7 Major Changes Introduced by UGC You Need to Know About
The University Grants Commission is active and making regular changes to make the Indian Education system more active and effective for the learners. Also, the goal of UGC is to make the education system more flexible, accessible and aligned with global standards so that anyone can pursue education and make a great career out of it. In this blog, we will discuss the recent major changes and guidelines issued by UGC to make the education system better for learners. Also, the blog will mention the challenges that can become hurdles for the universities to implement those changes in the policies.
Guidelines Issued by the University Grants Commission
1. Bi-Annual Admissions
Traditionally, admissions were held once a year, i.e., during the July-August session. However, with the new UGC guidelines, there is an option for bi-annual admissions, under which students can enroll during the January-February session. This will be very helpful for the students who somehow miss the deadlines and don’t want to wait a year to apply for their graduation or post-graduation degree. It also helps the students to pursue their dreams without wasting a full academic year.
2. Discipline-Agnostic Admissions
Earlier, the students were restricted to choosing the fields they had chosen in their higher secondary education. For example, if the student has taken a science field in his/her 12th standard, he/she will be restricted from choosing the same field at graduation. However, with the new guidelines of UGC, a student can switch to his/her field, irrespective of what he/she has chosen in his/her previous qualification. This allows the student to explore multiple fields and gain diverse knowledge. Similarly, post-graduation programs offer the same flexibility. This change encourages interdisciplinary learning, helping students explore diverse interests and career paths.
3. Flexible Attendance Policy
Completing the attendance requirement of 75% was very difficult for some learners who have other priorities as well. Well, with these new guidelines, UGC has broken the rigid 75% attendance requirement and given all the control to the universities and colleges to set bars using a hybrid model.
Under this system, some of the classes will be conducted online, and some of the classes will follow the traditional mode of education, where students need to attend regular classes. This hybrid approach is inspired by modern education systems worldwide, offering students greater convenience.
4. Multiple Entry-Exit System
The major change introduced by the UGC is the multiple entry-exit system, under which the students are allowed to pause their studies and join their course or program later.
Under this system, the earned credits through the program will be stored in an Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) account. These credits can also be transferred to another university. However, these credits are valid for seven years; after seven years, the student has to restart their studies. This flexibility will be beneficial for students who need a break from their studies for professional or personal reasons.
5. Credit Distribution for Holistic Education
UGC now promotes a holistic education approach where students can earn credits from multiple sources, which will help them become more skilled. The primary source for earning a credit is completing the main subject, which will provide 50% of the credits. The remaining credits can be gained through internships, skill-based courses and other additional subjects. This will provide a good opportunity for the student to enhance their practical as well as theoretical knowledge.
6. Flexible Duration for Degrees
UGC has introduced two new programs for degree flexibility:
Accelerated Degree Program (ADP): Students can complete their degree faster than the standard duration. In such cases, the universities will allocate 10% of seats for such students.
Extended Degree Program (EDP): Students can take longer to complete their degrees without any time limit. This is ideal for those balancing studies with other commitments.
In both cases, the course content remains the same, but the duration becomes customizable.
7. Advanced PG Eligibility for Four-Year UG Programs
Students who complete a four-year undergraduate program with a 75% or higher score can now directly apply for advanced postgraduate programs like ME or M.Tech. Also, with these marks, students can skip the requirement of a separate PG degree for NET or Ph.D. eligibility. This change will save time for high-performing students, enabling them to fast-track their academic and professional journeys.
