Bhubaneswar, June 21: The choice-based credit system (CBCS) will be implemented in 16 autonomous colleges under Utkal University.

This was decided at the varsity's academic council meeting here on Friday.

The credit system provides choices for students to select from prescribed courses such as core, elective, minor and soft skill courses. Termed as a student-centric approach, the ministry of human resource development is of the opinion that the credit system will allow students to undertake multidisciplinary subjects and complete courses in various institutions.

The varsity will hold discussions with the authorities of the autonomous colleges next week to help them through a smooth transition from the varsities' old syllabus to the new system.

The CBCS will be implemented at the undergraduate level. Although the state government had made it very clear on various occasions that it would be implemented from this academic session, none of the varsities in the state had come up with formal announcement regarding the new system and its implementation from this session.

Utkal University vice-chancellor Ashok Das said the transition was likely to pose difficulties at the beginning. However, these would be gradually sorted out as the students and teachers got used to the new system.

"It will be comparatively easier for these colleges as they already have the semester system," said Das.

Earlier, the varsity had decided to implement the system in all its 350 affiliated degree colleges from this academic session. Most of the varsities in the state have started working on the credit system and preparing for the transition.