August 21, Thursday: The University of Calcutta has announced a series of major reforms in its undergraduate courses curriculum as the university wants to streamline its courses and bring them in line with the UGC guidelines. This move will impact thousands of students across different streams for the upcoming sessions.
Focus shifts to major papers
One of the most significant changes is the replacement of minor papers with major papers in the 5th and 6th semesters. This will help students to focus on their main field of study and will reduce the time of the academic session. It will also help to complete examinations faster than before. Calcutta University students often complain about not finishing their syllabus in time; these changes can bring relief.
Additionally, the university restructured its courses for the 7th and 8th semesters. Instead of separating the Honours and Honours with research course in the 7th semester, the university will now introduce it in the 8th semester, which will give students more time to grow maturely in academics before specialization. However, students will have to do summer internships in the 2nd,4th, and 6th semesters following the New Education Policy 2020 guideline.
Subject-specific research internships will now be offered during the eighth semester in an effort to increase research exposure. Depending on their field, students will either be given projects or dissertations to complete.
The changes are intended to closely align with University Grants Commission (UGC) criteria, ensuring that course structures and grading schemes remain consistent and transparent across disciplines. This change is expected to improve not only in students' experiences but also it gives a clear structure and idea of the New Education Policy 2020.
These reforms mark a turning point in Calcutta University’s approach towards UG courses. By introducing a structured research framework and adjusting subject frameworks, it will definitely be a hope to provide a holistic and efficient academic journey.
