The Delhi University is all set to commence its innovative four-year degree courses from this academic session starting June. The preparations for the programme are in the final stage. A brochure in this regard is expected to be available by May 10.
DU Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh said the university is in the process of finalising the courses and admission policies are likely to be presented before the Academic Council for its final approval by April 20.
Implementation of the programme will mean that all existing three-year undergraduate programmes and honours degrees will get converted into a four-year degree courses. However, the admission process will remain same i.e. on basis of cut offs and entrance examinations.
The admission forms will also come out as soon as the CBSE results are declared.
The university authorities have clarified that addition of one more year will not be a burden on students. According to the new degree nomenclature, students who take the exit option after two or three years will be given a chance to complete their course if they return within eight years of enrolment.
For instance, a student leaving after first two years from now would be given an associate baccalaureate and he/she will get a chance to come back by 2021 and complete the three year-baccalaureate or the four-year honours degree. The policy is likely to bring lesser drop-outs in colleges.
Another benefit of the new programme is that no student will be held back irrespective of the number of subjects passed in a semester. To take an associate baccalaureate or baccalaureate, the students’ needs to get an aggregate of 45 per cent and to complete a four-year honours an aggregate of 50 per cent will be required. “We have been working on this programme for the last one-and-a half year.
An academic congress was held in September 2012 where this concept was introduced. The Academic Council cleared the four-year programme only after a 61-member task force committee presented a proper proposal on it. There is a proper mechanism involved in making any new development a success at the university. We have a committee that includes principals of five colleges, working on the admissions and examinations with respect to this course. All the Department Heads are working in the syllabus building by consulting a general body of teachers,” said Umesh Rai, the Director of the South Campus.
With the four-year course coming into effect, the students will also, for the first time, have 11 compulsory papers of the foundation course, 20 papers of discipline course-I, six papers of discipline course-II, five papers of applied course (skill-based) and integrating mind, body and heart or cultural activities. “Such steps have been taken only to strengthen knowledge base of the students.
Proper laboratory training will be given and students will be exposed to research-based study at the undergraduate level itself. Each college is getting grant for infrastructure. We have taken up the matter with 20 principals to prepare a report on the infrastructure requirements — including development of scientific laboratories, media labs and other training facilities on campus. We are also going to provide more bandwidth for internet to colleges sharply by July. It will help in the exchange of lectures between colleges under the National Knowledge network,” added Rai who is also a member of the committee for building the four-year course.