Bachelor’s Degree With Honors To Become A 4-Year Course? UGC Releases Draft Curriculum Framework For Public Consultation

The Universities Grants Commission (UGC) has published the draft curriculum framework for the 4-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) inviting comments/ suggestions/ feedback from all stakeholders by 4th April 2022.

The FYUP was first proposed in the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) and has remained in the formulation stage ever since. As per available reports, the Vice-Chancellors of Central Universities met on 10th March 2022 approved the draft guidelines for public consultation.

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The final decision on it will be taken after the consultation process with the public is completed. The UGC has suggested that it wants all universities in the country to adopt the revised structure of UG education. However, so far, only Delhi University has confirmed that FYUP will be implemented starting with the 2022-23 academic year. 

FYUP 2022 - Key Highlights

The following key changes have been suggested in the draft curriculum framework for FYUP 2022. 

• There will be no hard separation between streams- like Science vs Arts, Vocational vs Academic, or Curricular vs Extracurricular activities. 
• The four years will be divided into 8 semesters with each semester comprising 90 working days.
• Till the 3rd semester, there will be a multidisciplinary and holistic approach to education covering subjects from science, arts, humanities, and sports. 
• Students can decide their major subject only after completing the 3rd semester and it will be allotted based on the candidate’s interests and performance.
• There will be multiple entry-exit options throughout the duration of the course.
• In the last two semesters (7th and 8th), students will conduct a research-based study on their subject of specialization. 

Course Structure In FYUP 

According to FYUP, undergraduate degrees will comprise classroom lectures, seminars, lab work, workshops, field activities, projects, and internships. There will be a hybrid mix of classroom lectures, fieldwork, and practicals; and the total credit will be calculated based on a student's performance in all of them.

The draft curriculum framework mentions the following activities as part of the coursework.

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Special Course Formats

• Hybrid Courses - A 4 credit course involving 75% classroom activities and 25% project/ fieldwork/ practical work - total 75 hours of classroom activities and 105 hours of out-of-class activities. 

• 50-50 Courses - A 4 credit course involving 50% classroom activities and 50% project/ fieldwork/ practical work - total 90 hours of classroom work and 90 hours of out-of-classroom activities. 

The complete draft curriculum can be accessed via this link.

Summing Up…

According to the notice released by the UGC, the draft curriculum framework has been designed to ensure that there is consistency across institutions and programs across various teaching modes, such as ODL, online and traditional ‘in-class’ mode.

Keeping with the broad framework of the National Education policy 2020, it also seeks to give autonomy to higher education institutions to innovate within a broad framework of higher education qualifications.

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