Why are Indian universities reluctant to supply dual-degree facility to college students?

The College Grants Fee (UGC) just lately issued a discover urging Greater Schooling Establishments (HEIs) to implement tips permitting college students to pursue two tutorial programs concurrently, as outlined within the Nationwide Schooling Coverage (NEP). Within the discover, UGC Secretary Manish R. Joshi expressed concern that, regardless of repeated reminders, greater than two years have handed, and lots of universities have but to supply the dual-course facility to college students.
The official discover states, “It has come to the UGC’s consideration that many college students proceed to face challenges enrolling in two tutorial programmes concurrently, primarily as a consequence of HEIs’ insistence on submitting migration certificates or school-leaving certificates for admission. This requirement limits college students’ capability to safe admission to 2 programmes and undermines the aim of the rules.”
The discover additional emphasizes that greater than two years have handed for the reason that issuance of those tips, and regardless of a number of reminders, a number of universities haven’t facilitated their implementation.
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UGC tips for pursuing two tutorial programmes concurrently
The discover issued in April 2022 relating to pursuing two tutorial programmes concurrently specifies the next tips:
- A pupil can pursue two full-time tutorial programmes in bodily mode, supplied that the category timings of 1 programme don’t overlap with these of the opposite.
- A pupil can pursue two tutorial programmes: one in full-time bodily mode and the opposite in Open and Distance Studying (ODL)/On-line mode; or go for as much as two ODL/On-line programmes concurrently.
- Diploma or diploma programmes beneath these tips shall be ruled by the rules notified by the UGC and the respective statutory or skilled councils, every time relevant.
- These tips got here into impact from the date of their notification. No retrospective advantages might be claimed by college students who had already pursued two tutorial programmes concurrently earlier than the notification.
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Implementing dual-course facility: What are the challenges?
The twin-course framework goals to offer college students with the flexibleness to pursue {qualifications} in various fields, enhancing employability and enriching their tutorial journey. Nonetheless, whereas UGC tips emphasize enabling twin enrolment with out compromising tutorial high quality, a number of sensible challenges have hindered the adoption of this mannequin by universities.
Administrative constraints: A major barrier is the continued requirement by many universities for migration or school-leaving certificates in the course of the admission course of. This coverage prevents college students from enrolling in multiple establishment on the similar time, immediately opposing the intent of the UGC tips and remaining unaddressed in a number of establishments.
Operational challenges: Universities face sensible difficulties, comparable to synchronizing class schedules to stop overlaps and offering satisfactory infrastructure and school help for dual-course enrollments. These logistical complexities have considerably delayed the profitable rollout of the dual-course framework.
Lack of expertise and preparedness: Some establishments lack consciousness of the UGC tips or the readiness to overtake their administrative and tutorial constructions. Important changes, comparable to aligning insurance policies, curricula, and examination schedules, stay unmet, additional stalling progress.
Resistance to alter: Resistance to implementing new insurance policies persists in lots of establishments as a consequence of conventional mindsets or issues about overburdening college and infrastructure. This reluctance to deviate from established norms has additional hindered the adoption of the dual-course mannequin.
Scholar consciousness and preparedness: Many college students are unaware of the choice to pursue two tutorial programmes concurrently, largely as a consequence of inadequate communication of the UGC tips. Moreover, the challenges of managing the workload, time calls for, and tutorial rigor of twin programs might discourage college students from choosing this facility, even when out there.