UGC to soon announce four year UG courses

HYDERABAD: The Union Grants Commission (UGC) to soon announce a four-year under-graduate programme in accordance with National Education Policy 2020 guidelines.

According to the UGC, National Education Policy 2020 recommends that the higher education system enables an individual to study one or more specialised areas of interest in depth while also developing capabilities across a range of disciplines, including sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities, languages, and professional, technical, and vocational subjects.

NEP recommends that the current Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) be updated in order to foster creativity and adaptability. The current Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) offers students a variety of fields to choose from, but it lacks a multi-/inter-disciplinary character.

The UGC has created a "Curriculum and Credit Framework for the Undergraduate Programme" in order to revise the CBCS (CCFUGP). According to Professor Jagdish Kumar Mamidala, UGC chairperson, the Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programme well reflects the NEP 2020 objective.

The Curriculum and Credit Framework for the Undergraduate Programme allows students to experience courses from multiple disciplines through a 3-year or 4-year UG programme with multiple entry and exit options, flexible degree options with single major, double major, multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary education, integration with vocational courses, internship, skill and ability enhancement courses, and so on.

Professor Jagdish, chairperson of the UGC, said, "A UG (Honours) degree is awarded to students who complete a four-year UG degree with a minimum of 160 credits. Students with a grade point average of 75 percent or higher in the first six semesters who want to do research as an undergraduate can choose a research stream in the fourth year. They will be awarded a UG (Honours with Research) degree if they complete a research project ".

The framework recommends a minimum of 120 credits for a 3-year UG programme and 160 credits for a 4-year UG programme. A semester should have a minimum of 20 credits.

"The curriculum includes major stream courses, minor stream courses, and courses from other disciplines, as well as language courses, skill courses, and a set of courses on environmental education, understanding India, digital and technological solutions, health and wellness, yoga education, and sports and fitness. Students can choose to continue with their current major or change majors at the end of the second semester," said Professor Jagadish.

The minor stream courses include vocational courses that will assist students in developing job-related skills.

"Students who have already enrolled in and are pursuing a three-year undergraduate programme under the current Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) are eligible to pursue a four-year undergraduate program. The university may offer bridge courses (including online courses) to help them transition to CCFUGP," he added.