How is the UGC reworking its academic calendar with regard to undergraduate and postgraduate admissions? Could you offer clarity on the postponed qualifying exams?
We are closely monitoring the situation and are constantly in touch with universities and other stakeholders. Right now, safety is of utmost importance. Many universities are serving as temporary facilities (for Covid-19 patients).
The UGC had already issued guidelines on the academic calendar and examinations last year. Guidelines have also been issued for admission to the first year of UG and PG classes, including a timeline for admissions for 2021-2022. As and when the need arises, these guidelines will be reviewed.
There are issues with the online mode, like the lack of uninterrupted access to the internet and problems on invigilating students during exams. Is it possible that the online mode might be becoming unsustainable?
There is no substitute to interactive classroom teaching. The online mode is only a supplement. [And] yes, there are issues like lack of access to the internet, especially in rural areas. These are being addressed by various agencies. Swayam Prabha is one such attempt to take curriculum-based content to rural areas through 34 DTH channels. I believe a blended mode of learning is the way forward, and we are constantly trying to address the challenges to make it accessible and sustainable in the long run.
How has the implementation of the National Education Policy (July, 2020) been affected? How do you plan to salvage it?
The ministry of education and the UGC are committed to implementation of the NEP, 2020. Large scale virtual consultations were undertaken, involving stakeholders from all over India. Social media was used extensively to spread information. On the advice of the ministry of education, the UGC formed various expert groups to suggest an action plan on different themes of the NEP. After virtual deliberations, they sent suggestions to the UGC.
Committees constituted for drafting of regulations completed their work in the virtual mode. For instance, regulations for setting up of an academic credit bank have been approved and is in the process of being notified. The UGC has also taken several other measures to give effect to the provisions of the NEP, 2020.
What are some of the newest courses that have been added to prop up open and distance learning (ODL), and online learning?
The UGC has been taking a number of measures on a regular basis to promote ODL and online learning, thereby addressing critical issues in the Indian context such as access, equity and quality of technology driven higher education. The University Grants Commission (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations were notified in September, 2020. These regulations enable institutions to offer 13 full-fledged online programmes (three UG and 10 PG) without prior approval of the UGC, if they are in the Top 100 universities as per the National Institutional Ranking Framework (for two out of three proceeding cycles) or having a NAAC score of 3.26 and above.
The permissible online education component in ODL has been enhanced to 40 per cent (from 20 per cent) to promote e-learning. Disciplines such as arts, commerce, management and science; with specialisations like logistic management, digital marketing, data sciences, logistics, database systems, multimedia and animation, and data analytics and supply chain management have been permitted.
Students across varsities are demanding not just postponement but cancellation of online classes and exams in the coming months because of the mental and physical toll that the second wave has had. Is this feasible?
We are assessing the situation, and, as I said earlier, we are constantly in touch with the universities and will decide accordingly.
How is the pandemic likely to affect the global ranking of central universities and colleges in India?
International student mobility has been affected because of the pandemic. This has a direct impact on the ranking, as [number of] international students is a parameter for major international ranking agencies. Teaching, research, collaborative publication and possible innovation have been affected as well. But, this is true for all countries, nothing specific to India. However, cumulatively these factors are likely to affect global ranking of our universities and colleges.
Students are now coming to grips with the situation, after attending condolence meetings of their teachers and friends' family members. How are educational institutions helping students cope with the ongoing health crisis?
It is vital that psychosocial support is provided to students, staff and teachers. The UGC has been issuing advisories to the universities suggesting measures (to ensure) mental health and well-being of students. The education ministry has also launched an initiative called “Manodarpan” to provide psychosocial support to students. These initiatives, along with counselling, aim to help students to cope with academic-related stress, self-care and health issues.
POINTS TO PONDER
First-year blues
Freshers are on a transition from school to college and are quite eager to experience every aspect of campus life, like face-to-face interactions with professors, laboratory sessions, sports, the hostel, canteens and, above all, mixing with their peers, who are from different walks of life, and adapting to learning and living together. We feel the anxiety of students about missing these experiences. During each online session, we counsel them and try to ensure that they are focusing on the online classes.
V. Balusamy Principal
Kongu Engineering College, Erode
New-age exams
We implemented an online proctored exam system, where a trained human proctor monitors multiple students on a screen. Two-way chat between the student and the online proctor is supported for both technical support and monitoring. All actions of the user can be tracked. If violations are reported, the session locks and students can continue only if the invigilator manually updates it. The system is robust and scalable—based on the number of concurrent users, computing nodes can be added.
P. Venkat Rangan
Vice chancellor, Amrita University
Fears and respite
The final semester students were shocked. Apart from the [concerns about] exams and placements, the economy itself was collapsing. Thankfully, during the partial respite, they were able to finish their exams and graduate by the end of 2020. But, the students were unable to go on global immersion programmes. As an alternative, we had virtual experiences such as the opportunity to participate in international events like webinars, conferences and job fairs.
Kerron Reddy
Founder, AIMS Institutes, Bengaluru