Semester and credit system in degree colleges from this year

The Academic Council, a governing body of the University of Mumbai, on Thursday approved the credit and semester systems for graduate and post-graduate courses from this academic year. This would be for all three steams — arts, science and commerce.

The Academic Council, a governing body of the University of Mumbai, on Thursday approved the credit and semester systems for graduate and post-graduate courses from this academic year. This would be for all three steams — arts, science and commerce.

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The University Grants Commission had in 2007 directed all vice-chancellors to adopt the semester system and a choice-based credit system (CBCS).

The plan now only needs a nod from the varsity's Management Council before it becomes a reality. If approved, students beginning college in June-end, will have two semesters each year and will be evaluated based on credits earned.

There are 618 colleges affiliated to the university. Faculty of all streams had approved the system last month and the Academic Council has accepted it without any changes.

"This innovation is just the beginning of the change in the higher education system. The next 15 days will be crucial as heads of boards of studies and other academic members come together to ensure effective implementation," said Parvathi Venkatesh, dean of the arts faculty.

Followed by all foreign universities, the credit system is a continuous evaluation of a student's performance throughout the course and does not consider only exams.

There were doubts about the ability to start the system this year with teachers' organisations telling the university that they were not prepared. "While the system is good, such a

huge overhaul cannot be done in a hurry. Teachers need proper orientation. We cannot experiment with students like that. We have voiced our reservations; now it is the university's call," said CR Sadasivan, president, Bombay University College Teachers' Union.

Training workshops for teachers have already been chalked out to familiarise them with the new system.