ugc
- PC : mrp
A University Grants Commission (UGC) committee has recommended the introduction of a 4-year degree programme for encouraging and reforming the quality of research in colleges and universities.
Earlier the UGC has formed a four-member committee led by Professor P Balaram, former Director, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. The panel submitted two reports, one of which is “Improving the Quality of Research by Faculty and Creation of New Knowledge and Strategies for Improving Research Culture in Colleges/ Universities.”
The other reports submitted by the panel proposes reforms on minimum standards and procedures for the award of M.Phil./ PhD degrees.
According to the media reports, apart from the four-member committee of the UGC, an HRD Ministry panel working on the new National Education Policy (NEP) had also recommended to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for a transition to 4-year UG courses from the current 3-year UG courses.
Reports submitted by the UGC Panel states,
- The existing 2-year MA and MSc programs should have a research project with a requirement of typically 6-10 credits
- The panel recommended stopping UG programmes which may not be important and have limited scope (for eg.- specialised subjects like Biotechnology or Bioinformatics), as they provide training only in specialised subjects.
- The report said, Professional and vocational courses that facilitate jobs should be run separately as Diploma courses.
- According to the report, all full-time UG programmes must be broad-based
The evolution raised five years after the controversial Four Year UG Programme (FYUP) was scrapped. Earlier the 4-year UG course introduced by the Delhi University was scrapped by the former Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani five years ago.
The National Education Policy (NEP) panel led by former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan has also submitted its report to the new HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, recommending the re-introduction of the 4-year UG course as part of the undergraduate reforms.
Reports submitted by the NEP Panel states,
- The reports recommend both 3-year and 4-year courses will be allowed to co-exist, but with multiple exit and entry options.
- 4-year programme will provide for greater rigour and allow students to conduct research optionally, Panel said in its reports.
- Students will graduate with a 4-year Liberal Arts Science Education degree with Honours
- Students may also graduate with a B Sc, BA, B Com or B Voc after completing 3-year with a suitable completion of credits within their subject.
