News Analysis India

Tag: University Grants Commission

  • UGC asks VCs, principals to roll out revised PhD regulations

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday asked vice-chancellors and college principals to initiate necessary steps to implement the revised minimum standard and procedure for the award of PhD.

    In the letter to higher educational institutions (HEIs), the UGC said that the new regulations are framed “to encourage research scholars to become well-trained researchers and inquisitive explorers.”

    “All HEIs are requested to initiate necessary steps to implement the new regulations for the award of PhD,” the letter said.

    The UGC replaced its rules notified in 2016 and brought the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations, 2022. The revised guidelines have changed the eligibility, admission and evaluation process. It has also done away with the mandatory requirement of publishing research papers in refereed journals.

    The UGC notified the new regulations on November 7. As per the new regulations, students who have completed a four-year undergraduate course will also be eligible for direct admission to a doctorate programme.

    The new rule said a candidate should have a minimum of 75 per cent marks in “aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed”, and in case the candidate does not have 75 per cent marks in a four-year undergraduate program, they have to pursue a one-year master’s programme and score at least 55 per cent.

    PhD regulations of 2016 said that PhD scholars “must publish at least one (1) research paper in a refereed journal and make two paper presentations in conferences/seminars before the submission of the dissertation/thesis for adjudication.”

    UGC Chairperson Professor M Jagadesh Kumar said that publishing research papers in peer-reviewed journals might not be mandatory anymore, but it does not mean PhD scholars should stop doing that altogether.

    “Focussing on high-quality research will lead to publications in good journals, even if it is not mandatory. It will add value when they apply for employment or post-doctoral opportunities,” he said.

    The regulations are applicable with immediate effect from the date of notification. Any PhD registered after 1 July 2009 shall be governed by the rules of 2009 or 2016, the notification said.

    NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday asked vice-chancellors and college principals to initiate necessary steps to implement the revised minimum standard and procedure for the award of PhD.

    In the letter to higher educational institutions (HEIs), the UGC said that the new regulations are framed “to encourage research scholars to become well-trained researchers and inquisitive explorers.”

    “All HEIs are requested to initiate necessary steps to implement the new regulations for the award of PhD,” the letter said.

    The UGC replaced its rules notified in 2016 and brought the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations, 2022. The revised guidelines have changed the eligibility, admission and evaluation process. It has also done away with the mandatory requirement of publishing research papers in refereed journals.

    The UGC notified the new regulations on November 7. As per the new regulations, students who have completed a four-year undergraduate course will also be eligible for direct admission to a doctorate programme.

    The new rule said a candidate should have a minimum of 75 per cent marks in “aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed”, and in case the candidate does not have 75 per cent marks in a four-year undergraduate program, they have to pursue a one-year master’s programme and score at least 55 per cent.

    PhD regulations of 2016 said that PhD scholars “must publish at least one (1) research paper in a refereed journal and make two paper presentations in conferences/seminars before the submission of the dissertation/thesis for adjudication.”

    UGC Chairperson Professor M Jagadesh Kumar said that publishing research papers in peer-reviewed journals might not be mandatory anymore, but it does not mean PhD scholars should stop doing that altogether.

    “Focussing on high-quality research will lead to publications in good journals, even if it is not mandatory. It will add value when they apply for employment or post-doctoral opportunities,” he said.

    The regulations are applicable with immediate effect from the date of notification. Any PhD registered after 1 July 2009 shall be governed by the rules of 2009 or 2016, the notification said.

  • CUET-UG results delayed, officials say may be out by 2 am

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The results for the debut edition of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-UG will take more time and are likely to be announced by 2 am Friday, according to NTA officials.

    Earlier during the day, UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar had said the results will be declared by 10 pm on Thursday. “It is a huge database given a large number of papers and subject combinations. The candidates have applied for 54,555 unique combination of subjects. The results should be up by around 2 am,” a senior National Testing Agency (NTA) official said late Thursday night.

    The debut edition of CUET-UG, a gateway for undergraduate admissions, began in July and concluded on August 30.

    According to the initial plan, all phases of the CUET-UG were scheduled to conclude on August 20.

    However, the exam was further deferred and split into six phases to accommodate students whose exam was rescheduled due to several glitches that marred the test.

    From technical glitches to last-minute change in exam centre and uninformed changes in exam dates to admit cards mentioning past dates, the students faced several issues during the exam.

