SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, April 25: With UGC issuing norms to implement two-degree courses for students, the Higher Education Department and the universities of the state have started preparations for the same.
Along with this, a team has been formed to implement the new education policy as well. To implement the two-course norm, state universities may also change university rules.
Presently, students till the 2021-24 batch cannot pursue two undergraduate courses at a time, either from the same or two different institutions. However, students of the new batch to begin in the year 2022 may have this opportunity.
Ranchi University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Kamini Kumar, in this regard, said, “Ranchi University has prepared a road map for interdisciplinary enrollment so that science students can choose arts and commerce subjects and vice versa. Along with this, a 15-member team has been made to prepare to start the 2022-23 sessions under the new education policy. This team will also work on implementing the two-course option in all the universities in the state.”
Meanwhile, Vibha Pandey, Deputy Director, Department of Higher and Technical Education said, “State universities are semi-autonomous universities, hence, all the state department can do is suggest that they bring change. However, where it is the New Education Policy or the two-degree courses, it is the syndicate of the said university, which will decide over their implementation.”
She further said, “However, a 15-member team has been made. After the report of this team, the state government will decide on the implementation of the new education policy from the new session. Although, all the universities have been instructed to prepare and be ready to conduct the new sessions as per the new education policy. The government is also preparing to give admission in all the universities of the state through an entrance exam.”
RU PRO, Pritam Kumar said, “The regulations allow three types of degree programmes: dual (where both colleges award the degree, albeit in the same subject), joint and twinning (where part of the course is completed overseas with the upper limit being 30 percent in twinning programmes, and the lower limit being 30 percent in joint programmes).”
He further continued, “A student can pursue two academic programmes, one in full-time physical mode and another in Open and Distance Learning (ODL), online mode or up to two ODL and online programmes simultaneously. A student can pursue two full-time academic programmes in the physical mode provided that in such cases, class timings for one programme do not overlap with the class timings of the other programme.”
“Degree or diploma programmes under ODL or online mode shall be pursued with only such HEIs (higher education institutions) which are recognised by the UGC, Statutory Council or the government of India for running such programmes,” he added.
The RU PRO continued by stating, “To implement the new education policy and the two-degree scheme, amendments will have to be made in the University Acts, the UGC has permitted to take two degrees simultaneously from the universities.”
However, it is also said that the decision of its implementation in all the universities of Jharkhand will be taken after the instructions of the state government. According to the information, if the state government adopts the new education policy and two-degree courses, then it will have to amend the University Act. Its bill will have to be brought to the assembly for amendment.
