Dear Students,
LAST WEEK WE ASKED: Do you think the UGC should interfere in the matters of the autonomous Delhi University?
BEST RESPONSE
The four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) row highlights India's attempt to sync itself and walk with the rest of the world. Before replicating American education, it is essential to compare preliminary education in India and the rest of the world and adjust the undergraduate courses accordingly. Indian education is known for its affordability and quality and adding an extra year to the "10+2+3" structure would make the course more expensive and add to the redundancy of subjects itself. Hence, the UGC should interfere.
Nisha Shankar, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune
OTHER RESPONSES
Though Delhi University (DU) is an autonomous body, it is the responsibility of the UGC to ensure that the degrees offered by different varsities are comparable in quality. Procedurally, it can't interfere but on principle, students' interest, etc it should intervene or create pressure to clear the mess created out of FYUP. The UGC must make use of the mandate given to it by the UGC Act, 1956 to coordinate, determine and maintain standards in institutions of higher education.
Nilaya Mitash Shanker, IIT Roorkee
The main objective of the UGC is to align the education framework in the country. In order to bring uniformity in the system, UGC must guide universities, which would harmonise the education system in the country. The guidance should not be perceived as interference by UGC.
Harsh Mehta, Kabir Institute Of Professional Studies Ahmedabad
The UGC must participate in matters relevant to the DU despite it being autonomous. The UGC is the supreme governing body so it reserves the right of controlling each university, irrespective its status. Also, if the DU keeps control only to itself, then due to its autonomous structure, it would remain oblivious to flaws. Only an external monitoring body can provide unbiased corrective measures. That is where the role of the UGC comes. The UGC being a separate entity, would be in better position to judge performance as well control the overall functioning of DU.
Shivam Chhabra, Integral University, Lucknow
Amid the stand-off between the UGC and DU's regulatory body, the careers of students are being sacrificed at the altar of prestige. Although the autonomous status of the varsity must be respected under all circumstances, it should not be forgotten that they are created for the betterment of Indian students. The UGC is being unfair in questioning the unsatisfying and unsettling FYUP (four year undergraduate program). FYUP was never in accordance with the 10+2+3 system enshrined in the National policy of Education, 1986.There is nothing wrong in finding a solution within the ambit of the law. UGC believes that the interest of students is paramount and so do we.
Taqwin Irtiza Ali Tirmizi, N R Institute of Business Management, Gujarat
Matters involving FYUP needed the intervention of a supreme body. Given the VC and his team's stringent stance, the UGC's intervention in matters of the autonomous Delhi University was the need of the hour.
Rakshit Maheshwari, School of Petroleum Management, PDPU, Gujarat
Your responses should reach us at edu@business-standard.com by Monday evening every week. Please ensure your responses do not exceed 100 words. Avoid attachments and email your full name, institute's name, batch and complete mailing address. The student who gives the 'Best Response' will be awarded Rs 500.THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Do you think the IITs and other top engineering institutes should adopt other engineering colleges and guide them to excellence?
