Internships are going to be an integral part of the curriculum with credits attached to it —- one of the major changes to be introduced in the way undergraduate (UG) business management and computer application courses are taught — under a ‘model’ curriculum that is being developed by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to be adopted by all institutions affiliated to the council offering such courses.
According to officials, this is the first time that a model curriculum is being developed for these professional courses —- Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) and Bachelors of Computer Applications (BCA) —- which will have to be adopted at least up to 80 per cent by all AICTE- affiliated institutes offering such courses.
New curriculum to allow students to pursue a Minor along with a Major
Besides credit-based internships, some of the crucial changes to be brought about in the new curriculum will include —- the flexibility of pursuing a minor, along with a major. “For example, if a student is pursuing BBA, they can opt for AI (Artificial Intelligence) as a minor and earn credits in the same for a degree,”
said a senior AICTE official.
The new curriculum is to ensure the quality and efficacy of courses being taught across such institutions.
AICTE’s member-secretary Rajive Kumar said that internship is an important component of studying a course allowing students hands-on experience in the industry. It plays a crucial role in making students more “job-ready”.
“The new curriculum being developed will have all thrust technology areas as part of it, allowing students to pursue a minor as well,” he said.
The model curriculum is being developed by an expert panel comprising members from the industry and the country’s premier institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), among others. It is likely to be launched by April.
Council to ensure students get internships
“There will probably be 6-7 credits for students to earn by doing an internship, however, it is still being worked upon by the expert committee. Internships are imperative to give students exposure to how the industry works. We will help colleges in ensuring that all students get to do an internship during the course,” said Kumar.
Colleges will have the flexibility to make changes to it as per their requirement. Also, they will be given sufficient time to adopt the new curriculum, he added.
The AICTE in its approval process handbook for the years 2024-25 to 2026-27, released in December last year, had decided to bring undergraduate (UG) courses in Computer Applications (BCA) and Management (BBA/BMS) in general/non-technical institutions under its umbrella to “ensure coordinated development in technical and management education”.
The council took the decision, as these courses were not being regulated at the UG level since the AICTE had so far been regularising management and computer applications courses only at the post-graduate (PG) level.
These institutes have to apply to the council to get approval, the last date for which is April 1. AICTE has decided to give approvals to such institutions on an “as is, where is” basis, which means they don’t have to immediately make infrastructural or academic changes.
“Around 4,000 such colleges offering these courses have registered with us so far, of which over 2500 have already submitted their applications and some even paid the fee. We are also open to extending the date further by 2-3 days for all such colleges to come by. It will take probably by the end of April to grant them approvals,” said a second official.
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