NEW DELHI: The UGC has issued guidelines for pursuing two undergraduate courses or two postgraduate courses simultaneously from the next academic year. The guideline will be effective from the date of issue of the notification. The students who have joined for two academic courses simultaneously prior to the notification of the guidelines cannot claim retrospective benefit.
The UGC said the aim was to provide an opportunity for learning without distinguishing between arts and science subjects, curriculum and extra-curricular activities, and vocational and academic disciplines.
Opportunity to gain knowledge in all subjects like Science, Social Science, Arts, Humanities, Language, Sports, Professional and Technology.
Due to the limited availability of seats in regular stream, several higher education institutions have started several programmes in the online mode
Validation of the objective of the new education policy that learning should be experimental, comprehensive, expressive, student-centred, flexible and enjoyable.
The UGC aims to create a curriculum structure with creative ingredients so that students can study different subjects throughout their lives, drop out of courses and join in between, avoiding strict rules.
Guidelines
A student can pursue two full-time academic programmes in the physical mode provided that in such cases, class timings for one programme do not overlap with the class timings of the other programme. A student can pursue two academic programmes, one in full-time physical mode and another in Open and Distance Learning (ODL), online mode or up to two ODL and online programmes simultaneously.
Guidelines shall be applicable only to the students pursuing academic programmes other than PhD programme
Degree or diploma programmes under ODL or online mode shall be pursued with only such HEIs (higher education institutions) which are recognised by the UGC, Statutory Council or the government of India for running such programmes.
