UGC Chairman Mr. Jagadesh Kumar said that higher education institutions will establish committees to assess the eligibility of students for programs and the degrees will be equivalent to standard duration degrees for all professional and professional purposes. academics. File | Photo credit: Ravindran. A.

Students pursuing Undergraduate degree programs may soon have the flexibility to complete their degree early or extend it beyond the stipulated duration.

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

The National Credit Framework (NCrF) allows learners with varying learning abilities to progress through the program at faster or slower rates than the standard length of a program by earning required credits.

“Students can use this option to shorten or extend the duration of their studies depending on their learning abilities. ADPs allow students to complete a three- or four-year degree in a reduced amount of time by earning additional credits per semester, while Extended Degree Programs (EDPs) allow for a longer timeline with fewer credits per semester” , said UGC President Mr. Jagadesh Kumar. .

Mr. Kumar further added that higher education institutions (HEIs) will establish committees to assess the eligibility of students for programs and the degrees will be equivalent to standard duration degrees for all professional and academic purposes.

The UGC SOP guides higher education institutions in designing academic content, credits, assessment methods and in awarding degrees while implementing extended and accelerated degrees.

The UGC has proposed that higher education institutions can devote 10% of their sanctioned student strength to ADPs. Institutes may also constitute a committee to examine applications received at the end of the first or second semester of EDPs and ADPs and select students accordingly.

The committee constituted by the HEI will evaluate the credit earning potential of a student based on his or her performance in the first or second semester and give its recommendations and also recommend a reduction or increase in the number of courses and total credits per semester. , depending on the duration chosen by the students, the UGC proposed.

In a three-year undergraduate program, students can reduce its duration by up to one semester. For example, students can earn the total credits needed for a three-year undergraduate program in five semesters.

Similarly, in a four-year undergraduate program, students can reduce its duration by one semester or two semesters at most. For example, students can earn the total credits required for a four-year undergraduate program in six or seven semesters.

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

HEIs can award degrees to students on completion of the program for the chosen duration (shortened or extended) and should not wait until the end of the standard duration for award of degree, the UGC said.

He also said that government departments, private organizations and recruitment agencies like UPSC/State Service Commissions etc. should treat shortened or extended degrees on an equal footing with those of standard duration.