Credit system will have teething problems: Experts

While everyone is cheering the University of Mumbai moving to credit and semester systems, they are not too sure if it can be implemented so quickly, reports HT Correspondent.

While everyone is cheering the University of Mumbai moving to credit and semester systems, they are not too sure if it can be implemented so quickly.

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All three faculties - arts, science and commerce - of the university have approved the move to start the credit and semester system from this academic year in June.

This will be both at the undergraduate and post graduate levels. They have devised new methods of assessment in tandem with the systems followed by international universities. More than 618 colleges are affiliated to the Mumbai University.

“It might be difficult to implement the credit system so soon,” said Snehalata Deshmukh, former vice chancellor of Mumbai University. “There is already enough chaos with the university being unable to declare results on time or even hold a convocation. Unless more teachers are hired, this will just add to the workload.”

Apart from considering the number of hours spent in the course, the credit system will convert marks in grade (quality) points. The marks will be a total of internal and external examinations. For example, a student scoring between 70 and 80 will have a quality point of 8. The maximum quality point is 10 (scores between 90 and 100) and minimum is 0 (scores less than 40). So, now a student has to score more than 40 per cent to pass.

In 2007, they threatened to give grants proportional only to the level to which administrative and academic reforms are implemented by universities.

Three months ago, the state called a meeting of university representatives asking them to draft plans for implementation within a month.

“It is about time the system is implemented so that we can compete with international universities,” said Suhas Pednekar, principal, Ruia College. “It will increase accountability and allow continuous assessment, something that the current system does not do.”

But the system needs to be thought out before it is implemented. “These things cannot be done overnight. It has to be studied and worked upon,” said Kiran Mangoankar, principal, Mithibai College.