UGC moots choice-based credit system from 2015

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked vice chancellors of  universities to consider adopting choice based credit system from 2015, which provides a ‘cafeteria’ type access under which students can study courses of their choice.

The higher education regulator also issued a set of guidelines for implementing choice based credit system across all universities and colleges in order to bring uniformity in the system and the process of evaluation of student performance.

The choice based credit system is already in vogue in some universities, including central varsities.“They learn at their own pace, undergo additional courses and acquire more than the required credits, and adopt an interdisciplinary approach to learning,” a UGC official said.

Indian higher education institutions have been moving from the conventional annual system to semester system, which is mandatory for adopting choice based credit system. A large number of universities, however, are still following the old pattern despite repeated instructions from the UGC.

The semester system accelerates the teaching-learning process and enables vertical and horizontal mobility in learning. The credit based semester system provides flexibility in designing curriculum and assigning credits based on the course content and hours of teaching.

The choice based credit system is being introduced to mitigate the problems that students face while pursuing their education and getting a job.

“Because of the diversity in the evaluation system followed by different universities, students have suffered non-acceptance of their credentials, at times, across the university system, as well as the employment agencies. Choice based credit system is the answer to this problem if it is adopted by all the universities,” a UGC official said.