Lucknow University to mould UG courses around NEP

LUCKNOW: Lucknow University has initiated the process of finalizing the structure of the four-year undergraduate programme as conceptualised in the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Deans of all faculties, student welfare, recruitment and heads of some departments are preparing the draft of the four-year UG courses which will be implemented in all streams – arts, commerce and science – from the next academic session which begins in September. LU has already modified its postgraduate courses as per the NEP.
Like the PG courses, UG courses will be multi-disciplinary, allowing students of one stream to choose some subjects of another stream as a paper during the course. Besides theoretical and practical knowledge, vocational skills will also be imparted. There will also be the mandatory provision of internship.
The course will have multiple entry and exit options for students. This means students can the exit the course whenever they like and enter again as per their convenience. A student completing a year will get a certificate, an advanced diploma after two years, a bachelor degree after three years, and a bachelor with research degree after four years
As per the plan, the four-year UG course comprising eight semesters will be of 192 credits. Each semester will be of 24 credits. According to the University Grants Commission, a credit is 15 hours of theoretical and 30 hours of practical teaching. A credit is a unit by which the course work is measured. It determines the number of hours of instructions required per week.
The content of the course will be decided later because at present there is dispute over implementation of the common minimum syllabus proposed by the state government.
LU vice-chancellor Prof AK Rai said, “The entry and exit option will give students autonomy in planning their careers. For example, due to some unforeseen life event or financial or family problems, students, at times, have to drop out. However, under the new system, students will be able to continue studies despite a break. Students can also use the break for other activities like acquiring skills or to gain work experience.”