Magadh University

Gaya, July 6: The much-awaited semester system would be introduced in the postgraduate courses of Magadh University (MU) this session. A number of premier universities in the country, like Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, Jadavpur University, Calcutta, and Hyderabad University have already introduced the semester system at the postgraduate-level.

The decision to introduce the semester system was taken at the academic council meeting held at the Bodhgaya headquarters of the varsity yesterday. Shamsul Islam, public relations officer, MU, told The Telegraph: “The semester system in the postgraduate courses would be introduced in the academic session that begins this month. Experts of various subjects have prepared a new syllabus for the postgraduate courses.”

According to another resolution, research scholars would now have to submit their PhD theses in an electronic format, that is, on a CD. This resolution was prompted by the guidelines of University Grants Commission (UGC).

The academic council also decided that it would grant affiliation for BEd courses only to those institutions that have been given recognition by National Council for Teachers’ Education.

In the wake of the directives of the Supreme Court and Patna High Court, the vice-chancellor of the university has been authorised to verify whether the institutions that run BEd courses fulfil the academic standards required for the affiliation or not.

The affiliated colleges of the university would now have to be on their toes and maintain academic standards, as the university authorities would keep a close watch.

The academic council also constituted a four-member committee to look into the standard of the affiliated colleges under the university.

The varsity has 44 constituent colleges and 86 affiliated colleges. A large number of students have been enrolled in conventional as well as vocational courses running in these educational institutions.

MU vice-chancellor Arun Kumar Sinha heads the four-member committee. The other members of the committee are MLC Niraj Kumar, Gaya College principal Shreekant Sharma and Gaya inspector of colleges Jairam Prasad.

The academic council also decided that each affiliated college would have a representative of the university, who would look into the admission process.

The academic council amended the earlier decision of the varsity administration to centralise the process of application for admission at the university headquarters. Now, students would be able to apply to the individual colleges.

The academic council also approved the proposal of different constituent colleges to start new vocational and conventional courses.

For degree-level vocational courses, like bachelor in computer application, bachelor in business administration and others, an intake of 60 students in each }course starting this year was approved.

Sinha presided over the meeting of the academic council.