Undergraduate college students will quickly have flexibility in finishing their programmes in much less or extra time than the usual three or 4 years, following a latest resolution by the College Grants Fee (UGC).
Whether or not college students go for an ‘accelerated’ or ‘prolonged’ timeline, they’ll earn the identical diploma as these on the usual observe, supplied they fulfil all tutorial necessities. Greater schooling establishments can supply these choices beginning with the 2025-26 tutorial session.
Right here’s what the programmes may appear to be and the way they may profit college students.
What are ‘Accelerated Diploma Programmes’ (ADPs) and ‘Prolonged Diploma Programmes’ (EDPs)?
On the finish of the primary or second semester, however not past, undergraduate college students will likely be allowed to go for an ADP or an EDP. College students enrolled underneath an ADP will comply with the identical curriculum and should earn the identical variety of credit as required for a three- or four-year UG programme. Nonetheless, they will full their programme sooner by incomes extra credit ranging from the semester they select the ADP.
Below this scheme, a three-year UG programme might be accomplished in 5 semesters as a substitute of the usual six (shortened by a most of 1 semester), whereas a four-year UG programme might be accomplished in six or seven semesters (shortened by a most of two semesters) reasonably than eight.
Then again, college students who select the EDP will likely be allowed to earn fewer credit per semester in comparison with the usual programme, permitting them to take longer to finish their course. Their course period might be prolonged by a most of two semesters.
What’s the goal behind ADP and EDP, and who could profit from it?
UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar mentioned the Nationwide Credit score Framework permits college students to finish UG programs in accelerated or prolonged programmes to accommodate “various tutorial wants and cognitive skills”.
“ADP permits high-performing college students to finish their levels quicker by incomes extra credit and permitting them to enter the workforce or pursue greater research sooner. Conversely, EDP helps college students who face tutorial challenges by providing them an prolonged timeline to finish their levels at a manageable tempo. Collectively, these choices promote fairness, making certain all learners have the means to attain their instructional objectives,” he added.
How will they be carried out?
The UGC’s not too long ago accepted Normal Working Process (SOP) requires greater schooling establishments to arrange a committee to scrutinise the functions they obtain for ADP and EDP on the finish of the primary or second semester and choose college students accordingly. In response to the SOP, the committee will consider the “credit-completing potential” of the scholar based mostly on their efficiency within the first or second semester. An establishment can earmark as much as 10% of the sanctioned consumption for ADP college students.
On the SOP not having such a cap for the variety of EDP college students, Kumar mentioned: “College students with weaker tutorial efficiency usually require extra time to know and apply ideas. EDP permits them to take fewer credit per semester, permitting them to focus intensely on every course with out the stress of heavy workloads. Because of this we now have not stored any higher restrict for EDP.”
The committee may also determine the minimal variety of credit a pupil should earn in every semester underneath the ADP and the EDP, contemplating the UGC’s Curriculum and Credit score Framework for Undergraduate Programmes.
Will the exams or levels be any totally different from customary ones?
The exams will stay the identical as customary three- or four-year UG programmes. The SOP says that authorities departments, personal organisations, and recruiting companies ought to deal with ADP and EDP levels on par with levels accomplished in the usual period. It provides that the diploma ought to comprise a be aware that states that the educational necessities for the standard programme have been accomplished in a shorter or prolonged period.
Kumar mentioned: “ADP and EDP apply to each three-year UG programmes or four-year UG programmes with honours/honours with analysis. For college students choosing both ADP or EDP, incomes the full credit required in an ordinary four-year UG Programme with honours/honours with analysis would qualify for an Honours diploma.”
When will the choices kick in and the way will establishments put together?
Kumar mentioned greater schooling establishments can begin providing ADP or EDP from the July-August session within the 2025-26 tutorial 12 months. It could be as much as the establishments to determine whether or not they want to supply these programmes.
“Establishments can supply programs in on-line or hybrid modes, leveraging the UGC’s approval for as much as 40% of programs being delivered on-line. It will permit college students in ADP or EDP to take extra or fewer credit at their very own tempo with out disrupting common class schedules. Extra lessons might be scheduled exterior customary hours to accommodate ADP college students. This feature advantages college students who need face-to-face interactions however have a compressed timeline,” Kumar mentioned.
He added: “ADP college students can enrol in superior or specialised programs already a part of postgraduate or superior undergraduate curricula, permitting them to fulfil credit score necessities extra effectively. Micro-credentials might be launched, enabling college students to build up credit at their comfort. These can embrace skill-based packages that align with diploma necessities. Greater schooling establishments may introduce an inter-semester time period (e.g., summer time or winter) the place ADP college students can take extra programs. This might not intervene with the common semester construction. College students can take electives or core programs from totally different departments to flexibly handle their credit.”