    The University Grants Commission (UGC) chief had earlier said the exam was cancelled at several centres following reports of “sabotage”.

    With 14.9 lakh registrations, the CUET is now the second biggest entrance exam in the country, surpassing JEE-Main’s average registration of nine lakh.

    NEET-UG is the biggest entrance test in India with an average of 18 lakh applicants.

    NEW DELHI: The results for the debut edition of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-UG will take more time and are likely to be announced by 2 am Friday, according to NTA officials.

    Earlier during the day, UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar had said the results will be declared by 10 pm on Thursday. “It is a huge database given a large number of papers and subject combinations. The candidates have applied for 54,555 unique combination of subjects. The results should be up by around 2 am,” a senior National Testing Agency (NTA) official said late Thursday night.

    The debut edition of CUET-UG, a gateway for undergraduate admissions, began in July and concluded on August 30.

    According to the initial plan, all phases of the CUET-UG were scheduled to conclude on August 20.

    However, the exam was further deferred and split into six phases to accommodate students whose exam was rescheduled due to several glitches that marred the test.

    From technical glitches to last-minute change in exam centre and uninformed changes in exam dates to admit cards mentioning past dates, the students faced several issues during the exam.

    The University Grants Commission (UGC) chief had earlier said the exam was cancelled at several centres following reports of “sabotage”.

    With 14.9 lakh registrations, the CUET is now the second biggest entrance exam in the country, surpassing JEE-Main’s average registration of nine lakh.

    NEET-UG is the biggest entrance test in India with an average of 18 lakh applicants.

  • UGC asks students not to take admission in Bible Open University of India in Visakhapatnam

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Thursday asked students not to take admission in Bible Open University of India in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, describing it as a ‘self-styled institution’, which may jeopardise the career of the students. Kavita (300)

    In a public notice issued on Thursday, the UGC, which had earlier issued a warning to the self-styled university following a complaint for functioning as a “University” without authority and for issuing Bachelor, Master and PhD Degrees to students.

    The UGC said that it has come to their notice that Bible Open University of India, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh is offering various degree courses/programmes in gross violation of the UGC Act, 1956.

    Citing section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956, the UGC said it stipulates that the right of conferring or granting degrees shall be exercised only by a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act or an institution deemed to be a University under Section 3 or an institution specially empowered by an Act of Parliament of confer or grant degrees.

    The UGC said Bible Open University of India is neither enlisted under Section 2(f) or Section 3 in the list of Universities nor empowered to award any degree as per Section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956.

    Also, no institution, whether a corporate body or not, other than a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act shall be entitled to have the word “University” associated with its name in any manner whatsoever.

    “Therefore, the general Public, students, parents and other stakeholders are cautioned through this public notice NOT TO TAKE ADMISSION in the above mentioned self-styled institution, taking admission in such self-styled institution may jeopardize the career of the students,” the notice said.

    NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Thursday asked students not to take admission in Bible Open University of India in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, describing it as a ‘self-styled institution’, which may jeopardise the career of the students. Kavita (300)

    In a public notice issued on Thursday, the UGC, which had earlier issued a warning to the self-styled university following a complaint for functioning as a “University” without authority and for issuing Bachelor, Master and PhD Degrees to students.

    The UGC said that it has come to their notice that Bible Open University of India, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh is offering various degree courses/programmes in gross violation of the UGC Act, 1956.

    Citing section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956, the UGC said it stipulates that the right of conferring or granting degrees shall be exercised only by a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act or an institution deemed to be a University under Section 3 or an institution specially empowered by an Act of Parliament of confer or grant degrees.

    The UGC said Bible Open University of India is neither enlisted under Section 2(f) or Section 3 in the list of Universities nor empowered to award any degree as per Section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956.

    Also, no institution, whether a corporate body or not, other than a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act shall be entitled to have the word “University” associated with its name in any manner whatsoever.

    “Therefore, the general Public, students, parents and other stakeholders are cautioned through this public notice NOT TO TAKE ADMISSION in the above mentioned self-styled institution, taking admission in such self-styled institution may jeopardize the career of the students,” the notice said.

  • 25 per cent extra seats, no entrance test for foreign students: UGC’s plan to increase international outreach

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Universities and higher education institutions across the country will now be allowed to create up to 25 per cent supernumerary seats for foreign students in their undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programmes, UGC chairman Jagadesh Kumar has told PTI.

