University of Mumbai Plans Expansion with 15 New Colleges Focusing on Skill-Based Education Amid Administrative Concerns
University of Mumbai (MU) is set to expand its educational offerings significantly by establishing 15 new colleges by the academic year 2025-26, with a strong emphasis on skill-based education. This initiative, approved during a recent special senate meeting, aims to meet the rising demand for vocational courses. Out of these 15 proposed colleges, 13 will specialize in skill-based education, while one will focus on traditional courses and another on applied sciences.
The decision, part of MU’s Annual Comprehensive Plan under the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, received mixed reactions during the senate meeting. Concerns were raised regarding the university’s examination administration, particularly concerning delays in issuing mark sheets, discrepancies in question papers, and tardiness in distributing hall tickets and timetables. These issues, highlighted by senate member Sakharam Dakhore, sparked a heated discussion among attendees.
Regarding the curriculum, professors Jagannath Khembhav and Hanmantrao Sutar raised concerns about the status of environmental studies as an optional subject under MU’s new credit system aligned with the New Education Policy (NEP). They pointed out the legal mandate from the Supreme Court and University Grants Commission (UGC) making environmental studies compulsory, a point echoed by Professor Ravindra Kulkarni, MU’s vice-chancellor.
In response to these concerns, MU officials assured the senate that necessary corrections would be made to comply with the legal requirements for environmental studies. The university administration pledged to investigate the exam administration issues promptly and implement corrective measures to ensure smooth conduct of examinations and timely result announcements.
This ambitious expansion plan by MU signifies a strategic move towards enhancing vocational education offerings while addressing pertinent administrative and curriculum concerns to improve overall educational quality.