Set for Change: Calcutta University

Calcutta, July 28: After carving up the undergraduate degree courses into three parts, Calcutta University is in the mood for some more change.

Authorities yesterday said the varsity wants to rework all undergraduate syllabi into modules, following in the footsteps of premier varsities like JNU in Delhi, institutions in Pune Mumbai and Chennai and Bengal?s own Jadavpur University.

Calcutta University is planning to divide the syllabi into modules with a thematic approach. ?The module pattern is the most scientific approach to imparting education at the undergraduate level in the modern education system,? said Suranjan Das, the university?s pro-vice chancellor, academic affairs.

Explaining its advantages, Das said under the proposed system, every module would be based on a particular theme or subject. For instance, he said, art and architecture currently figure in different history papers. Now they will be combined into a module.

Similarly, feudalism is found in subjects like history, political science and economics. ?So everything about feudalism can be rolled into one module. If a student studies that particular module, he will have a comprehensive knowledge about feudalism,? a varsity official said.

This will not only help the students but also make the teaching process more scientific, he added.

P.N. Ghosh, the dean of the science faculty, who is involved in framing the new pattern, said another advantage of the system is that the modules would be open to students of all disciplines.

The proposal was placed at the meeting of the university?s syndicate recently where the members accepted it in principle. The West Bengal Council of Higher Education has also given its nod.

The CU syndicate has asked departments to examine the proposal and see if it would be feasible considering the large number of students involved. More than 3 lakh examinees from nearly 150 colleges take the university?s undergraduate examinations every year.

The sources, however, ruled out possibility of introducing semester system at the undergraduate level.