Comeback of four-year undergraduate (UG) courses
Maha Media 26 September 2019
The new draft National Education Policy (NEP) released by the government earlier this year recommended a slew of impressive measures that aim to revolutionize the Indian education system, right from primary schooling to higher education. One such prominent proposal was the comeback of the four-year undergraduate (UG) courses, which was scrapped by a former HRD minister when introduced as FYUP in Delhi University.
In the draft NEP, the panel also recommended an overhaul of the teacher education system to prepare them for the proposed 4-year UG programmes. This was long overdue and bodes well for elevating our present standards of education.
The prospects of 4-years UG courses are plenty, but a major one is that these programmes bring Indian education on par with foreign universities. Several foreign universities in globally renowned educational hubs do not accept three-year degrees as an equivalent of an undergraduate course, and instead, demand a 4-year degree prior to applying for a Masters’ degree.
If the 4-year UG courses get implemented, those willing to pursue higher studies abroad will no longer be forced to enroll in a one-year diploma. Further, the draft NEP adds a touch of flexibility in UG courses, proposing that both three-and four-year courses will be allowed to co-exist with multiple exit and entry options may be provided.
Another strong advantage that the four-year UG programmes will have is the focus on research. According to the draft, institutions could award degrees “with Research,” if the student manages to complete a research project as specified by the Higher Education Institute (HEI).
Further, UG programmes with four years’ duration will allow students to get a broader perspective as he/she study a bit of everything in the initial year and then focus on one particular discipline.
Expectedly, these programmes will make room for an optimal blend of fieldwork, classroom sessions, and discussions as well as internships which provide industry exposure, which is largely lacked by the graduate population in India. The move could, thus, enhance employability and skill-building. Further, most programmes focus on theoretical knowledge with obsolete syllabi. Scoring well in memory-based exams and tests is rewarded more than referencing and coming up with one’s original theses.
Hence, to revamp this extant system, a well-thought about change in curricula as well as the attitude of the mentors/teachers is much needed. The availability of resources at institutions is also an additional hurdle. This also refers to the time that professors may have for students pursuing research.
Research and specialization need to be encouraged by generating opportunities in the form of jobs or internships. One of the biggest factors that discourage research-oriented courses among students in India is perhaps the lack of rewards at the end of a rigorous research process. More institutes like IISC which offers Bachelor of Science (Research) should come forward with effective research-based courses to generate in-depth analysis and specialization opportunities for students.
The purpose of celebrating ‘World Tourism Day’ is to raise awareness about the role of tourism around the world and to promote social, cultural, political and economic values. Interestingly, India is the host country for the World Tourism Day this year and theme is –“Tourism and jobs: a better future for all.” Union Minister for Tourism KJ Alphons on Thursday launched the ‘Incredible India' mobile app and the “Incredible India Tourist Facilitators Certification” programme to promote the World Tourism Day.
Hoping to change the lives of the
capital’s have-nots, a shopkeeper in Delhi has been running a makeshift school
for more than 300 underprivileged children under a metro bridge in the Yamuna
Bank area for the last over eight years without any assistance neither from the
government nor any NGOs.
Several varieties of green tea are
available in the market. Green
tea is consumed as a beverage. It is also sold in liquid extracts, capsules,
and tablets and is sometimes used in topical products (intended to be applied
to the skin). All green or black teas come from the same
plant, Camellia Sinensis, but are prepared using different methods. The
current uses of green tea as a beverage or dietary supplement include improving
mental alertness, relieving digestive symptoms and headaches, and promoting
weight loss.
Institute of Banking Personnel
Selection has released the result for RRB prelims
exam for officers scale- 1 on September 23, 2019. Candidates who had appeared
in the examination can check their results from the official website at ibps.in.
The consumers around the world could see costs rise for products
ranging from petrol and diesel to home heating costs and air fares, after this
weekend’s attacks caused a spike in global oil prices. As the cost of
transportation rises, that could mean shipments of other goods, such as
groceries, could also increase in the coming months. In India, there is
indication that prices of petrol and diesel are likely to go up by up to Rs 5 a
litre each over the course of the next few days as international prices shot up
after the drone attack on Saudi Aramco’s facility at Abqaiq. Benchmark Brent
crude prices were up by over $6 at $67 a barrel on Monday, which is a jump of
over 10 %, could rise further.In the early hours of 14
September, ten unmanned drones from Yemen caused severe damage to Saudi
Arabia’s oil facilities at Khurais in the Eastern Province north of
Riyadh. As result, markets opened on 16 September with oil prices went
from $59 to $71 per barrel, though they eased later after the US announced it
would release its reserves to stabilize prices.
The state Cabinet sanctioned a proposal of reserving 10 per cent seats in
undergraduate courses and 20 per cent seats in postgraduate courses as an
incentive for students willing to put in compulsory regular service in rural,
tribal, and rural government institutions for seven and five years,
respectively.
