UGC issued new guidelines for the universities

UGC had issued new guidelines for the examination and academic calendar. The step has been taken because the classes were not able to continue due to the coronavirus pandemic, and in order to maintain social distancing. 

Following are the guidelines which are issued by the UGC- 

1. The Universities may follow a 6-day week pattern to complete the syllabus.
2. Students should be allowed to get exposed to the laboratory assignments and practical experiments through the virtual laboratories, sharing of recorded visuals of the laboratory work and digital resources which are available for the purpose. 
3. A link will be provided by the MHRD for the visual laboratories to facilitate the students of science, engineering, and technology. 
4. The teaching staff shall be trained to use the technology, and develop a virtual classroom and video conferencing. 
5. The universities are requested to prepare e-content and shall upload on the website. 
6. Should strengthen the mechanism of mentor and mentee counselling. 
7. The university should prepare a list to record the travel history of the staff and students for the period when they were away from the university due to the lockdown.
8. The faculty shall be trained to use ICT, and online teaching tools, so they can complete about 30% syllabus online and rest 70% syllabus through face to face teaching. 

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The guidelines of UGC had been issued on the basis of two expert committees’ recommendations. The guidelines state that the universities might follow a six-day week pattern. Also, they should 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. 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. 

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

The academic calendar is suggestive by the UGC. The universities can adapt it according to the situation in their areas. 

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