Universal Syllabus in Universities! - TOI - 04/01/2008

Single syllabus for varsities mooted

Seethalakshmi S | TNN

Bangalore: Soon, all universities in India could have a uniform curriculum. In other words, students of Mumbai and Bangalore universities, or any other university, will study the same syllabi.
In a complete revamp of the functioning of universities across the country, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has made this sweeping reform proposal to ensure the horizontal mobility of students among universities. The move will definitely help students whose parents have transferable jobs.
“At present, the quality of syllabi varies from one university to another, making it difficult for students to move. A uniform curriculum will ensure that quality is maintained across the country. An action plan to operationalize the new strategies has been prepared. This will also involve upgrading of syllabi at the under-graduation and post-graduation levels,’’ a source told TOI.
A NEW CHAPTER
Creating new univs out of big varsities
Internationalisation of education, including twinning of programmes, joint degrees and collaboration with foreign universities
Enhancing enrolment by 5% during the 11th plan by establishing more varsities and colleges besides increasing intake in existing colleges UGC plans to split big univs for efficiency
Bangalore/Mumbai: The UGC has proposed to improve the quality of state universities and colleges and bridge the quality gap between universities. A strategy will be prepared to bring B and C grade universities on par with A grade ones.
Another major reform move by the UGC is the creation of new universities from among the existing big ones. The UGC has also decided to put a cap on the maximum number of colleges that can be affiliated to a university.
Not just that, an alternative to the existing model, including a constituent colleges system, unitary universities with undergraduation and postgraduation, PhD and integrated facilities, will be brought in to reduce the load on the big universities. The academic and administrative reforms committee will look into the methodology for admissions, credit\grading system, semester system, teacher assessment, examination\evaluation reforms and the composition of university academic bodies like the senate, syndicate and executive council. Also, the UGC will launch a special drive to establish 370 educationally backward districts. Under the 11th plan, the UGC is looking at public-private partnerships where the private sector will finance higher education.
The idea of a common curriculum for varsities across the country dates back to the NDA regime. But several varsities rejected the idea fearing it would be biased towards Hindutva. But an expert from the Mumbai University who has been monitoring curriculum changes pointed out that a common curriculum was not enforceable. “We speak of university autonomy and weaving in of local issues in the curricula. But common curriculum is more likely to be a model curriculum,’’ he said.
UGC chairman Sukhdeo Thorat pointed out that the committee set up was merely going to review the curricula in various varsities and suggest changes. “How can a common curriculum be applicable to the country? It has been tried in 2002 and not worked. We won’t enforce a common curriculum, merely review it across varsities,’’ he said.

Students stand to benefit as the UGC proposes to bridge the quality gap between universities. It has also decided to put a cap on the maximum number of colleges that can be affiliated to a university