UGC approves guidelines on flexible-duration degrees for undergraduate students

The University Grants Commission approves Accelerated Degree Programs for undergraduate students to finish degrees earlier or extend beyond standard duration

Students pursuing undergraduate degree programmes could soon have the flexibility to finish their degree earlier or extend it beyond the stipulated duration. 

The University Grants Commission had approved a Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) on Accelerated Degree Programs (ADPs) in its meeting held on November 13. “The UGC was expected to place the SOP in the public domain for feedback soon,” officials said. 

The National Credit Framework (NCrF) enables learners with varying learning abilities to move through the curriculum at rates faster or slower than the standard duration of a programme by earning the required credits.

“Students can use this option to shorten or extend their study durations based on their learning abilities. The ADPs allow students to complete a three-year or four-year degree in reduced time by earning additional credits per semester, while Extended Degree Programs (EDPs) enable an extended timeline with fewer credits per semester,” said UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar.

Mr. Kumar further added that Higher Education Institutions (HEI) will establish committees to evaluate student eligibility for the programmes and that degrees will be equivalent to standard duration degrees for all employment and academic purposes. 

The UGC SOP guides HEIs in designing academic content, credits, assessment methods and in awarding of degree while implementing extended and accelerated degrees. 

The UGC has proposed that HEIs may earmark 10% of their sanctioned student intake for ADPs. The institutes may also constitute a committee to scrutinise applications received at the end of the first or the second semester under EDPs and ADPs and select students accordingly. 

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 and shall also recommend a reduction or an increase in the number of courses and total credits per semester, as per the duration opted by the students, the UGC has proposed. 

In a three-year undergraduate programme, students can shorten its duration by a maximum of one semester. For example, students can earn the total credits needed for a three-year undergraduate programme in five semesters. 

Similarly, in a four-year undergraduate programme, students can shorten its duration by one semester or a maximum of two semesters. For example, students can earn the total credits required for a four-year undergraduate programme in six or seven semesters. 

In a three-year or four-year undergraduate programme, the duration may be extended up to a maximum of two semesters.

HEIs may issue degrees for students on completion of the programme in the opted duration (shortened or extended) and need not wait for completion of the standard duration for the award of the degree, the UGC has stated. 

It has also stated that government departments, private organisations, and recruiting agencies like UPSC/State Service Commissions and so on, should treat shortened or extended degrees on a par with those of standard duration.

Published - November 28, 2024 09:14 pm IST