    There will be no entrance tests for these admissions, Kumar said, adding that the decision was taken at a meeting of the University Grants Commission (UGC) held last week to discuss “internationalisation of UG and PG programmes in India.

    ” The supernumerary seats will be created over and above the total sanctioned strength and the decision regarding these seats will be taken by concerned higher educational institutions (HEIs) according to specific guidelines and regulations issued by the regulatory bodies considering the infrastructure, faculty and other requirements.

    “Indian HEIs may admit international students based on the equivalence of entry qualification held by them. The equivalence is to be determined by UGC or any other body recognised by UGC for such purpose or the concerned regulatory bodies of the country. HEIs may adopt a transparent admission process for admitting the international students,” Kumar told PTI.

    “HEIs may create up to 25 per cent supernumerary seats for international students, over and above of their total sanctioned enrolment for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The decision regarding 25 per cent supernumerary seats has to be carried out by the concerned higher educational institutions as per specific guidelines/regulations issued by the regulatory bodies considering the infrastructure, faculty and other requirements,” he added.

    The supernumerary seats for international students will not include the international students under exchange programmes and through Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between institutions or between Indian government and other countries.

    The HEIs will also be permitted to admit international students using a transparent admission process as is done by the foreign universities and that these students do not have to go through the entrance process used for admissions in India.

    “The seats shall be exclusively meant for the international students both in the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. A seat remained unfilled in the supernumerary category, shall not be allocated to anyone other than an international student. International students in this context shall be defined as the one who shall possess a foreign passport,” Kumar explained.

    The commission has decided that the provision of creating supernumerary seats for international students should be formalised by way of approval of statutory body of the HEIs in accordance with the guidelines and regulations issued by the regulatory bodies from time to time.

    “The supernumerary seats in professional and technical institutes shall be governed by the respective statutory bodies. All details regarding the number of seats available for international students in each programme, fee prescribed for the same, admission process, eligibility conditions etc shall be made available on the website of the HEI,” he said.

    According to Ministry of External Affairs’ data, a total of 23,439 foreign students arrived in India in 2021.

    However, the number used to higher in pre-pandemic years.

    In 2019, over 75,000 international students had come to India for higher studies.

    “Internationalisation of higher education is an essential aspect of the National Education Policy 2020 and helps in integrating the international and intercultural dimensions in higher education,” Kumar said.

    “Opportunities to attract international students, academics and funding are growing and many Indian HEIs are now committed to increase their international outreach,” Kumar said.

    “In order to facilitate the internationalisation of Indian HEIs, the UGC has framed the guidelines for admission and creation of supernumerary seats for international students. The main objectives of these guidelines are to facilitate a smooth and simple admission of international students in higher educational institutions of India, to create a favourable environment for attracting international students to Indian higher education system, and to make India a preferred destination for international students,” he added.

    NEW DELHI: Universities and higher education institutions across the country will now be allowed to create up to 25 per cent supernumerary seats for foreign students in their undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programmes, UGC chairman Jagadesh Kumar has told PTI.

    There will be no entrance tests for these admissions, Kumar said, adding that the decision was taken at a meeting of the University Grants Commission (UGC) held last week to discuss “internationalisation of UG and PG programmes in India.

    ” The supernumerary seats will be created over and above the total sanctioned strength and the decision regarding these seats will be taken by concerned higher educational institutions (HEIs) according to specific guidelines and regulations issued by the regulatory bodies considering the infrastructure, faculty and other requirements.

    “Indian HEIs may admit international students based on the equivalence of entry qualification held by them. The equivalence is to be determined by UGC or any other body recognised by UGC for such purpose or the concerned regulatory bodies of the country. HEIs may adopt a transparent admission process for admitting the international students,” Kumar told PTI.

    “HEIs may create up to 25 per cent supernumerary seats for international students, over and above of their total sanctioned enrolment for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The decision regarding 25 per cent supernumerary seats has to be carried out by the concerned higher educational institutions as per specific guidelines/regulations issued by the regulatory bodies considering the infrastructure, faculty and other requirements,” he added.

    The supernumerary seats for international students will not include the international students under exchange programmes and through Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between institutions or between Indian government and other countries.

    The HEIs will also be permitted to admit international students using a transparent admission process as is done by the foreign universities and that these students do not have to go through the entrance process used for admissions in India.

