Opinion Let a fresh wind blow

This variation is unique to India. Internationally,academic programmes are designed in terms of credit requirements and the semester system. If India has to evolve a vibrant and efficient tertiary education system,it is necessary to adopt these basic concepts. Further,the credit requirements and number of semesters to acquire a bachelor’s degree should be comparable. It is standard practice now to have a bachelor’s programme of eight semesters with an average of 160 credits. The number of credits may vary,but within a band around this average. This model is needed for a definite direction for reforms in higher education.

Any bachelor’s programme should have two major components — core and professional. The core programme should provide basic elements. For example,a degree in the natural sciences should have some elements of logic,philosophy and creativity. The core should also provide some common elements such as mathematical and computational capability. A degree in sociology should provide some basic elements of computational and mathematical sciences. Usually,the core programme carries about 45 to 55 per cent emphasis in the 160-credit,eight-semester bachelor’s programme.

Professional courses should have some compulsory elements as well as some elective elements. Students should be able to fashion a minor by choosing electives that will complement their basic degree. Project work and/ or research should also be an essential element. The primary aim of such a component is to train students in real-world problem-solving and thinking in an integrated manner. Students also learn in a collaborative manner. The project or research activity should be about 10 to 15 per cent,and the elective the same,in overall credit requirements.

Such a model will help students transfer credits from one university to another. It will also be possible to develop twinning programmes within India. Students can migrate from one institution to another or one programme to another if the credit basis is acceptable as a common model. Unfortunately,the silo culture is too strong in higher education of India.

It is,therefore,clear that all bachelor’s degree programmes should be considered credit-based,eight-semester programmes after 10+2 school education. One can consider only one exception,and that is medicine. This degree can be deferred till a student completes nine or 10 semesters — a period of practical internship.

Delhi University’s decision to switch to the new model has made its faculty angry. One would have expected them to welcome such a move. However,the practical difficulties seem to be a major concern. It has been observed that the academic world in India is very rigid about experimenting and it resists change vociferously. In fact,faculty groups and academic senates should be at the forefront of change. Rather than being agents of change,faculty groups are active in preventing change. By and large,Indian institutions are public ones,fully supported by government. Job security allows academic and other staff to form unions and other associations. These carry out campaigns not simply within the university but even outside. It is shocking that the proposed change to the eight-semester programme is sought to be raised in Parliament. An academic issue should be dealt with by academic bodies alone.

It appears that DU’s FYUP is a case of an excellent idea getting implemented in a bumpy manner. Several decades ago,I happened to be among the first students who got admitted to a four-year,eight-semester engineering programme of Pune University. We all accepted one extra year and graduated with excellent training. But when one sees the political turmoil arising out of the FYUP,one feels sad. Academics should have worked with each other and with all prospective students.

Change is a way of life. The education system in India badly needs a seasonal change. Fresh winds will likely improve the atmosphere and quality of higher education. The academic community should realise that management of change should become a natural process,and not a political battle.

The writer is former director,IIT Kanpur

express@expressindia.com