New Academic Season from September, UGC Releases Examination Guidelines
University Grants Commission (UGC) has said that the academic calendar of the first year of graduation will start from 1 September 2020. While the academic calendar for second and third year students in graduation will start from 1 August. The examinations will be held from 26 May to 25 June next year. There will be a summer holiday from 1 July to 30 July. The UGC said that next year’s session will start from August 1, 2021.
The Commission has said, “MPhil, PhD students will get six months more time and the interview will be through video conference. “The Commission has made it clear that the guidelines are like a consultation and universities can formulate their plans considering issues related to the Kovid-19 epidemic.”
The New Academic Session for Freshers will begin in September while for 2nd and 3rd-year students, the academic session will begin in August, the University Grants Commission (UGC) said on Wednesday.
The commission also said that exams for final semester students will be conducted in July. Where it is difficult to hold exams, universities can mark students 50% on the basis of the pattern of internal evaluation, and the remaining 50% marks can be awarded on the basis of performance in the previous semester, the guidelines said.
“Universities may conduct Terminal / Intermediate Semester / Year examinations in offline / online mode, as per their Ordinances/Rules and Regulations, Scheme of Examinations, observing the guidelines of “social distancing” and keeping in view the support system available with them and ensuring fair opportunity to all students,” it added.
The Commission has allowed the extension of six months period to the M.Phil. or Ph.D. students and told the universities that they may conduct the Ph.D. and M. Phil. Viva -Voce examinations through video conferencing using Google, Skype, Microsoft Technologies, or any other reliable and mutually convenient technology.
Period of lockdown will be treated as ‘deemed to be attended’ by all the students.
Universities facing difficulty in holding exams due to COVID-19 should grade students on the basis of internal assessment and performance in the previous semester, UGC has decided. It has been provided that in case the previous semester’s result not being available, particularly in the first year, 100% evaluation may be done on the basis of internal assessments.
The internal evaluation can be continuous evaluation, prelims, mid-semester, internal evaluation or whatever name is given for student progression, the University Grants Commission said emphasizing the guidelines were “advisory” in nature.
“Intermediate students will be graded based on an internal assessment of the present and previous semester. In states where the COVID-19 situation has normalized, there will be exams in the month of July. For terminal semester students, exams will be held in July,” the UGC said.
As per the 2020-21 academic session, the admissions for the fresh batch will happen in the month of August.
“Universities may follow a six-day week pattern and devise proforma to record travel or stay a history of staff and students for the lockdown period. Extension of six months will be granted to MPhil, Ph.D. students, and viva-voice be conducted through video conference” it added.
Previous Reports-
It was earlier reported that the guidelines based on the recommendations of two expert panels is expected to be issued next week. The panels had submitted their report on April 24th and UGC has been conducting virtual meetings to discuss the recommendations and to formulate an official guideline.
The first panel was formed to give recommendations regarding the 2020-20 academic calendar and guidelines regarding university and college exams which have been delayed due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
The seven-member panel headed by Haryana Central University vice-chancellor RC Kuhad recommended that the new academic calendar can be initiated in the month of September. The panel also proposed that all the exams which have been delayed should be held in the month of July.
The second panel headed by Professor Nageshwar Rao, Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU was asked to look into how colleges and universities can conduct and promote online classes and issues surrounding it. The report for the same has also been submitted.
Source – DU Express