UGC directs varsities to recognize CBSE's new subjects for admission

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all universities to take appropriate steps to recognize 13 new subjects introduced by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) at Stds XI and XII level for admissions to undergraduate courses.

"The CBSE has introduced various academic subjects at the senior secondary level. It is imperative that these subjects find a reflection in the subjects already being offered at the graduate level in various educational institutes," UGC deputy secretary Shakeel Ahmed stated in a letter sent to vice-chancellors of all universities on April 22.

Ahmed added, "It is important that appropriate consideration may be accorded while admitting students to the undergraduate courses at the college/university level."

A senior official at the University of Pune said, "The UGC's letter will be put up for consideration before the appropriate bodies, including the academic council, for a decision regarding implementation."

Sadhana Parashar, director of CBSE's academics, research and innovation wing, had earlier written to the UGC secretary that the 13 new subjects have been introduced as elective/optional subjects at the senior secondary level (Stds XI and XII).

"The scheme of studies for these new subjects is rigorous in nature and designed specially with the industry and employability avenues in mind," Parashar stated. For instance, the subjects can provide avenues in the legal profession, mass media, entrepreneurship, graphic design, creative writing and translation, theatre studies and biotechnology, among others.

While some of these subjects were introduced two to three years ago, others have been introduced at the Std XI level this year and will be a part of the Std XII board exam for the first time in 2015.

Parashar had stressed the need for these subjects to find a reflection in the courses offered at the undergraduate level in various departments, colleges, institutes and universities.

"This may be brought to the notice of all concerned institutes so that students face no difficulty when they pass out from Std XII. The information brochures, prospectuses, websites or any other form of communication may accommodate the names of these new academic subjects, so that students may be treated as eligible for admission to higher education as per their preferences," she stated.

The Subjects

* Knowledge tradition and practices of India

* Legal studies

* Human rights and gender studies

* National Cadet Corps

* Heritage crafts

* Graphic design

* Creative writing and translation studies

* Functional English

* Entrepreneurship

* Biotechnology

* Fashion Studies

* Mass media studies

original source : Times of India 

UGC mandate of no new engineering colleges comes as a breather for existing colleges

UGC's directive to put closure on opening of new engineering colleges was welcomed by private engineering colleges in Coimbatore who already find it hard to fill their seats. 

With no more seats from any more colleges, existing institutions feel that they have a
better chance to fill their seats. Students now will have only the existing options for admission to engineering colleges and with greater number of applicants.  

City colleges continue to struggle to fill seats forcing many such institutions to surrender their seats to the university.
University Grants Commission (UGC ) has appealed a one year delay for starting of new technical colleges or starting new courses by the existing ones.

In a letter to the Vice Chancellors of all Universities, UGC has mentioned that this is in continuation of the earlier communication vide D.O. No. 14-9/2013 (CPP-II) dated August 7, 2013 of University Grants Commission. It is also in view of the pattern of enrolment in colleges providing technical education vis-a-vis the approved intake capacity thereof over the last couple of years (data collected from AICTE)

Universitie's spree of affiliating more and more colleges and the accreditation boards  indiscriminate granting of permissions to start new institutions and increase seats in existing ones has caused this problem .

With reputed colleges reciecing the permission of increasing the seat count, it increasingly became the first choice of students  and the new colleges which left not so popular colleges struggling to fill their seats. Addition on new colleges will increase the seat count even more intensifying the problem.

The announcement of UGC hence came as a breather among the institutions facing tough times.

original source :- India today 

JNU gets Rs 60cr for research

UGC has granted JNU the status of University with Potential for Excellence (UPE) and has given it Rs 60 crore for focused research and infrastructure development. 

The UGC on April 1 wrote to JNU saying the grant is to be utilized on two major research areas - life sciences, social sciences and humanities. 

A part of the fund is also to be utilized for infrastructure development including building of research laboratories. "We are also supposed to utilize the funds for improving the instrumentation facilities, library upgradation, network connectivity, outreach programmes. A part of the fund will also be used to fund participation by faculties and students in national and international conferences," said vice chancellor, S K Sopory. 

The UGC team of experts visited JNU earlier this year and studied its proposals. 

original source :- Times of India