According to the chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), students will soon be able to finish three-year degree programs in two and a half years and four-year programs in three years. Additionally, UGC will allow for several entry and departure points during the course and provide students the opportunity to extend their three-year degree by one year.
UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar explained that students who can complete their degrees faster than others will be allowed to do so.
Kumar said, “We are planning to implement this from the next academic session and the guidelines should be out soon.”
“In the coming years, students who are capable can complete the degree programmes in a shorter duration. We anticipate that they can gain six months to one year,” Kumar said at the southern zone conference for autonomous colleges in Chennai
The new structure will, inversely, also accommodate students who wish to take longer to complete their studies, he said. These students will be able to take breaks during their courses. The plan is based on recommendations by a committee led by IIT Madras director V Kamakoti.
Kumar said detailed guidelines around the new structure will be issued soon.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has proposed a four-year undergraduate degree program, which has sparked concerns among some academics. Professor Mithuraaj Dhusiya, a professor at Delhi University, argued that the proposed change could lead to a reduction in core course content.
The 2020 National Education Policy mandated a four-year undergraduate course for students to conduct research in the fourth year, with the “honours” degree only granted to those who opt for the fourth year.
DU professor Abha Dev Habib argued that compressing the sequence and depth of courses in a degree program could undermine academic rigor and contribute to a crisis of employability. She suggested that students may be pushed into the job market without the necessary academic preparation, potentially devaluing their degrees. The UGC risks compromising the academic depth and quality of education by reducing the time allotted for degree completion and cutting the number of credits for individual courses.
Get the latest news updates and stay informed with FELA NEWS!
Source: HT
