Calicut University Syndicate Member Flags Tepid Response to FYUGP

Rapid Summary:

• A total of 44 students changed both their major courses and colleges after the implementation of four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUGP) at the University of Calicut (CU).
• 124 students switched their major courses within the same college, and 714 opted for transfers between colleges.
• 14 students transferred from colleges under other universities to those affiliated with CU, while only one student moved in the opposite direction.
• Syndicate member P. Rasheed Ahammed stated that these figures indicate low enthusiasm among students for changing majors or utilizing transfer options under FYUGP compared to previous three-year UG programmes due to simpler procedures earlier.
• Concerns among students reportedly include cumbersome processes, costs associated with FYUGP, lack of practical utility in course design, limited job prospects, and no clear benefit in postgraduate admissions.
• Critics believe launching FYUGP without conducting a pilot study was rushed by authorities, leading to implementation challenges.
• A meeting involving representatives from State universities is scheduled in Thiruvananthapuram on September 10 to assess progress and concerns related to FYUGP.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The data highlights notable resistance toward adapting aspects of FYUGP at Calicut University. The significant number of inter-college transfers but fewer course-specific changes suggest procedural barriers may be influencing student choices more than academic flexibility promised by the government initiative. Reports about dissatisfaction over pragmatic outcomes like employability or postgraduate advantages underscore possible gaps between policy ambition and execution.

The upcoming statewide meeting provides an chance for stakeholders like Vice-Chancellors and university officials to address these systemic issues collectively-potentially streamlining administrative processes while reassessing course structures against student aspirations and market realities.Read more: Source