    “The seats shall be exclusively meant for the international students both in the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. A seat remained unfilled in the supernumerary category, shall not be allocated to anyone other than an international student. International students in this context shall be defined as the one who shall possess a foreign passport,” Kumar explained.

    The commission has decided that the provision of creating supernumerary seats for international students should be formalised by way of approval of statutory body of the HEIs in accordance with the guidelines and regulations issued by the regulatory bodies from time to time.

    “The supernumerary seats in professional and technical institutes shall be governed by the respective statutory bodies. All details regarding the number of seats available for international students in each programme, fee prescribed for the same, admission process, eligibility conditions etc shall be made available on the website of the HEI,” he said.

    According to Ministry of External Affairs’ data, a total of 23,439 foreign students arrived in India in 2021.

    However, the number used to higher in pre-pandemic years.

    In 2019, over 75,000 international students had come to India for higher studies.

    “Internationalisation of higher education is an essential aspect of the National Education Policy 2020 and helps in integrating the international and intercultural dimensions in higher education,” Kumar said.

    “Opportunities to attract international students, academics and funding are growing and many Indian HEIs are now committed to increase their international outreach,” Kumar said.

    “In order to facilitate the internationalisation of Indian HEIs, the UGC has framed the guidelines for admission and creation of supernumerary seats for international students. The main objectives of these guidelines are to facilitate a smooth and simple admission of international students in higher educational institutions of India, to create a favourable environment for attracting international students to Indian higher education system, and to make India a preferred destination for international students,” he added.

  • UGC-NET phase two postponed, to be conducted between September 20 and 30

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The second phase of the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test has been postponed and will be conducted between September 20 and 30, a top official said on Monday.

    It was earlier scheduled to be conducted between August 12 and 14.

    “The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted the first phase of UGC-NET December 2021 and June 2022 (merged cycles) examination on July 9, 11 and 12, 2022 for 33 subjects in 310 examination centres located in 225 cities across the country,” UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar said.

    “Second phase was earlier scheduled to be held on 12, 13 and 14 August 2022. However, now the final phase examination of UGC-NET December 2021 and June 2022 (merged cycles) has been scheduled to be conducted between 20 and 30 September 2022, involving 64 subjects,” he said.

    NEW DELHI: The second phase of the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test has been postponed and will be conducted between September 20 and 30, a top official said on Monday.

    It was earlier scheduled to be conducted between August 12 and 14.

    “The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted the first phase of UGC-NET December 2021 and June 2022 (merged cycles) examination on July 9, 11 and 12, 2022 for 33 subjects in 310 examination centres located in 225 cities across the country,” UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar said.

    “Second phase was earlier scheduled to be held on 12, 13 and 14 August 2022. However, now the final phase examination of UGC-NET December 2021 and June 2022 (merged cycles) has been scheduled to be conducted between 20 and 30 September 2022, involving 64 subjects,” he said.

  • ‘CUET cancelled at some centres following alleged sabotage’: UGC chief on ‘glitches’ during exam

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Noting that there were reports and indications of “sabotage” in the conduct of the Common University Entrance Test-Undergraduate, UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar on Sunday said the exam at certain centres was cancelled keeping the best interest of students in mind.

    Kumar said strict action will be taken against anyone involved in “wilful sabotage” of the process.

    “There were reports and indications of sabotage in the process. NTA (National Testing Agency) immediately swung into action and cancelled and postponed examinations in centres which witnessed such a possibility. Strict action will be taken against anyone involved in wilful sabotage of the process,” Kumar said.

    “Cancellation of the test in some centres was done keeping the best interests of the students in mind. NTA is constantly in touch with the students through email, messaging and voice mail to keep them informed of the changes and extra care is being taken in this regard,” he added.

    On reports that some students were turned away from exam venues, the University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman said the staffers at certain centres should have shown more empathy with students.

    “More school teachers are being deployed as they have more experience of dealing with the students with empathy. Due to the efforts and corrective actions taken by NTA, we are hopeful that in the coming days, the CUET-UG will be conducted smoothly,” he said.

    The CUET is being conducted for admission to undergraduate courses in central universities.

    CUET)-UG for candidates, who were affected by cancellations last week owing to technical glitches, will now be conducted from August 24 to 28, according to officials of the National Testing Agency.

    Fresh admit cards will be issued for these candidates, they said.

    “In second phase, the exam scheduled between August 4 to 6 were deferred at few centres due to administrative and technical reasons.

    Earlier, we had announced the exams would be conducted from August 12-14.

