The University Grants Commission (UGC) issued proposed regulations on Thursday that include twice-a-year admission, various entrance and departure choices, and increased flexibility for admission in any undergraduate or postgraduate degree.
The amendments seek to establish a new standard for the awarding of undergraduate and graduate degrees, ensuring that institutions can satisfy the different demands of today’s students.
Talking about the regulations, M Jagadesh Kumar, chairman, UGC said, “The Draft UGC (Minimum Standards of Instructions in the Award of UG and PG Degrees) Regulations 2024 aims to transform higher education in India by introducing greater flexibility, removal of disciplinary rigidity, inclusivity, and multidisciplinary learning opportunities for students. With these reforms, we ensure that Indian higher education evolves to meet global standards while staying rooted in inclusivity and adaptability to diverse learner needs.”
Biannual admission has been facilitated for HEIs prepared to handle biannual admissions and may admit students twice a year, in July/August and January/February.
The draft regulations include provisions for numerous entrance and departure points, ongoing formative evaluation, acknowledgment of past learning, and pursuing two UG/PG courses.
Considering the numerous learning modalities and holistic and interdisciplinary learning possibilities proposed by NEP 2020, HEIs should decide on the minimum attendance requirement of students in different programs with the permission of respective statutory authorities.
Regardless of the fields studied in class 12 or UG, a student is eligible for admission to any UG or PG program. Admission will be granted on the condition that the student passes the national or university level entrance test in the discipline of the UG/PG course.
To earn an undergraduate degree with a major in a discipline, students must earn a minimum of 50% of total credits in that discipline. The remaining 50% credits can be used for skill courses, apprenticeships, and multidisciplinary subjects. Undergraduate degrees typically last three to four years, while postgraduate degrees typically last one to two years. The Accelerated Degree Programme (ADP) and Extended Degree Programme (EDP) provide key provisions for these programs.
- ADP and EDP are applicable at the undergraduate level only.
- HEIs can earmark up to 10 per cent of sanctioned intake for ADP with no cap for EDP.
- The Committee constituted by the HEI will evaluate the credit-completing potential of a student based on their performance in the first or the second semester and give its recommendations
- Students shall have the option to choose ADP/EDP either at the end of the first semester or the second semester and not beyond that.
- In the ADP/EDP, students will follow the same curriculum content and total credits prescribed for the programme for a standard duration. The only change will be in the duration of the programme. The number of courses to be completed in each semester will be more or less according to the duration opted by the students.
- The degrees of ADP and EDP will contain a self-contained note stating that the academic requirements required in a standard duration have been completed in a shortened or extended duration
Students who have completed a four-year undergraduate degree (Hons./Hons. with Research) in relevant subjects (level 6, e.g. BSc. Hons. in Physics, BSc. Hons. in Biology, BSc. Hons. in Mathematics) and students who have completed a four-year undergraduate degree (level 6, e.g. BE., B.Tech., etc.) are eligible for the two-year/4-semester postgraduate programme (level 7, e.g. ME, MTech., etc.).
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Source: NDTV
