Delhi University format: Undergrad in 4 years,post-grad in 5

DU considers allowing students to earn 2 years of credits in 1 year,says plan at nascent stage.

Ready for shift to new four-year undergraduate format,the Delhi University is also considering bringing about changes at post-graduate level to ensure that the total number of years put in till post-graduation remain at five.

A system can be put in place where a student earns a specific number of credits at the UG and the PG level. The student can get these credits in one year of two years. However,the total number of years of study for UG and PG will be five years. For a student of the four-year course,these changes have to brought about on a wider scale at the UGC level. Right now,the plan is still at a very nascent stage, a senior DU official said.

The DU is expected to start its admission process for the new academic session on June 5,and voices in favour of the switch to four-year format are gradually getting louder.

Taking on the claim that the university has brought in the new format in a rush,Anil Tyagi,from Department of Biochemistry,said: Where is the hurry? The AC Academic Council mentioned it in 2008 and it is being implemented in 2013. Three leading academic institutions Indian Academy of Sciences,Indian National Science Academy and the National Academy of Sciences have also talked about the relevance of a -year format in their report. A number of universities,such as Ambedkar University and Allahabad University,are running four-year courses.

Asked how a student of four-year course will benefit over students who get an honours degree in three years,Dean Academics,Malashri Lal,said: The philosophy of DUs four-year programme is incremental knowledge. The foundation courses taught in the first two years are not similar to anything that is taught in schools and the fourth year has a very important research component. A lot of peer learning and group learning will happen in the course.

Meanwhile,around 16 members of DUs Executive Council reacted to a letter by Javid Chowdhury,the Chancellors nominee in the EC. Chowdurys letter to DU Vice-Chancellor said,In the absence of the draft syllabi,the agenda papers for the EC were inherently and fatally deficient,and any decision purportedly taken in the EC on the basis of this agenda note would be null and void.

Members of the EC said it was for the Academic Council to decide on the syllabi. The Executive Council8230; recognises Academic Councils right to deliberate upon the syllabi and discusses the draft amendments for the framing of ordinances seeking to change the syllabi as adopted by the AC8230; Shri Javid Chowdhury did not convey and dissent, the statement by the 16 EC members said.

On the four-year road

Diploma,after 2 years and 4 semesters

11 compulsory foundation courses

Story continues below this ad

n Language,Literature,and Creativity 8211; I Hindi/MIL/Indian Literature

n Language,Literature,and Creativity 8211; II English

n Information Technology

n Business,Entrepreneurship,and Management

n Governance and Citizenship

n Psychology,Communication and Life Skills

n Geographic and Socio-Economic Diversity

n Science and Life