Delhi University Pushes One-Year PG Reform as Faculty Dissent Erupts Over Academic Impact and Curtailed Debate

Delhi University approves one-year PG courses, SWAYAM credit integration, and global semester exchange, but faculty dissent highlights concerns over academic impact, accessibility, and curtailed deliberative processes within the Academic Council.

The Academic Council of Delhi University approved the introduction of one-year postgraduate programmes in several departments; these courses will be integrated with the Postgraduate Curriculum Framework 2024 following the National Education Policy 2020.

The council also sanctioned guidelines which authorise students to earn up to 5% of their total credits through courses offered on SWAYAM and other MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platforms. The guidelines generated criticisms:

The decision to proceed in a manner that curtailed debate and foreclosed meaningful engagement with dissenting views reflects a disregard for established democratic norms and collective decision-making,”

the note stated, as cited by PTI.

Monami Sinha, an elected Academic Council member, commented on the proceedings of the council by stating, ‘We were dissenting, and the meeting was abruptly ended.’ We have no clarity on what decision was finally taken.”

Registrar Vikas Gupta further added that the proposal had been passed and would be placed before the Executive Council of Delhi University and stated,

Teachers have dissented against the proposal. However, we are only suggesting introducing 5 per cent of total credits through the courses, and we should encourage students to learn from all types of portals that can contribute to their education.”

The Council also approved a proposal to introduce a ‘Semester Away Programme’ in ties with some foreign higher education institutions that remain undisclosed at the moment. The initiative will allow students to complete one semester abroad with adequate credits according to their respective degrees.

Additionally, the vice-chancellor directed departments to compile a list of the top 20 journals in their respective fields within 30 days.

He stated that departments should establish specific criteria for these journals and assign a point system to them. Based on this evaluation, a priority list of journals is to be prepared by assigning scores accordingly,”

a press statement issued after the meeting said, according to PTI.

Self-learning study material for School of Open Learning courses in line with the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework 2022 was also approved. Additionally, programmes including the Master of Journalism and Mass Communication at the Delhi School of Journalism, MSc Mathematics, and the second-semester curriculum for MA Hindi Journalism were cleared, along with courses in computer science and other subjects.

Image Credits: Devesh by DU Beat

Divyanshi Dusad

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