    NTA had also given an option to the affected candidates to choose dates other than these dates in case the schedule was not suitable to them,” said Sadhana Parashar, Senior Director, NTA.

    A total of “15,811 candidates requested a date different from 12 to 14 August 2022.

    Similarly, many candidates have approached NTA requesting not to schedule their examination between 12 to 14 August as a series of festivals are falling during this period.

    Also, many candidates had requested for date or city change as the cities allotted to them in Phase II (04 to 06 August 2022) were not suitable to them,” she added.

    The NTA official said that keeping in mind the requests, it was decided that the exam be conducted between August 24 and 28 and fresh admit cards will be issued before the examination date.

    The third phase of the examination on 17, 18, and 20 August, 2022 will be conducted as per schedule informed earlier to the candidates.

    “NTA has also created an exclusive grievance redressal e-mail. The grievances of candidates regarding subject combination, medium, question paper (if any) can be sent to [email protected]. Candidates must mention their Application Number while sending their grievance,” Parashar said.

    The second phase of CUET-UG which began on Thursday, August 4 was marred with glitches causing trouble to students who were sent back from exam centres.

    On Thursday, the first shift of the exam was cancelled at several centres across 17 states, while the second shift was cancelled at all 489 centres.

    On Friday, the exam was cancelled at 50 centres.

    Anticipating the same situation on Saturday, the agency cancelled the CUET-UG for the day at 53 centres and sent messages to candidates about its postponement on Friday night.

    Noting that some centres failed to comply (with the) laid down protocols, the NTA had on Saturday warned that any incidence of non-compliance, sabotage and ignorance will be viewed very seriously and strict action will be taken against those centres to ensure smooth conduct of examinations in future.

    UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar had in March announced that CUET scores will be the basis for admission to 45 central universities which can fix their minimum eligibility criteria.

    With 14.9 lakh registrations, the CUET is now the second-biggest entrance exam in the country, surpassing the JEE-Main’s average registration of nine lakh.

    Apart from central universities, 12 state universities, 11 deemed universities, and 19 private universities have applied to participate in the first edition of CUET-UG for admissions in the academic session 2022-23.

    NEW DELHI: Noting that there were reports and indications of “sabotage” in the conduct of the Common University Entrance Test-Undergraduate, UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar on Sunday said the exam at certain centres was cancelled keeping the best interest of students in mind.

    Kumar said strict action will be taken against anyone involved in “wilful sabotage” of the process.

    “There were reports and indications of sabotage in the process. NTA (National Testing Agency) immediately swung into action and cancelled and postponed examinations in centres which witnessed such a possibility. Strict action will be taken against anyone involved in wilful sabotage of the process,” Kumar said.

    “Cancellation of the test in some centres was done keeping the best interests of the students in mind. NTA is constantly in touch with the students through email, messaging and voice mail to keep them informed of the changes and extra care is being taken in this regard,” he added.

    On reports that some students were turned away from exam venues, the University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman said the staffers at certain centres should have shown more empathy with students.

    “More school teachers are being deployed as they have more experience of dealing with the students with empathy. Due to the efforts and corrective actions taken by NTA, we are hopeful that in the coming days, the CUET-UG will be conducted smoothly,” he said.

    The CUET is being conducted for admission to undergraduate courses in central universities.

    CUET)-UG for candidates, who were affected by cancellations last week owing to technical glitches, will now be conducted from August 24 to 28, according to officials of the National Testing Agency.

    Fresh admit cards will be issued for these candidates, they said.

    “In second phase, the exam scheduled between August 4 to 6 were deferred at few centres due to administrative and technical reasons.

    Earlier, we had announced the exams would be conducted from August 12-14.

    NTA had also given an option to the affected candidates to choose dates other than these dates in case the schedule was not suitable to them,” said Sadhana Parashar, Senior Director, NTA.

    A total of “15,811 candidates requested a date different from 12 to 14 August 2022.

    Similarly, many candidates have approached NTA requesting not to schedule their examination between 12 to 14 August as a series of festivals are falling during this period.

    Also, many candidates had requested for date or city change as the cities allotted to them in Phase II (04 to 06 August 2022) were not suitable to them,” she added.

    The NTA official said that keeping in mind the requests, it was decided that the exam be conducted between August 24 and 28 and fresh admit cards will be issued before the examination date.

