Perceptions of Stakeholders towards College Autonomy on Quality of Higher Education in Northern and Southern Odisha

Abstract

The main aim of the study was to investigate the perception of stakeholder towards college autonomy on quality in higher education. The present study has been conducted in two autonomous (VD College, Jeypore and MPC College, Baripada and two non-autonomous (DAV College, Koraput and Women’s College, Baripada) government colleges in the southern and northern regions of Odisha, India. The perceptions of students, parents, and teachers of autonomous colleges relating to their satisfaction with different quality dimensions of higher education have been compared with the perceptions of students, parents, and teachers of non-autonomous colleges using 't’ test to assess the impact of college autonomy on quality in higher education. The impact of college autonomy on quality in higher education was explored using the causal comparative method taking non-autonomous colleges as control group. The study found that; i) college autonomy impacts positively on quality of teacher, curriculum, co-curricular activities, method of teaching, library, infrastructural facilities and examination system; ii) college autonomy impacts positively on students’ achievement; iii) college autonomy impacts positively on customer orientation, client education, quality in education, teachers’ participation, innovation and linkages. The study recommended that autonomous colleges should be sufficiently funded by central government, UGC and state government or should be provided opportunity to generate their own financial resources to carry out developmental activities for achieving total quality in higher education. It is recommended that steps should be taken to institute appropriate mechanism in every autonomous college to look into teachers’ recruitment and promotion policy; terms and conditions of services; and techniques of inspiration, motivation and involvement. Autonomous colleges should be given administrative freedom to recruit teachers and other members of non teaching staff in conformity with UGC guidelines. Autonomy, quality and accountability are interrelated. Autonomy without accountability cannot ensure quality in higher education. Proper guidelines and regulations need to be formulated to ensure both autonomy and accountability in higher education.