Academic Council passes the new structure of undergraduate study at DU

Updated on: Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Come 2013, Delhi University will offer a new-look undergraduate programme to its aspirants. The four-year undergraduate degree programme got its first statutory approval paving the way for the varsity to go ahead with the radical changes in its academic structure on Monday.

The Academic Council, amidst dissent from six members (including five elected teachers representatives), passed the new structure of undergraduate study at DU. DU will now work towards replacing its three-year undergraduate honours programme with a four-year programme with provisions for a bachelors (non-honours) degree in three years and an associate degree in two years from the 2013-14 session.

The AC meeting started at 9 am and at the end of 10 hours of deliberations the council passed the resolution approving recommendations of the 61-member committee appointed by the vice-chancellor of DU, Dinesh Singh, with a mandate to plan a structure for the four-year programme. The AC also passed a resolution authorising the VC to set up a committee of college teachers for preparing the structure of the interdisciplinary and foundation courses. A 23-point recommendation list is being placed for consideration by the AC. Five of the 19 elected teachers' representatives dissented. Interestingly, the AC meeting also had an unprecedented 40 special invitees and all were part of the 61-member task force. Alleging that the VC has been exercising undemocratic means to "forcibly" pass the resolution, AC member Sheo Dutt said: "I received the agenda paper last night and had no time to even have a proper reading of the same. We are not against reform but all changes are not reform. Unfortunately, the task force members are allowed to comment and given extra time to speak which is illegal and unprecedented in an AC meeting."

The four-year UG programme with multiple degrees will be introduced from the academic session 2013-14. While a section of teachers are alleging violation of Regulation 16A-4 of DU Act, Singh clarified that what has been approved is the structure of the programme and not the courses. The courses will be passed by the committee of courses in each department before seeking the AC's approval, he is learnt to have told members.

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