Experts give thumbs up for UGC move to have relook into cap on courses

Hyderabad: University Grants Commission's (UGC) proposal to re-look into the restrictions on students pursuing multiple degrees simultaneously would be a departure from the age-old education system being introduced under British Raj days.

Experts say that introducing a student-centric education system is long due. However, several factors held back opening up doors to allow students to explore studies of their choice.

Even the recently introduced Choice Based Credit System (CBSE) is not delivering the expected outcomes resulting the UGC to take a relook into its earlier decision to allow students only one postgraduate and a certificate course along with their regular degree or postgraduate courses.

Speaking to The Hans India, former Vice-Chancellor of Osmania University Prof S Ramachandram said, a student-centric education is need of the hour. It is definitely a departure from the conventional system continuing for decades.

While it is a welcome sign to introduce a student-centric system, at the same time, there are several logistical issues which need to be addressed. They include upgrading the infrastructure and human resources, particularly, in the State universities, he added.

Toeing a similar line, former Vice-Chancellor of Dr Ambedkar Open University, Prof K Seetha Rama Rao said opportunities for the students to pursue different courses could be allowed against the backdrop of technological interface making it possible.

As of now, students have been pursuing diploma or certificate courses, besides, taking advantage of the Open and Distance Learning as well as an online learning mode. While the idea gives leverage at the same time, how it is going to be implemented is what matters.

"A student pursuing a regular course may not be allowed to pursue another regular course, he pointed out. Former Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Prof G Nageswara Rao said the current restrictions on the number of courses is being implemented as a student pursuing a regular course cannot attend another regular course at the same time.

However, certainly, it will be a departure from the old school of ways of learning. A BTech student can pursue through distance and online mode the kind of courses which he or she prefers. It allows freedom to the students to choose in line with his interests.

The initiative needs to be welcomed at the same time the practical problems if any crop up needs to be addressed, he said. The apex higher education regulator appointed a panel headed by its Vice-Chairman Bhushan Patwardhan to look into the issues and to ascertain the suggestions from various stakeholders before taking a final call on the same.