This document discusses autonomy and accountability in higher education. It defines autonomy as self-governance or independence. Learner autonomy refers to an individual's learning strategies and environment. Quality education requires autonomy in areas like admitting students, curriculum, teaching methods, and staff recruitment. Different types of autonomy discussed include academic, organizational, administrative, and financial autonomy. Accountability is the responsibility and liability that comes with autonomy. Autonomy and accountability go hand in hand to balance freedom with responsibility.

1. Autonomy & Accountability in
Higher Education
Mr. Yoginath B. Mule
Assistant Professor
SBZM, Barshi ( Maharashtra)

2. AUTONOMY which is derived from the
Greek word meaning “independent” and is
also defined as “self-governed” or “ self –
independent”.
 Autonomy is to permit individuals with
that freedom and openness in thoughts,
learning and actions which lead them to be
different from others in manner of creativity,
thinking or exploring ideas.

3. • LEARNER’S AUTONOMY is nothing but
just a way of focusing on what is an
individual’s initial learning strategies,
trainings, environment and the role of teacher
in a school or institute.
• Autonomous learners have to fragment all
the barriers which come in their learning.

4. What we need is quality education which can
be achieved through autonomy.
The essential factors for high quality
education depend on -
• Caliber and attitude of the students towards
learning.
• Competence and commitment of teachers
towards the learning process.
• Flexibility and foresightedness of
governance system

5. Different types of autonomy
Academic autonomy
Organisational autonomy
Adminstrative autonomy
Financial autonomy
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6. Academic Autonomy
The concept of academic autonomy may be made
operational in terms of freedom in -
• Admitting students
• Opening of new programmes and terminating ones
• Revising syllabi
• Regulation of courses
• Choosing suitable teaching methods
• Evaluating students
• Recruitment of teachers and promoting teachers

7. Organisational autonomy
An ideal autonomous institution fulfills the following eight
criteria:
(i) They own their building and equipments.
(ii) They generate their own funds or state government
supports their all requirements.
(iii) They spend budgets to achieve objectives and mission.
(iv) They set their academic programmes like structuring of
courses and content.
(v) They employ and discuss academic staff.
(vi) They decide the salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff.
(vii) They decide the size of the class and number of students
being enrolled.
(viii) They decide their tuition, examination and other kinds of fee.

8. Administrative Autonomy
• Teaching and non-teaching ratio 1:5 or 2 including
technical and academic support staff.
• Efforts for the training of academic administrators.
• Vacancy filled in time
• There is a need to set up grievance cell to attend academic
and nonacademic problems of the students
• Government should play regulatory role for financial matters.
• Students participation should be encouraged, especially that
of women in earn & learn programmes.
• Freedom to set standards and procedures for student
admission may be given to institutions.
•Quality education should be provided at affordable cost.

9. Financial Autonomy
•Financial autonomy should be essential for academic excellence and development.
•Financial assistance from the state, UGC, other agencies are important.
•State government should provide financial support not only for salary and other related
benefits but also for development programmes.
• Need to bring all the government and non government aided universities and colleges
within the purview of financial support of U.G.C. under 2(f) and12 (B) of UGC act.
•Universities and colleges have to search for alternate funding sources
•Complete autonomy should be given to undertake sponsored research projects etc.
•Provision should be made to provide free-ships and scholarships to meritorious and
deserving students coming from lower economic strata.
•It is essential that UGC should release grants on time at the beginning of the academic year.
•Differential fee structure for various income groups may be desirable instead of uniform
one.

10. ACCOUNTABILITY can be
explained in terms of “constrains and
restrains” of the freedom assigned
“autonomy”.
• The meaning of accountability
signifies “the responsibility and
liability” of the learner to his actions
and accomplishments of knowledge.

11. It is assumed that “autonomy and
accountability goes hand in hand” with
respect to democracy. If a person is
accorded with the power of autonomy,
he/she will be possessed with the super
ability of liberty; therefore will be in a
attempt to do all the possible things which
they intended to do to make themselves
happy for living.

12. 12
Thank you for your attention

13. Autonomy
Learner’s
Autonomy
Teacher’s
Autonomy
Accountability