UGC Framework for PG Curriculum Introduces 1-Year Masters Degree, Flexibility in Courses

The University Grants Commission (UGC) approved the curriculum’s draft framework earlier this month on November 3 and plans to seek feedback from a variety of stakeholders by December 15. The curriculum, in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP), permits pupils to transition from one subject of study to another.

According to an official UGC letter, “The National Education Policy 2020 recommends different designs of master’s programmes with entry & exit facility and greater emphasis on research. In accordance with the policy, UGC has prepared draft Guidelines on Curriculum and Credit Framework for Postgraduate programmes.”

The new draft postgraduate curriculum framework gives PG students the choice to exit after a year and receive a postgraduate diploma. This will be the first time that UGC will offer 1-year postgraduate courses to students.  According to the proposed framework, the PG course will be offered for a duration of 1 year for students who have finished 4 years of undergraduate studies, while the 2-year PG course will continue for those who have completed 3 years of their UG degree. Students can pursue a postgraduate degree in any field they studied for their graduate degrees.

Here are some of the recommendations made by the Curriculum and Credit Framework for Postgraduate Programmes:

–– The draft document states that students who meet the requirements for UG studies and have a major and minor(s) may choose to pursue either a major or a minor in their master’s course.

–– Furthermore, students will be given the opportunity to select courses of interest and the flexibility to switch to other modes of learning, which might include offline, ODL, online learning, and hybrid forms of learning.

–– The proposed framework envisions a two-year course for students who have finished the three-year bachelor’s programme, with the second year devoted solely to research.

–– The recommendations also suggested a five-year combined bachelor’s/master’s degree be put into place.

––The draft framework states that master’s degrees in fundamental subjects like machine learning, as well as multidisciplinary areas like “AI + X” and professional domains like law, health care, and agriculture, would be offered by universities.

–– In order to creditize all learning and assignment, as well as to accumulate, store, transfer, and redeem credits subject to evaluation, postgraduate course frameworks should be in line with the National Credit Framework (NCrF).