Patna, March 26: Patna University has set in motion the process to introduce choice-based credit system (CBCS) in postgraduate courses following the semester system.
The university administration's initiative is based on University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman Ved Prakash's directive to all the universities to introduce CBCS in semester system. Patna University introduced the semester system in 2013 but it is yet to introduce CBCS.
The university has constituted a board of studies for different subjects for the introduction of CBCS. The board will work out the modalities of revising the postgraduate syllabus and replacing the old marking system with grading in the semester system.
Varsity pro-vice-chancellor Ranjeet Kumar Verma said: 'As the university has constituted a board of studies, the next step will be to prepare a framework for CBCS, which will be provided to academic council members.'
The council comprises over 36 members, including principals, heads of various departments and senior teachers. They will go through the CBCS framework before it is introduced.
The UGC letter to all universities says that before CBCS is introduced, the curriculum would have to be in semester form, the syllabus should be restructured, exams should be standardised and marking system switched from numerical to grading.
Verma said: 'The academic council meeting, to be held tentatively next month, will discuss various aspects of CBCS to ensure there is uniformity in regulation of different courses pertaining to credit system in different subjects.' Senior geology teacher at Patna University V.S. Dubey said: 'UGC wants to introduce CBCS to provide students wider options and ensure mobility of students across institutions.'
Under the choice-based credit system, there will be both inter/intra-institutional/university credit transfer. When the process of credit transfer takes place within a university department or institution, it may be called intra-institutional credit transfer. When it takes place across two or more institutions/universities, it may be called inter-institutional/inter-university credit transfer.
Under CBCS, there are three types of courses - core course, elective course and foundation course. Every semester must have a core course, which is compulsory for all students. Elective course is one that can be chosen from a pool of papers. The elective course may be supportive of the discipline of study, providing an expanded scope and help in a student's career enhancement.
The foundation course may be of two kinds - compulsory foundation and elective foundation. Compulsory foundation courses are based on content that leads to knowledge enhancement, while elective foundation is value-based and aimed at man-making education.
The UGC directive also asked universities to reform their syllabi and standardise examinations. It means a student scoring 80 per cent in Patna University would be considered on a par with students scoring 80 per cent in Madhepura University or even Mumbai University. But Dubey said: 'This is the most confusing and controversial aspect of CBCS. How can you equate a Madhepura University student with another from Mumbai University when each secures 80 per cent marks?'
Another confusing and controversial aspect, according to Dubey, is the switch from marking to grading system. 'Under CBCS, marks for a certain range will be converted into grades. In such situation, a student securing 91 per cent and other securing 100 per cent would both get 'O' (outstanding) grade,' Dubey said.