    The third phase of the examination on 17, 18, and 20 August, 2022 will be conducted as per schedule informed earlier to the candidates.

    “NTA has also created an exclusive grievance redressal e-mail. The grievances of candidates regarding subject combination, medium, question paper (if any) can be sent to [email protected]. Candidates must mention their Application Number while sending their grievance,” Parashar said.

    The second phase of CUET-UG which began on Thursday, August 4 was marred with glitches causing trouble to students who were sent back from exam centres.

    On Thursday, the first shift of the exam was cancelled at several centres across 17 states, while the second shift was cancelled at all 489 centres.

    On Friday, the exam was cancelled at 50 centres.

    Anticipating the same situation on Saturday, the agency cancelled the CUET-UG for the day at 53 centres and sent messages to candidates about its postponement on Friday night.

    Noting that some centres failed to comply (with the) laid down protocols, the NTA had on Saturday warned that any incidence of non-compliance, sabotage and ignorance will be viewed very seriously and strict action will be taken against those centres to ensure smooth conduct of examinations in future.

    UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar had in March announced that CUET scores will be the basis for admission to 45 central universities which can fix their minimum eligibility criteria.

    With 14.9 lakh registrations, the CUET is now the second-biggest entrance exam in the country, surpassing the JEE-Main’s average registration of nine lakh.

    Apart from central universities, 12 state universities, 11 deemed universities, and 19 private universities have applied to participate in the first edition of CUET-UG for admissions in the academic session 2022-23.

  • ‘98% candidates will get CUET exam centre in their chosen city’: UGC Chairman

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: As anxious students raised grievances of admit cards being released late for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) UG 2022, the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday said at least 98 per cent candidates appearing for the exam will be allotted the exam centres in the city of their choice.

    The UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar also announced that the admit cards for Phase II students of the exam for admission to undergraduate programmes would be issued on July 31, 2022.

    The National Testing Agency (NTA), which was to release the admit cards for the CUET UG for phase 1 students on Tuesday evening, didn’t announce it till the time of going to press.  

    Kumar said the admit cards had been released four days before the examination due to security reasons and to avoid malpractice.

    Students should not get worried, he said in a video statement.

    The NTA will conduct the exam between July 15 and August 20 in different examination centres located in 500 cities across India and ten cities outside India.

    “Over 14 lakh candidates have registered for the exam, which will be conducted across 500 cities. It is a mammoth task, and NTA is a professional exam conducting body. The students should not get worried,” Kumar said.

    He said as the NTA has already issued the city intimation slip for candidates of both phases, there is no need for any anxiety.

    “I urge the students not to panic about it because nearly 97 percent to 98 percent of candidates will get their choice of the city, and only about two per cent of candidates may not get their choice of the city, but they will surely get a second choice of their city,” he said.

    The NTA had earlier announced that registered candidates could download their admit cards and city intimation slips from the official CUET UG website – cuet.samarth.ac.in.

    On Monday, the NTA released a city intimation slip for registered candidates that provides the name of the city in which the candidate will have to take the CUET-UG along with the date (or dates) of the exam. 

    This is the first time NTA is conducting the CUET for admission to undergraduate programmes. 

    Nearly 14,90,000 candidates have registered for CUET UG 2022, of which 8,10,000 have been allotted Phase I and 6,80,000 have been taken in Phase II of the CUET-UG 2022 exam. 

  • Bihar teacher says teaching in his college is like ‘academic death’, returns salary

    Express News Service

    PATNA: In yet another poor reflection on the state’s decrepit education system, a Hindi college teacher in Bihar has returned his accumulated salary worth nearly Rs 24 lakh as students were not attending their Hindi classes since he joined the college in 2019.

    Taking a high moral ground, assistant professor, Dr Lalan Kumar who teaches Hindi in Nitishwar College under Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University (BRABU) in the state’s Muzaffarpur district returned his accumulated 32-month salary worth more than Rs 23.82 lakh for a period between September 25, 2019 (date of appointment) to May, 2022.

    “Why should I accept salary when I have not taught the students enrolled in the department,” the teacher remarked while setting new benchmarks of honesty and integrity.

    He has returned his salary by sending a cheque along with a letter to the university vice-chancellor. In his letter, he has also expressed his desire to transfer him to any of these colleges- LS College, RDS College, MDDM College or the PG department of the university.

    Dr Kumar graduated from Delhi University while completing his post-graduation from JNU. He did his M.Phil. and PhD from Delhi University. 

