UGC may allow post-graduate students greater flexibility in choosing subjects

The University Grants Commission may soon allow Post-Graduate (PG) students greater flexibility in choosing subjects and may allow them to choose subjects regardless if their undergraduate discipline/ stream, according to a new draft from the UGC. The body is also considering allowing more online programmes to allow students to pursue two PG courses simultaneously.

These changes are listed in a draft document, “Curriculum and Credit Framework for Postgraduate Programmes” which is made keeping in mind the Nation Educational Policy 2020 which focuses on multidisciplinary education with entry and exit points at the UG and PG levels. UGC has already released the framework for four-year UG programmes that has been adopted by over 100 universities across the country this year.

According to the draft document, a copy of which was seen by Hindustan Times, three kinds of postgraduate programmes will be offered; a two-year programme with the second year devoted entirely to research for those who have completed the three-year UG programme, a one-year programme for those who have completed a four-year UG course, and an integrated five-year Bachelor’s/Master’s programme.

“Let us say a student is majoring in physics and minoring in economics in a four-year UG programme. Under the new norms, this student will be eligible for admission to a PG programme in physics or economics. In fact, the student will be eligible for admission in courses which are not related to the major and minor disciplines they had during their graduation. They will have to qualify entrance tests such as CUET-PG,” said UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar, explaining one of the key proposals in the draft.

“This is the flexibility we want to provide the students to move from one field in UG to a completely different area in PG. This multidisciplinary education fosters a well-rounded understanding of the world and encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills,” he said, adding that the draft will be released in public domain for stakeholders feedback in the next few days.

According to the new draft norms, students will be given the option to exit after one year. “For the PG programme, there shall only be one exit point for those who join a two year PG programme. Students who exit at the end of 1st year shall be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma,” the document stated. It also provides a provision for an entirely online programme. “It will allow students to participate in the programme along with their current responsibilities. This makes earning a postgraduate degree while continuing to work easier and more accessible to individuals,” the document added. The draft further said that “creditisation of relevant work experience is another initiative to make education more holistic”.

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