‘Best College’ status to an institute that is harassing students for extra fees? It appears that Rajabai Tower (the university’s emblem) is bowing before colleges under the regime of the new vice-chancellor,” said Santosh Gangurde, vice-president, MNVS.

The college, however, has maintained it hasn’t done anything wrong.