NEP's Laboratories

Maharashtra's three cluster universities test the new education policy's promise even as they await the pledged government funds

- Musab Qazi

In 2019, four of Mumbai's oldest higher education institutions Elphinstone College, Institute of Science, Sydenham College and Secondary Training College left the University of Mumbai (MU), with which they were affiliated for more than a century, and fused to become Maharashtra's first 'cluster' university, the Dr Homi Bhabha State University (HBSU).

Since then, HBSU has launched several market-driven courses in artificial intelligence and machine learning; cyber security; data science, industrial biotechnology; luxury brand management; fintech and industrial finance and blockchain. It had to increase the intake capacity for certain programmes, such as microbiology, biochemistry and physics, due to heightened demand. There has been around 28% uptick in the combined enrolment despite losing the MU tag.

Maharashtra has seen two more cluster universities come up since and still others are in the pipeline. In each case, the smaller scale of operations has allowed rapid expansion, research growth and collaborations with other institutions. However, concerns about teacher and funds shortage remain and with expansion powered mostly by self-financed courses, the costs have gone up for some students.

First clusters and NEP

The first three government-run colleges, all located in South Mumbai, were immediately followed by three private ones in the area KC College, HR College and Bombay Teacher Training College (BTTC). The popular colleges managed by the Hyderabad (Sind) National Collegiate Board, a century-old Sindhi community-run trust which shifted base from the Sindh region to the city after partition, became part of HSNC University.