Next year, PG students can opt for electives from other disciplines
At Rajkot meeting, academicians discuss pros and cons of credit, grading and choice-based system; decide to introduce reforms at PG level
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, September 12, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009091220090912022444828c4e0d447)
The scope of knowledge for university students will widen next year. All universities in the state will introduce a choice-based credit system and semester system at post-graduate level. This decision was taken by academicians at a meeting held at Saurashtra University in Rajkot on Friday.
Vice-chancellors of all state universities, higher education officials and ministers were present at the meeting called to discuss a report presented by a two-member Committee for Reform in Higher Education (Gujarat). The panel, comprising MSU vice-chancellor Ramesh Goyal and former vice-chancellor of Gujarat University A U Patel, was set up by the higher education department to study the feasibility of introducing choice-based credit system and semester system at undergraduate and PG levels.
Model syllabus
The committee’s objective was to upgrade syllabus and change current marking system to enable students to enter industry or join a profession straight after graduation. The report recommended inclusion of subjects that would help students improve spoken English and develop skills for making presentations. Computer education must be made compulsory, the report stated.
The committee came up with a model syllabus for Arts, Science and other streams. The model enables students to take up elective subjects along with those of their specific stream i.e. it permits a Science stream student to study journalism or an Arts student to opt for physics.
The committee has included more than 250 subjects, mostly job-oriented, in its list. “The universities will not have faculties to teach all subjects. Lecturers from other states can be invited as guest faculty to teach students,” said Goyal, adding: “The model can be tweaked a little as per university’s demands.”
More reforms suggested
The committee also suggested changes in syllabus of Social Work course. It advised that lives of national and international leaders be taught to students. “The students must be allowed to take part in disaster management work, work with NGOs in the field and prepare projects after gaining practical experience,” suggested the report.
The committee members visited universities in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Rajasthan to study the functioning of grading and semester systems there. Flexibility in subject selection coupled with grading and semester system attracted as many as 650 foreign students to Madras University last year.
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, September 12, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009091220090912022444828c4e0d447)
The scope of knowledge for university students will widen next year. All universities in the state will introduce a choice-based credit system and semester system at post-graduate level. This decision was taken by academicians at a meeting held at Saurashtra University in Rajkot on Friday.
Vice-chancellors of all state universities, higher education officials and ministers were present at the meeting called to discuss a report presented by a two-member Committee for Reform in Higher Education (Gujarat). The panel, comprising MSU vice-chancellor Ramesh Goyal and former vice-chancellor of Gujarat University A U Patel, was set up by the higher education department to study the feasibility of introducing choice-based credit system and semester system at undergraduate and PG levels.
Model syllabus
The committee’s objective was to upgrade syllabus and change current marking system to enable students to enter industry or join a profession straight after graduation. The report recommended inclusion of subjects that would help students improve spoken English and develop skills for making presentations. Computer education must be made compulsory, the report stated.
The committee came up with a model syllabus for Arts, Science and other streams. The model enables students to take up elective subjects along with those of their specific stream i.e. it permits a Science stream student to study journalism or an Arts student to opt for physics.
The committee has included more than 250 subjects, mostly job-oriented, in its list. “The universities will not have faculties to teach all subjects. Lecturers from other states can be invited as guest faculty to teach students,” said Goyal, adding: “The model can be tweaked a little as per university’s demands.”
More reforms suggested
The committee also suggested changes in syllabus of Social Work course. It advised that lives of national and international leaders be taught to students. “The students must be allowed to take part in disaster management work, work with NGOs in the field and prepare projects after gaining practical experience,” suggested the report.
The committee members visited universities in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Rajasthan to study the functioning of grading and semester systems there. Flexibility in subject selection coupled with grading and semester system attracted as many as 650 foreign students to Madras University last year.
