There are seven vocational courses offered by the University of Delhi out of which for four of the courses, Mathematics has been made a compulsory subject: printing technology, web-designing, software development and banking operations. From this year, students opting for vocational courses in DU will have to include Mathematics in their best of four percentages. Hence, for calculating the best of four percentages, mathematics will have to be included along with one language and two other elective subjects. However, it is not compulsory to include the subject for B.Voc healthcare management, retail management and information technology. Some of the regular courses where it is a compulsory subject are Economics (Hons), B.Com (Hons) and Computer Science (Hons), among others.
Started in 2016, B.Voc programmes have been designed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) as per the National Skill Qualification Framework of the Ministry of Skill Development, emphasising on skill-based education in consultation with the National Skills Development Corporation.
It has multiple entry and exit points, except that the programme is like any other regular course. Students have the option to leave after the second and fourth semester and will be awarded a diploma or an advanced diploma accordingly.
Vocational subjects will be treated as academic subjects for those opting for the programme. Students who have passed related vocational subjects and wish to include them in the best of four will get two per cent advantage. An additional advantage of one per cent is given if a candidate has studied more than one related vocational subject, included in the best of four calculation.
For other courses, inclusion of vocational subject in the best of four will lead to a 2.5 per cent deduction in percentage. Officials said that in the academic council meeting, to be held on June 20, teachers will discuss the UGC letter which states that the “B.Voc degree should be considered equivalent to other degrees”. The letter also states that the “degree be considered for competitive exams and allow students trans-discipline vertical mobility”.
Colleges offering B.Voc courses are Jesus and Mary College, Kalindi College, College of Vocational Studies and Ramanujan College. Admissions to these courses are done on the basis of cut-offs released by the colleges. The colleges have 350 seats.
Image Credits: DU Beat
Radhika Boruah