The University Grants Commission (UGC), the higher education regulator, has given an approval for biannual admissions in colleges and universities of the country. As per UGC M Jagadeesh Kumar, this approval was granted in the last meeting of the commission. With this, India joins the countries that offer admissions twice in a year. However, this is not a mandatory rule. Universities which have the infrastructure, and teaching resources, can plan well, and start by annual admissions.
https://x.com/ugc_india/status/1800500244100300906
Chairman UGC told news agency ANI, “In our country, we always start admission for one cycle in July-August but in the last commission meeting we decided that from now on all universities and colleges in India can do admission twice, once in July-August and second in January-February. This will greatly benefit our students, those who could not join in July-August can join in the January-February session and universities can use their infrastructure efficiently and the placements that happen in our universities and colleges can be done twice. “
The biannual admission offers:
1) Flexibility, as students can now apply twice a year, avoiding long waits if they miss the July/August session;
2) Increased Access, with more opportunities for students to join their desired programmes; 3
) Aligning with the practice of international universities for enhancing collaborations.
Reactions:
Dr. Ashok Mittal, Chancellor, LPU: “This policy benefits institutions by maximizing their enrollment capacity and efficiently utilizing their resources throughout the year. By catering to students with diverse schedules and preferences, institutes can attract a broader range of applicants, further solidifying their reputation as student-centric institutions dedicated to fostering individual growth and success.”
Dr.H.B.Raghavendra, Vice Chancellor, CMR University Bengaluru:
“Embracing the global policy of admitting students twice a year is a good move to enhance the GER (Gross Enrollment Ratio). However, the complexity of state and central policy on education also impacts the success of this policy. Overall, this is a step towards bringing education to everyone and making it flexible to address social needs and opportunities.”
Sumit Shukla, Founder and CEO of Connexrm Pte Ltd and Chairman of the i-Merit Steering Committee, says, “This move by the UGC can help maintain student momentum and motivation, potentially reducing dropout rates and ensuring a smoother transition from secondary to higher education.
From an institutional perspective, this flexibility allows HEIs to better manage their resources, including faculty, laboratories, and classrooms, by distributing the student intake more evenly throughout the year. Additionally, with two cycles of campus recruitment, industries can engage with graduates more frequently, thus aligning academic output more closely with employment market demands.”
(developing story)
