The UGC on Wednesday notified guidelines for pursuing two academic programmes simultaneously in physical, online or distance learning mode.
Sanjiv Mittal, VC of Sambalpur University, who favours this move said: “According to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the flexibility of having two degrees should be advocated and propagated. Therefore, Sambalpur University will definitely implement it,” he added.
The UGC also wrote to the heads of universities and colleges on Wednesday, stating that the policy (NEP 2020) “envisions imaginative and flexible curricular structures to enable creative combinations of disciplines for study,…” adding “…, UGC has framed guidelines for pursuing two academic programmes simultaneously…” and “All universities and their affiliated colleges/ institutions are requested to implement these guidelines for benefit of the students.”
Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, VC, JNU welcomed the move. She said: “I read about it. It is a good move and as long as there is flexibility for the students I am for it.”
However, expressing concern over feasibility of implementation, Yogesh Singh, VC of DU feels double degrees – one via physical and the other via online/ ODL mode could be more beneficial. He told the TOI: “I have not gone through the document but if UGC is allowing it then it must be in the interest of students. But it will be beneficial only if students are pursuing one degree online and one in the physical mode as it might get difficult to implement otherwise. However, there is no harm in it and if students want they can surely go for it.”
Harilal B Menon, VC, Goa University, however distanced himself from the idea of giving a dual degree on offline mode and said that for some course combinations in humanities/ arts this could be a possibility.
Menon said: “Practical is an integral component of any science PG degree. Normally theory is taught in the morning and practical in the afternoon. Therefore, I distance myself when someone moots the idea of offering two PG in science on offline mode. Even if he gets time, will his brain work? For students from arts and humanities, probably two subjects with a lot of similar content, for example MCom and MFS (Master of Science in Finance), they may find it interesting. In such a case he can go for a dual degree. Similarly master of social work and master of sociology. But here again whether the student will get enough time? Probably if a science or an arts student wants to have a dual degree, the university can think in terms of permitting the student to register for PG in his original subject in offline mode and the other PG in online mode.”
“The old method of teacher centric is going to be learner centric. Once that method comes into force, if a student feels that he can learn and wants two PG degrees at the same time, and only wants guidance from the teacher, then he can be offered one degree in offline mode and the other in online mode. I distance myself from the idea of giving a dual degree in offline mode,” added Menon.
Senior academician Baban Taywade from Nagpur University however feels that this will benefit students. “It’s not a new concept. During our times, many students used to pursue one regular course like BCom and one external course like BA. The UGC’s move would help the students to pursue additional qualifications and also save their time. It would help in increasing the student numbers in the higher education sector,” he told the
TOI.
(Inputs from Gauree Malkarnekar, Hemanta Pradhan, Vaibhav Ganjapure and Shinjini Ghosh)
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