Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) must have flexibility and freedom in designing the curriculum syllabi and teaching learning methods best fit to the present needs of the students and there is a need to devise a sensible system for awarding grades based on the performance of the students, said Prof. H. Devaraj, Vice-Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC) while addressing the one Day Workshop on Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) & Credit Framework for Skill Based Vocational Courses at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) on 7th April, 2015. He highlighted the important measures taken by UGC to bring equity, efficiency and excellence in the higher education system in the country. He has emphasised that the Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) must have flexibility and freedom in designing the curriculum syllabi and teaching learning methods best fit to the present needs of the students and there is a need to devise a sensible system for awarding grades based on the performance of the students. The grading system is considered to be better than the conventional marks system and has been followed in the top institutions in India and Abroad. He said that the UGC has formulated the guidelines to bring in desired uniformity in grading system and method for computing the cumulative CGPA based on the performance of the students in the examinations.
Prof. Devaraj also stated that the CBCS provides a ‘cafeteria’ type approach in which the students can take courses of their choice, learn at their own pace, undergo additional courses and acquire more than the required credits, and adopt an interdisciplinary approach to learning. Hence, it is desirable the HEI’s move to CBCS and implement the grading system. Good teachers are responsible for imparting quality education among the students and the Universities and Institutions should make efforts to appoint the best teachers, he added.
The workshop was organized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) for the benefit of Universities and Institutions from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka States. About 90 participants including Vice-Chancellor’s of Central, State and Deemed Universities have participated in the Workshop along with the Principals from several Autonomous Colleges and Colleges of Technical Education.
Prof. V. Krishna, Controller of Examinations and University Nodal Officer for the workshop welcomed the gathering and explained the objectives of the workshop and initiatives of the Indian Government to implement the CBSC & CFS in Indian Higher Education to strengthen the quality in Higher Education. While inaugurating the workshop Prof. E. Haribabu, Vice-Chancellor, UoH said that, the University of Hyderabad has recently received the President’s Award for the best Central University in India and we have already taken initiatives to implement CBCS & CFS which will improve the quality of education in the University.
Later on UGC experts Prof. M.P. Mahajan and Dr. R.S. Rathod spoke on the Curricular Aspects, Assessment Criteria and Credit Framework in Skill Based Vocational Courses while Dr. Nikhil Kumar, Education Officer, UGC spoke on Skill Based Schemes & Credit System. Mrs. Shashi Kiran from National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) gave a presentation on Introducing Skill based Training. Several Vice-Chancellors from different Universities took part in the discussion. Dr. Renu Batra, Joint Secretary, UGC proposed the vote of thanks.