Continue 4-year B.Tech course only for class of 2013-14: UGC tells DU

The UGC on Sunday directed DU to continue with the four-year B.Tech course only for students admitted last year, ending uncertainty following the rollback of the controversial four-year undergraduate programme. DU admissions start July 1, FYUP courses scrapped

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Sunday directed Delhi University (DU) to continue with the four-year B.Tech course only for students admitted last year, ending uncertainty following the rollback of the controversial four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP).

“Four-year BTech programmes in Computer Science, Electronics, Food Technology, Instrumentation Electronics and Polymer Science may continue only for students already admitted for the academic year 2013-14,” said a letter by UGC to DU on Sunday.

There is, however, no word on the Psychological Science B.Tech programme. Around 6,500 students are currently enrolled in 35 city colleges for six B Tech courses.

The future of approximately 1,500 students admitted in the four-year Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) programme is also unclear. With no official announcement, speculation is rife that these may be converted to three-year courses. On Saturday, DU had discontinued the four-year BMS and BTech courses for the fresh academic year.

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“A meeting of the UGC standing committee can be called on Monday to discuss the issue of those enrolled in the BMS programme,” UGC vice-chairman Prof. H. Devaraj told HT.

In its Sunday letter, UGC also asked the university to obtain appropriate approval of regulatory bodies such as the UGC and the AICTE for the four-year B Tech courses, to “ensure students admitted in these programmes are not put in any disadvantage”.

The UGC directive was in line with the recommendations of its standing committee, which had said existing students should be allowed to complete their BTech degrees.

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The development came even as students protested outside human resource development minister Smriti Irani’s residence on Sunday. While most students are happy with the decision, concerns remain.

“DU should ensure we get proper placements. We should not be the guinea pigs, forgotten because we were the only batch,” said Nitin Khanna, who enrolled in BTech computer science at Ramanujan College. Others are worried that their degrees would lose value. “There is a blot on our degree now. Everyone knows we didn’t study much in the first year,” said Priya Malhotra, a B Tech electronics student.

There was also anger about the scrapping of the four-year BTech course. “This is to cater to the need of private institutes. Our demand of letting BTech continue hasn’t reached the authorities,” said Ansh, a BTech student.

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