SP Mandali’s Welingkar Institute of Management has been conferred with an autonomous status for all its University programmes by the University of Mumbai for five years, starting from the current academic year.
What it means
This autonomy will allow the institution to now structure its own programmes, design the course curricula as per industry requirements and plan internships.
The status was given after an audit and review by the State and well as UGC appointed committees. University of Mumbai grants autonomy based on the parameters of excellence in academic performances, capability of self-governance and enhancement in the quality of education.
Self-financed institute
This makes Welingkar Institute the first self-financed (non-minority) management institute in Mumbai to be awarded this status. Speaking on the occasion, Abhay Dadhe Chairman of S P Mandali and Chairman Local Managing Committee, said, “It is indeed a moment of pride for all of us. This development is a strategic step towards its future plans of going for Private University status.”
Prof Dr Uday Salunkhe, Group Director, WeSchool shared, “We see this conferment as a great opportunity to meet the emerging and evolving needs of the industry. It will enable us to make our training more “Learner Centric” and give us an opportunity to revamp the curriculum as per industry requirements.”
Explaining further, he said, “Under the new status, the institute can frame its own syllabus, set its own examination and evaluation mechanism on behalf of the parent — University of Mumbai. The status also allows the institute to collaborate with other institutions/agencies/industries. for research, extension programmes and pedagogical excellence.”
“The institution has made several changes and inclusions in its programmes,” he went on, adding, “Design thinking, focus on action based learning, innovation led entrepreneurship, international exposure have been integral to the learning ecosystem.”
In line with institute’s philosophy
The AAA philosophy of the institute — Acquisition, Application and Assimilation — can be implemented better with the autonomy. While earlier, the programmes were more focused on acquisition of knowledge, the new autonomous status will give students opportunities to apply knowledge through hands on projects.
WE School has initiated several initiatives such as the Global Citizen Leader programme that focuses on not just development of self and organisation but also society. To encourage entrepreneurship, the institute has set up a Makers Lab in association with MIT, USA. Courses, such as the integrated manager, which break the specialisation silo and involve team teaching, are likely to be extended to University programmes as well.