    In his letter to the university’s vice-chancellor, the teacher said, “Out of 131 students, none of them attends his class. For me it is like an ‘academic death’. I am not able to discharge my duties despite my best intention. In such a situation, it would not be morally correct to accept the salary.”

    Besides the vice-chancellor, he has sent copies of his letter to the chancellor (governor), chief minister, state education minister, state finance department, Patna High Court (in form of PIL), chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC), union education minister, PMO, President and other dignitaries and high offices.

    Former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam also honoured Dr Kumar with Academic Excellence Award for passing his graduation examination from Hindu College in the first division.

    Commenting on the Hindi teacher’s decision to return money to the government, a retired teacher of L N Mithila University professor Vashishtha Singh said, “Dr. Kumar has exposed the government’s education system.” “It’s virtually a slap on the education system prevailing in colleges and universities in Bihar,” he added.

  • ‘Research Internship’ draft guidelines prepared by UGC, envisages two types of internship

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has prepared draft guidelines for ‘Research Internship’ with faculty and researchers at higher education and research institutions on the lines of new education policy.

    The Commission has noted that research internship would be of two types — a) internship to enhance employability of an individual student, b) internship to develop research aptitude of an individual student.

    According to the draft, the newly introduced course structure in the NEP, 2020 envisages the integration of research component in degree programmes, and specifically for the four-year degree programme with bachelor’s degree (research) has the fourth year focussed on developing research competencies in students.

    “This calls for developing a system of offering research internships to undergraduate students with defined levels of competencies required for pursuing research. The framework would specify how the HEIs can support the interns as a provider or an organizer, how research organization or research center or laboratory at industry can support research internship as providers,” it said.

    “The 3-year degree and 4-year degree programme (research) will be operating strictly adhering with NEP specifications. Based on the higher education qualification level descriptors for Level-8, some of the competencies with research orientation should be attained by the students by studying the courses under the research ability enhancement courses (RAEC) and by undertaking the research internship project,” it added.

    Competencies to be developed during internship, duration and slots of internship, exposure to a real-world work environment, quality assurance and caring for research intern by parent HEI are among the key points of the guidelines.

    “Each undergraduate student may also complete first research internship of 10 weeks duration after 1st year and second research internship of 10 weeks duration after 2nd year of graduate degree programme.

    The student who has to go for 4-year degree programme with research will be required to complete research ability enhancement courses (REAC) during 7th semester and research project work or dissertation during 7th and 8th semester.

    “A minimum 20 credits out of the required 160 credits of the 4-Year Degree Program. The internships of 8-10 weeks of 10 credits, after 2nd or 4th semester, will be mandatory for the students desirous of exiting with a certificate or Diploma, respectively. The continuing students may, however, undergo optional research internships after 2nd / 4th semester, to enhance their research capabilities, by engagement as interns in HEI/Research Institute/Industrial R and D labs,” the guidelines said.

    The guidelines stated objective is that institutionalisation of research at UG level will play a pivotal role in catalysing inter-disciplinary/ milti-disciplinary/ trans-disciplinary and translational research culture.

    Apart from gaining multi-disciplinary skills, the UG level research expects to give students an exposure to the societal challenges through rural/ social internships and getting them trained for social innovations, familiarise them with research methods, analytical tools and techniques; train the students to writing research proposals, scientific reports, presentations, and/ or manuscripts for publication as well as promote academic, professional developments.

  • Join Education India portal to draw foreign students: University Grants Commission to colleges

    By Express News Service

    CHENNAI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) on Wednesday urged all Indian higher education institutions (HEI) to register on EducationIndia portal, in order to attract foreign students.

    The portal has been designed to showcase the strengths of Indian institutions to international students and it aims to make all information regarding HEIs across the country available to the international students at one place.

    UGC has asked all lndian HEIs that are admitting or are desirous of admitting international students to update relevant details on the portal at the earliest.

    “In the first phase, registration is open for institutions which have admitted international students as per the latest AISHE data. In the second phase, registration will be opened for other institutions who desire to register and are otherwise eligible to admit foreign students,” reads the official statement of UGC and AICTE.

    Educational institutions in the State have welcomed the initiative. “International students interested to study in India had to do their own homework. They used to visit websites of different universities to collect information. However, the portal will bring every information at one place and students can get authentic information about HEIs,” said K Sashidharan, lecturer in a private university in the city.