Mixed response from educationists on UGC’s 4-year UG programme – Times of India

The four-year undergraduate programme (FYUGP) draft prepared by the UGC seeks to equip students with the capacities in fields across the arts, humanities, languages, natural sciences, social sciences and an ethic of social engagement. Students will also get soft skills such as complex problem solving, critical thinking, creative thinking, communication skills, along with rigorous specialisation.

While several educationists liked the FYUGP, some of them did not like the reform related to PhD. It states that a student is eligible for direct admission in PhD after completion of a four-year undergraduate programme with research.

Educationist Pritish Acharya said FYUGP would produce quality graduates. “This is a good programme for the students. However, the UG programme is not sufficient for a student to enrol for a PhD programme. There should be a post graduation (PG) programme before enrolling for PhD,” he added.

Siba Prasad Adhikary, former vice-chancellor of FM University, Balasore, said national education policy (NEP) has already stated about the four-year UG programme. “Why UGC come up with a new draft now? It should not complicate the programmes by coming up with new things. PhD after the UG programme is over is not advisable. More discussions are needed on this,” he added.

Jayant Kumar Mohapatra, former vice-chancellor of Berhampur University, said the UGC should conduct wider consultation before taking such decisions. “Most of the important aspects of NEP are yet to be implemented by the states. When this is the situation in states, I do not understand why UGC is coming up with new drafts in a hurry,” he added.

He further said PhD cannot be done after a four-year UG programme. “I think PG is needed for enrolling in a PhD programme. There should not be any compromise,” he added.

Asoka Kumar Das, vice-chairman of the Odisha State Higher Education Council (OSHEC), said the council will go through the draft and if necessary, it will give suggestions. “But state will take its own decision on this depending on students’ interest,” he added.