NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY-2020

The Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes (CCFUP) under National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisages the incorporation of a flexible choice-based Credit system, multidisciplinary approach with multiple entry and exit options, to facilitate students to pursue their career path by choosing the subject/field of their interest.

Guidelines of NEP-2020 - Click Here

Curriculum and Credit Framework for UG Programme (CCFUP) - Click Here

National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF) - Click Here

Guidelines for Internship-Research Internship for UG Students - Click Here

Pondicherry University NEP Regulations for Affiliated Colleges 2023-24 - Click Here

OBJECTIVES:

The General Objectives of the Programme shall be:

• To recognize, identify, and foster the unique capabilities of each student to promote her/his holistic development.
• To provide flexibility, so that learners can select their learning trajectories and Programmes, and thereby choose their own paths in life according to their talents and interests.
• To impart multidisciplinary and holistic education across the sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities and sports.
• To emphasize on conceptual understanding rather than rote learning; critical thinking to encourage logical decision-making and innovation; ethics, human & constitutional values; life skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and resilience.
• To encourage extensive use of technology in teaching and learning, removing language barriers, increasing access for Divyang students, and educational planning and management.
• To provide respect for diversity and respect for the local context in all curricula, pedagogy and policy.
• To uphold equity and inclusion as the cornerstone of all educational decisions, to ensure that all students are able to thrive in the education system, and the institutional environment is responsive to differences, to ensure that high-quality education is available for all.
• To have rootedness and pride in India, and its rich, diverse, ancient, and modern culture, languages, knowledge systems, and traditions.​

OUTCOME BASED APPROACH:

A student on completion of the Programme(s) of study shall possess Graduate Attributes, as well as meet the Specific as well as Generic Learning Outcomes related to the disciplinary area(s) in the chosen field(s) of study.

GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES:

Graduate attributes shall include capabilities that help broaden the current knowledge base and skills, gain and apply new knowledge and skills, undertake future studies independently, perform well in a chosen career, and play a constructive role as a responsible citizen in society. Graduate attributes shall be fostered through meaningful learning experiences made available through the curriculum and learning experience, the total college/university experience, and a process of critical and reflective thinking.

Graduate attributes include learning outcomes that are specific to disciplinary areas relating to the chosen field(s) of learning within broad multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary/ transdisciplinary contexts and Generic Learning Outcomes that graduates of all Programmes of study should acquire and demonstrate.

SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES:

A student on completion of the Programme(s) of study is expected to possess the following Specific Learning Outcomes related to his/her disciplinary area(s) in the chosen field(s) of study:

• Comprehensive knowledge and coherent understanding of the chosen disciplinary/interdisciplinary areas of study including current and emerging developments in a multidisciplinary context.
• Practical, professional, and procedural knowledge required for carrying out professional skilled work, self-employment and entrepreneurship.
• Skills in areas related to specialization in the chosen disciplinary/interdisciplinary area(s) of learning in a broad multidisciplinary context, including wide-ranging practical skills.
• Capacity to extrapolate from what has been learned, translate concepts to real-life situations, and apply acquired competencies in new contexts to generate solutions to specific problems.

GENERIC LEARNING OUTCOMES:

A student on completion of the Programme(s) of study is expected to possess the following Generic Learning Outcomes related to his/her disciplinary area(s) in the chosen field(s) of study:

• Complex Problem Solving: The capability to solve different kinds of problems and apply the learning to real-life situations.
• Critical Thinking: The capability to apply analytic thought to a body of knowledge.
• Creativity: The ability to create knowledge and seek solutions to complex problems and situations using innovative, imaginative, lateral thinking, as well as interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.
• Communication Skills: Listening, reading, analytical and interpretation skills using correct technical language related to the field of learning, and convey ideas, thoughts, and arguments using language that is respectful and sensitive to gender and other minority groups.
• Analytical Reasoning / Thinking: The capability to evaluate the reliability and relevance of evidence; identify logical flaws in the arguments of others; analyze and synthesize data from a variety of sources; and draw valid conclusions and support them with evidence and examples, and address opposing viewpoints.
• Research-related Skills: A keen sense of observation, inquiry, and capability for asking appropriate questions; the ability to problematize, synthesize, and design proposals and undertake research.
• Coordinating / Collaborating Skills: To demonstrate the ability to work effectively and respectfully with diverse teams; facilitate cooperative and coordinated effort on the part of a group.
• Leadership Readiness / Qualities: To be capable of organising, directing, inspiring and building a team to work towards a common vision.
• Learning How to Learn Skills: To demonstrate the ability to acquire new knowledge and skills, including ‘learning how to learn skills that are necessary for pursuing learning activities throughout life, through self-paced and self-directed learning aimed at personal development, meeting economic, social, and cultural objectives, and adapting to changing trades and demands of the workplace.
• Digital and Technological Skills: To demonstrate the capability to use ICT in a variety of learning and work situations; to access, evaluate, and analyse data using appropriate software.
• Multicultural Competence and Inclusive Spirit: To demonstrate the acquisition of knowledge of the values and beliefs of multiple cultures anda global perspective to honour diversity, gender sensitivity, adopting a gender-neutral approach, as also empathy for the less advantaged and the differently-abled including those with learning disabilities.
• Value Inculcation: To demonstrate the acquisition of knowledge and attitude that are required to embrace and practice constitutional, humanistic, ethical, and moral valuesin life, including universal human values of truth, righteous conduct, peace, love, nonviolence, scientific temper, citizenship values; practice responsible global citizenship required for responding to contemporary global challenges including environmental issues.
• Autonomy, Responsibility, and Accountability: To demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge, understanding, skills and responsibility, to work independently on a project, identifying appropriate resources and ensuring safety and security at the workplace.
• Environmental Awareness and Action: To demonstrate awareness and knowledge of global environmental challenges as well as skills, attitudes, values and actions for sustainable development and living.
• Community Engagement and Service: To demonstrate the capability to participate in community-engaged services/ activities for promoting the wellbeing of society.
• Empathy: To demonstrate the ability to identify with or understand the perspective, experiences, or points of view of another individual or group, and to identify and understand other people’s emotions.

