Mumbai: Vice-Chancellors from varsities in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, who assembled at Mumbai University for a meeting with its Expert Committee here, have suggested academic and financial independence for colleges.

The Expert Committee has also been asked to prepare an action plan on the "reforms of affiliating system" by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

An action plan is being prepared by the UGC to reform the affiliating system. Various issues such as feasibility & optimum size of current affiliating system, alternative models, autonomy and creating smaller universities from existing universities are being considered.

According to data received from the Committee, there are 17,000 colleges which are affiliated to about 250 universities across the country.

Prof. S.P. Thyagagrajan, former Vice-Chancellor of University of Madras said, "The academic autonomy must go hand in hand with the financial autonomy".

"There is a consensus among stakeholders on the need for reforms in the affiliating system and introduction of innovative methods without compromising on quality," said Thyagaraian.

All the VCs have suggested structural reforms which mean that, all existing Acts of Universities and its legal bodies' needs to be modernized.

The UGC will submit its report by the end of November this year.

Setting up of central/state boards of undergraduate education by the National Knowledge Commission (NKC) has been commonly pointed out by the VCs.

"Since reforms like creation of smaller varsities from bigger ones could result in a financial crunch, states should make clear provision for higher education in their budgets," added Prof. Thyagaraian.