|
|
|
|
|
| Saturday, July 19, 2008
Choice-based credit system at varsity
Academic Council adopts changes made in existing syllabi for undergraduate courses
- Credit’ determines number of hours of instruction required
- Undergraduate courses shall comprise five parts
Vellore: The Thiruvalluvar University, Vellore, has introduced choice-based credit system (CBCS) for undergraduate and postgraduate courses from the academic year 2008-09.
The Academic Council of the university passed resolutions adopting the Scheme of Examinations and Regulations under CBCS pattern for all UG and PG courses as recommended by the respective Boards of Studies from 2008-09, and thereafter for implementation in all affiliated colleges, at its meeting held under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor L. Kannan on Friday.
By another resolution, the Academic Council adopted the changes made in the existing syllabi for UG courses, B.Sc. zoology, B.Sc. computer science and B.C.A. under the CBCS pattern as recommended by the respective Boards of Studies for implementation from the academic year 2008-09 and thereafter in all the affiliated colleges.
As per the draft regulations of the CBCS for UG and PG courses, the CBCS is a flexible system of learning. ‘Credit’ defines the quantum of contents/syllabus prescribed for a course and determines the number of hours of instruction required.
The CBCS permits students to learn at their own pace, choose electives from a wide range of elective courses offered by the departments of the affiliated colleges, undergo additional courses and acquire more than the required number of credits, adopt an inter-disciplinary approach in learning, and make best use of the expertise of available faculty.
In the case of UG courses, a candidate would have to pass in all the papers and practicals by earning 140 credits in all five parts for being declared passed in the whole examination. In the case of PG courses, a candidate shall be eligible for the award of degree only if he/she has passed the examinations of all the four semesters, earning 90 credits.
The undergraduate courses shall comprise five parts. Part I will be Tamil/other languages, Part II will be English, while Part III will comprise core subjects, allied subjects and project/electives with three courses.
Under Part IV, (a) those who have not studied Tamil up to Standard XII and taken a non-Tamil language under Part I shall take Tamil comprising of two courses (at the level of Standard VI); (b) those who have studied Tamil up to Standard XII and taken a non-Tamil language under Part I shall take Advanced Tamil, comprising two courses; (c) others who do not come under (a) or (b) can choose non-major elective comprising two courses. Part IV also comprised skill-based subjects (elective), environmental studies and value education. Part V shall comprise extension activities.
Dr. Kannan said the regulations committee would identify 15 to 20 skill-based courses for being taught under Part IV, and the list would be sent to all the affiliated colleges to enable them to offer those courses suited to their environment.
Earlier, L. Prathaban, Syndicate member, said the regulations concerning the CBCS ought to have been placed before the Syndicate at its meeting before being brought to the Academic Council for discussion. A.R. Veeramani, Registrar-in-charge, said regulations could be discussed at the Academic Council and then taken to the Syndicate, whereas conventions are first placed before the Syndicate before being taken to the Academic Council. I. Ilangovan, Syndicate Member said the time allotted for teaching allied subjects has been reduced to accommodate environmental studies.
Prof. Prathaban said it would not be proper to adopt the resolution on regulations for the CBCS since they required a lot of changes.
The Vice-Chancellor said subjects in the core and allied subjects have been incorporated into various skill-based subjects. When Dr. Kannan called for moving the resolution, S. Babu, Professor of History, Government Thirumagal Mills Arts College, Gudiyatham, requested him to follow the procedures for moving resolution. It was not proper to move the resolution before getting the approval of the Syndicate, he said.
Dr. Kannan requested the members to pass the resolutions in the interests of the students since classes have already begun.
He said that he would refer to the regulations committee the suggestions of the members on modifications to the regulations. After passing the resolution in the Academic Council, they could be discussed by the committee, which could suggest suitable modifications and get the final regulations ratified by the Syndicate, he said.
When Mr. Ilangovan said the members opposing the resolutions were going to walk out in protest, the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar-in-charge announced that all three resolutions had been passed, and then left.
Courtesy: The Hindu
|
| << Back |
|
|
