UGC Directs Institutions For Supporting Students To Pursue Two Degrees Simultaneously
The University Grant Commission has urged Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to create a supportive mechanism for students to pursue two academic programs simultaneously. Notably, UGC issued guidelines permitting students to attain two academic degrees simultaneously in April 2022.
Higher Educational Institutions were directed to establish mechanisms to facilitate students to avail of the opportunities provided by the UGC. However, the UGC has noticed that institutions have not adopted sufficient measures to implement the UGC guidelines and students are facing issues in availing the facility.
Read also: UGC – NET December 2024 Online Applications Are Invited At ugcnet.nta.ac.in
The UGC said, “It has come to the UGC’s attention that many students continue to face challenges in enrolling in two academic programs at the same time, primarily due to HEIs insistence on the submission of migration certificates or school leaving certificates for admission. This requirement limits students’ ability to secure admission to two programs and undermines the purpose of the guidelines”.
The commission has pointed out that since the guidelines were issued two years ago, several universities have yet to implement them.
UGC Updates:
UGC Letter regarding the implementation of UGC Guidelines on pursuing two academic programs simultaneously.
Read the UGC Letter: https://t.co/BPaDg18ATs@PMOIndia@EduMinOfIndia@PIB_Indiapic.twitter.com/DGdEYfhzLn
— UGC INDIA (@ugc_india) November 20, 2024
Hence, the UGC urged universities and other institutions of higher learning to create supportive mechanisms through statutory bodies to ensure the implementation of the guidelines so students can pursue two academic programs together.
Read also: Why Has the Non-NET PhD Stipend Not Been Raised Since 2012? Asks Shashi Tharoor
The UGC decision aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which focuses on making education more experiential, holistic, integrated, learner-centric, and flexible. It aims to make the curricular structures a combination of creative disciplines that offer multiple entry and exit points by removing prevalent rigid boundaries and creating new opportunities.
NEP 2020 also emphasise the need to facilitate multiple pathways of learning including both the formal and non-formal education modes. In view of this, UGC has framed the guidelines to pursue to programes together.