DURATION OF THE PROGRAMME:

• The duration of the UG Programme shall be of Four Years / Eight Semesters with multiple entry and exit options.
• A student may also be permitted to take a break from the Programme during the period of study.
• The total duration for completion of the UG Programme shall not exceed seven years from the date of initial registration.
• Every Academic Year shall consist of two Semesters.
• In addition, there shall be a Summer Term during the vacation.

UG CERTIFICATE, UG DIPLOMA AND DEGREES TO BE AWARDED:

The following Certificate/Diploma/Degrees shall be awarded as below:

• UG Certificate: Students exiting on completion of 1 year (2 Semesters) of study in the chosen broad discipline having fulfilled the Credit requirement and successfully completed a 4 Credit Vocational Course during the summer term (vacation) of the first year.
• UG Diploma: Students exiting on completion of 2 years (4 Semesters) of study in the chosen broad discipline having fulfilled the Credit requirement and successfully completed a 4 Credit Vocational Course during the summer term (vacation) of the second year.
• Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Computer Applications after the successful completion of 3 years in the Programme and the related Credit requirements, as specified elsewhere in this Ordinance.
• Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Computer Applications (4 years Honours)  after the completion of 4 years in the Programme and the related Credit requirements, as specified elsewhere in this Ordinance.
• Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Computer Applications (4 years Honours with Research) after the completion of 4 years in the Programme and the related Credit requirements, as specified elsewhere in this Ordinance.
• Interdisciplinary or Multidisciplinary Degree: Students who opt for 3 year or 4 year Degree Programmes shall be awarded a degree in Interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary subjects as the case may be.

i. Interdisciplinary Degree: A student who opts for interdisciplinary subjects shall be awarded a Bachelors Degree / Bachelors Degree (Honours) / Bachelors Degree (Honours with Research) in Interdisciplinary Subjects. For example if a student opts for subjects like Chemistry, Zoology and Botany s/he shall be awarded a BSc in Interdisciplinary Subjects (Chemistry, Zoology and Botany).

ii. Multidisciplinary Degree: A student who opts for multidisciplinary subjects like Mathematics, Finance and Economics will be awarded a Bachelors Degree/ Bachelors Degree (Honours) Bachelors Degree (Honours with Research) in Multidisciplinary Subjects (Mathematics, Finance and Economics).

Academic Bank of Credits (ABC):

The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC: www.abc.gov.in), a national-level facility will promote the flexibility of the curriculum framework and interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary academic mobility of students across the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country with appropriate “credit transfer” mechanism. It shall be a mechanism to facilitate the students to choose their own learning path to attain a Degree/ Diploma/Certificate, working on the principle of multiple entry and exit as well as anytime, anywhere, and any level of learning. ABC.

User Guide to Create ABC ID for Students - Click Here

An Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) shall be established which would digitally store the academic credits earned from various recognized HEIs so that the degrees from an HEI can be awarded taking into account credits earned.

Multiple Entry and Exit Options:

The multiple entry and exit options for students is facilitated at the undergraduate and Master’s levels. It would facilitate credit accumulation through the facility created by the ABC scheme in the “Academic Bank Account” opened for students across the country to transfer and consolidate the credits earned by them by undergoing courses in any of the eligible HEIs. The ABC allows for credit redemption through the process of commuting the accrued credits in the Academic Bank Account maintained in the ABC for the purpose of fulfilling the credits requirements for the award of certificate/diploma/degree by the authorized HEIs. Upon collecting a certificate, diploma or degree, all the credits earned till then, in respect of that certificate, diploma or degree, shall stand debited and deleted from the account concerned. HEIs offering programmes with the multiple entry and exit system need to register in the ABC to enable acceptance of multidisciplinary courses, credit transfer, and credit acceptance.

Guidelines for Multiple Entry and Exit - Click Here

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs):

The ‘Credit Framework for Online Learning Courses through Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds’ facilitates an institution to allow up to 40 per cent of the total courses being offered in a particular programme in a semester through the online learning courses offered through the SWAYAM (www.swayam.gov.in) platform. Universities with approval of the competent authority may adopt SWAYAM Courses for the benefit of the students. A student will have the option to earn credit by completing quality-assured MOOC programmes offered on the SWAYAM portal or any other online educational platform approved by the UGC/regulatory body from time to time.

Offering of SWAYAM Courses for the academic year 2023-24 - Click Here