105 Universities to Implement 4-Year UG Programmes this Year

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The University Grants Commission (UGC) took to its social media and networking handles on Thursday, 15 June to announce the integration of the Four-Year Undergraduate Program (FYUGP) in 105 universities beginning this academic year.?

Announcing the change, the UGC Chairman, M. Jagadesh Kumar said,

“The Course Structure and credit system under Four Year UG (FYUG) Programmes provide different interdisciplinary combinations. It will facilitate multiple-entry and multiple exits, among other benefits. We thank the universities for their forethought and consideration given to their students by implementing FYUG.”

19 Central Universities have embraced this change, including Delhi University, Aligarh Muslim University, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Visva-Bharati University, Assam University, Tezpur University the Central University of Jammu, Sikkim University and National Sanskrit University.

Apart from these central universities, 22 state universities, 18 state private universities and over 40 deemed-to-be universities have been the first to introduce the FYUGP, beginning this academic year.

This move comes after the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, drafted to make higher education dynamic and flexible. Earlier, the NEP 2020 had recommended HEIs adopt a 3 or 4-year undergraduate programme with multiple entry and exit options as well as a multi-layered credit mechanism.?

With the primary goal of making education more practical and career-oriented, the UGC, accepting the NEP 2020 reforms, formulated a new Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes (CCFUP) to grant flexibility in choosing multidisciplinary avenues for students.

While semesters 1, 2 and 3 seek to enhance foundational understanding of broader disciplines like the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematical and computational thinking, Semesters 4, 5 and 6 are reserved for students to explore interdisciplinary avenues for specialization. Semesters 7 and 8, on the other hand, are crafted to equip students to conduct independent research in advanced and interdisciplinary fields of study.

The student credit system under the revised framework has also been revolutionized, giving learners ample exit and entry opportunities. After completing one year of study, students will earn an Undergraduate Certificate. After the completion of two years in the chosen discipline, students will earn an Undergraduate Diploma, a Bachelor’s degree after the completion of three years and a Research/Honors degree after completing four years in the chosen specialization.?

How will FYUGP benefit students?

• Integrating practical, career-oriented courses into the curriculum

With the introduction of FYUGP, students will have the opportunity of undertaking internships and gain relevant insights and work experience to prepare them for their future careers. Apart from this, students will also be trained in studio-based activities, field projects as well as community engagement services, equipping them holistically.

• Offering flexibility to choose from multiple disciplines

Students will now have the flexibility of choosing majors and minors as per their choices, thus, diversifying their learning experience. Furthermore, the revised curriculum will recognize vocational education at par with other disciplines, granting students the opportunity to freely pursue their passions and interests.?

All in all, the introduction of the 4-year undergraduate program will not only transform the traditional higher education framework but also facilitate students to diversify their approach to education with its multidisciplinary offerings and multiple entry and exit credit mechanism. With a practical approach to education, students will now develop beyond the classroom and grow holistically.