New guidelines for universities have been issues by UGC

UGC issues new calendar for universities;2020-21 session to commence from Aug 1

New guidelines on the examinations and academic calendar in the view of COVID-19 pandemic for the universities and colleges issued by the University Grants Commission on Wednesday. The guidelines say that the new academic session for the old students might commence from August 1 and for the new students, it will be from September 1. Although, the admissions for 2020-21 session will be conducted between August 1 to August 31. The pending exams of terminal and intermediate are to be conducted between July and August 2020. It has also been recommended that the Universities might adopt another alternative which will be simple and less time consuming, examination to complete the session. The guidelines can suggest that universities can adjust as per the requirement and prevailing situation. 

The guidelines of UGC had issued on the basis of two expert committees’ recommendations. The guidelines have stated that the universities might follow a six-day week pattern. Also, they will develop the virtual classroom and video conferencing concepts, and the teaching staff should be trained with the use of the technology, prepare e-content/e-lab experiments, and should upload on the websites which are provided by the university. The faculty should also be trained with the use of ICT and the online teaching tools so that it will be possible to complete around 30% syllabus through online mode. 

In view of the present scenario and future uncertainties, the higher education institutions have given the flexibility to adapt the simplest method possible to complete the syllabus. The UGC had suggested two academic calendars, one for the year 2019-20 for the remaining portion of the session and 2020-21 for the new sessions. 

For the old session, teachers will continue via online or distance learning until May 31. Finalising of the dissertation, project work, internship reports, e-labs, assignment, internal assessment, etc. will be conducted between June 1 and June 15. The examination will be conducted between July 1 and July 31, and the result will be declared on July 31 for terminal and August 14 for intermediate. 

The UGC has suggested that in order to maintain social distancing, the universities can grade students on the basis of given 50% marks, according to the pattern of internal evaluation and remaining 50% marks can be awarded on the basis of the previous year’s performance. 

The following calendar is suggested for the academic session 2020-2021.

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