The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued draft guidelines suggesting changes to the minimum standards of instruction for awarding undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. These changes, aimed at improving the quality and flexibility of higher education in India, have been opened for public comments and feedback till December 23, 2024. The UGC hopes to gather a broader perspective by engaging stakeholders across the academic spectrum.

Key Proposals in the Draft Guidelines .

The UGC has announced considerable reforms for Higher Education Institutions all over the country with a view to improving the quality of academic performance, making operations simpler, and providing students greater flexibility in their educational sojourns. The key proposals in the draft guidelines are as follows:

1. Biannual Admissions: .
   HEIs that can manage two admissions in a year can also admit students twice a year during the July/August and January/February sessions.
2. Student Intake and Infrastructure:
   Institutions must predetermine student intake capacity based on available academic and physical facilities, in accordance with UGC guidelines. This includes maintaining prescribed student-teacher and teaching-non-teaching staff ratios.
   Universities are also expected to establish standards for buildings like classrooms, libraries, sports complexes, health centers, hostels, and cafeterias with due consideration to the UGC and other statutory norms.
3. Curriculum Integration and Skilling:
   The guidelines focus on the inclusion of vocational education, skill training, and internships in undergraduate and postgraduate curriculums. This is in line with UGC’s Curriculum and Credit Framework for UG, PG, and Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programmes.
4. Multiple Entry and Exit Options:
   Multiple entry and exit options must be in academic programs implemented by HEIs for the sake of flexibility. Further, students can also transfer from the vocational to general education stream and vice versa depending upon the procedures devised by regulatory bodies.
5. SOP on Accelerated and Extended Degrees:
   The draft introduces the framework for awarding accelerated and extended degrees that give students control over the pace of their academic progress. Key highlights of the SOP include: –
   HEIs may allocate up to 10% of their sanctioned intake for Accelerated Degree Programmes (ADPs).

• Committees will review the performance of students in their first or second semester to qualify them for ADPs or EDPs.
• Recommendations on the number of courses and credits a student can handle per semester will be given, thereby affording scope for completing the degrees faster or over an extended period.
• Transcripts will have only the courses taken by the student during a semester.

Holistic Changes in Higher Education –

Eligibility criteria for admission to UG and PG, credit accumulation, attendance requirements, examinations, evaluation, and certification processes will also be covered in the proposed amendments. The UGC is planning to implement strict measures to ensure compliance with these guidelines.

Encouraging Accessibility and Inclusivity

The reforms reflect UGC’s commitment to creating a student-centric higher education environment, accessibility, and integrating skills in the more traditional pathways of higher education. Enabling the possibility of biannual admissions and mobility between vocational and general education, the guidelines try to bring the Indian system into greater conformity with international standards.

UGC has issued a call for public comments. Such a move underlines the need for participative governance in shaping the course of education policies. “We want to make sure that the proposed changes will resonate with the needs of all stakeholders, students, educators, and institutions,” said a UGC official.

The draft guidelines signify a step towards transforming the Indian education system to meet the aspirations of modern learners. By fostering flexibility, skill integration, and enhanced infrastructure, the UGC aims to create a robust educational framework capable of meeting the diverse needs of students and the nation’s developmental goals.

Stakeholders and members of the public are encouraged to submit their views by December 23, 2024, to contribute to this transformative journey.