Have you heard about ‘autonomous colleges’? Autonomous colleges are educational institutions that are permitted to set their own syllabus, teaching methods and even the fees they charge. In most cases, autonomous colleges are affiliated with one or more parent universities but have more flexibility when it comes to curriculum design, delivery and assessment/evaluation.

SMS Varanasi is an autonomous college affiliated with Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith and Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow. It is one of the leading autonomous management colleges in India and offers a wide range of courses such as Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Bachelor and Master Degree Programs in Computer Applications (BCA and MCA), and more.

Here are five benefits of studying in an autonomous management college:

• Updated Syllabus: Autonomous universities are able to update their syllabus more frequently than traditional universities, meaning students will get the most up-to-date information available.

SMS Varanasi bagged the following awards at the 17th Asia Brand Summit, Mumbai:

• Best Business School for Encouraging Innovations that lead to Better Development

• B-School Leadership Award

• Business School with the Best Academic Input (Syllabus) in ‘Marketing’

This shows that the management institute has taken great care to come up with a syllabus that is in line with the latest industry trends and practices.

The academic content for the PGDM program at SMS Varanasi is developed every year in consultation with experts from different industries and includes industry-specific certifications, research-oriented projects and webinars by industry leaders.

• Flexible Curriculum: Autonomous colleges have the freedom to decide their own courses and curriculums, allowing them to tailor their programs to the specific needs of their students. This means that students can focus on the topics that interest them most and develop skills that will help them succeed in their chosen field.

For example, the PGDM program at SMS Varanasi allows for the Course of Independent Study. It means that students enjoy the freedom to go beyond the syllabus and explore a topic they are interested in. It is seen as their independent contribution to the field and allows students to demonstrate that they are self-directed and can perform uninstructed.

• Experienced Faculty: Autonomous colleges often employ experienced faculty members from both academia and industry who can provide valuable insight into the subject matter being taught.

SMS Varanasi also has renowned faculty that are academic leaders in their respective fields and have real-life business experience. It has also signed many MOUs with different universities in the USA, Europe, Latin America, and Asia and offers student and faculty exchange programs to its students.

Internationally acclaimed experts regularly visit SMS as guest lecturers and share their professional, managerial and entrepreneurial experiences with students. Many of them have left glowing reviews about their experience and were highly impressed with the faculty and students.

• Assessments: Autonomous colleges also have more flexibility when it comes to assessments such as quizzes, mid-semesters and internal evaluations, providing students with an environment almost equivalent to top universities.

At SMS Varanasi, assessments are an ongoing process that emphasizes honing business knowledge and skills as well as the personal and professional competence of students. The students at the institute learn to work under pressure – producing quality output under a severe time crunch. Hence, they turn out to be highly efficient and productive professionals, when they enter the corporate world.

Their performance and participation in class are constantly monitored and they have to complete tasks like case presentations and undergo quizzes, assignments, term papers, and mid-term and end-term examinations.

We understand that besides subject knowledge and technical skills, students need to have a strong mental make-up, good communication skills and a positive attitude to succeed in the corporate world. Hence, we offer them a Behavioural Dynamics Lab, where students undergo Psycho Diagnostic Assessment and can avail of Mental Health

Care and Stress Management Services to students when they feel distressed.

Tests like the Occupational Stress Index, Emotional Intelligence Test, Thematic Apperception Test, Academic Stress Questionnaire, Mobile Phone Addiction Scale, Peer Pressure Scale, Emotional Quotient and Perceived Employability Scale can help students better

understand their strengths and weaknesses. SMS also offers therapies like psychological counselling and Bio-Feedback Therapy to students are required.

SMS, Varanasi focuses on ‘Outcome Based Education’. It means that students are evaluated on their performance in the classroom as well as in industry projects, internships, seminars and webinars. This makes them professionally ready to enter the corporate world with confidence.

• Accreditation: Autonomous colleges are accredited by the University Grants Commission (UGC) every five years, ensuring that they meet the highest standards of quality education.

SMS is also accredited with ‘Grade A’ by NAAC in its very first cycle. It means that the institute follows the best practices and has a robust system of academic standards. It gives students a qualitative edge over those who are not associated with accredited colleges.

The NAAC accreditation process assesses an institute on several parameters, including:

• Curricular Aspects
• Teaching-learning & Evaluation
• Research, Innovations & Extension
• Infrastructure & Learning Resources
• Student Support & Progression
• Governance, Leadership & Management
• Institutional Values & Best Practices

SMS Varanasi is considered one of the Top 50 B-Schools in India, and it is one of the few institutes that has a high reputation in the industry. Being autonomous, it keeps up with the ever-changing industry trends, offering students an updated curriculum that makes them better job ready. This allows them to stand out in the crowd and make a mark, which can be beneficial for their future career prospects.