Kurukshetra University first in state to implement National Education Policy

Kurukshetra, August 2

With the online admission process for undergraduate programmes under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 starting at Kurukshetra University’s Institute of Integrated and Honours Studies (IIHS) from Wednesday, The KU will become the first university in Haryana to implement NEP.

NEP will be implemented in all affiliated colleges of the KU from the next session.

As per the KU authorities, a large number of students are expected to be in the race for 1,400 seats for admissions in humanities, science, commerce, tourism, computer, home science, and five-year integrated programmes at the IIHS.“The undergraduate programmes as per NEP have been designed after long deliberations by the KU’s education experts and other important stakeholders. NEP liberates education and makes education student-centric. The students will be given the option of 4-year graduation degree in honours and research. Students will have the option not only to go for a dual-degree but also to choose courses across the disciplines, for example, a science student can opt for humanities and science courses and vice versa now. The students will be required to do minimum four credits of skill courses, 12 credits in subject-specific skills and four credits in life skills,” said KU Vice-Chancellor Prof Som Nath Sachdeva.

“The policy focuses on conceptual learning, critical thinking and students’ holistic development in both academic and non-academic spheres. Impetus is also provided for gaining knowledge from digital platforms of the UGC, mobile apps, satellite-based TV channels, online courses, MOOCs (swayam) modules and information communication technology-equipped libraries,” further said the VC.

He said, “Community development, human values, ethics across a range of fields, constitutional values and service to humanity have also been integrated in the UG curriculum. There are multiple entry and exit options available for students. A student can earn credits by completing a course and these will be credited to the academic bank of credit (ABC) account. One can then transfer these credits if one decides to switch colleges. If a student ever drops out for some reasons, these credits will remain intact and the student can come back later and pick up from where the student had left.”Prof Manjula Choudhary, KU Dean Academic Affairs, said, “The component of internship is a mandatory part of the course framework. Students will have the option of writing their exams and assignments in Hindi. With ABC, the institutions will count the overall credits earned by the students and put it in their degrees. The students will also have an option of direct entry into PhD after four-year graduation degree (honours and research) provided their CGPA is 7.5 and above in four-years honours with the research programme.”