UGC Guidelines for internships: Colleges to make arrangements

While a pandemic is busy wreaking havoc in the country and beyond, students heaved a sigh of relief when UGC issued guidelines to colleges for internships, on 4th May, Monday. Owing to the current situation of the country, the University Grants Commission announced that it has asked the heads of various colleges and universities to make arrangements for students such that they can take up internships and activities in digital mode, from the comfort of their homes. 

The letter written by UGC mentions that the guidelines are advisory in nature. So, colleges, as well as universities, may plan their activities accordingly, with respect to the situation in their area. The planned internships and activities must keep the safety and interest of all concerned individuals in mind, giving health the highest priority. 

UGC Guidelines for Internships 

The following guidelines have been issued to colleges and universities:

• Allow students to take up activities and online internships that can either be carried out digitally or from the comfort of their homes. 
• Engage students to work as interns on existing/ ongoing projects.
• Delay the date of commencement of student internships.
• Reduce the duration of internships and club it with assignments, etc. 

Commencement of new academic session from August 1: UGC

Earlier, on 29th April, the UGC had issued a notice which stated that universities in India may begin their new academic session from 1st August 2020. It also mentioned that universities are permitted to replace their intermediate semester examinations with other internal modes of evaluation including assignments and mid-semester exams.

Further, the circular issued by the nodal body specified that the universities are allowed to open their academic session from August 1, 2020, for old students and from September 1, 2020, for the incoming batch of fresh students. 

This goes to say that while students who have been promoted to second and third year can begin their classes as early as August 1, the ones seeking fresh admissions can only begin their classes in September. 

Here is a list of other guidelines and information issued in the interest of students to better handle the lockdown:

• All colleges to open from 1st August: UGC issues guidelines for Academic Calendar 2020-21
• AICTE opens up 49 diploma, certificate, and skill-based e-learning courses for free
• AICTE guidelines: Affiliated B-Schools to commence classes from 1st July and new session from 1st August
• Indian Government offers Internship to IIMs, ISB, MDI and other B-School students to tackle Coronavirus Crisis
• The National Digital Library opens its doors with 3.8+ Crore books