The following has been happening: on July 1, a four-year undergraduate program was implemented in higher education institutions of Kerala. The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the academic reform that “aims to provide opportunities that can enable students to acquire competence in using digital technologies, computational methods, data analytics and other skills essential to participate in the knowledge economy”.
This began by creating Kerala State Higher Education Curriculum Framework for FYUP by Suresh Das-led Kerala State Curriculum Committee formerly serving as Executive Vice President with Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment. The universities of this state were provided with an FYUP model regulation by the Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC). The programme is introduced into the affiliated colleges of University of Kerala , Calicut University , Kannur University & Mahatma Gandhi University for academic year 2024-25. At the same time Cochin University of Science and Technology and Mahatma Gandhi University restructured their five year integrated programmes to consist of four years enabling an exit option. Also available are similar programs at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady and Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, Tirur.
What features does the FYUP framework have?
A student centric approach has been used while formulating it so as to allow maximum flexibility in terms of choice of disciplines a learner can study according KSHEC. It provides opportunities for developing different academic pathways by combining disciplines creatively. It will be up to students if they want their semester wise academic load fixed or not fixed but rather learn at a pace they feel comfortable with if possible. Flexibility within the framework allows students to transfer from one institution to another without any glitches. As well this framework provides them with different ways out such offline learning mode; open distance learning mode; online mode; blended/hybrid modes.
What can students do after completing their program?
Three-year undergraduate degree: students who wish to exit after three years of a four-year degree programme will be awarded undergraduate degree in the major discipline after the successful completion of three years, securing specific number of credits (133 or above) and satisfying the minimum course requirement.
Four-year undergraduate degree (Honours): a four-year undergraduate Honours degree in the major discipline will be awarded to those who complete a four-year degree programme with the specific number of credits (177 or above) and have satisfied the minimum course requirement.
Four-year undergraduate degree (Honours with Research): Students who are highly motivated to choose research as their career can take up honours with research stream in fourth year. They should do a research project or dissertation under the guidance of a faculty member of the university/college. Students who secure 177 credits, including 12 credits from a research project/dissertation, are awarded the undergraduate degree (Honours with Research).
What forced FYUP to be introduced?
The main objective was influenced by government’s desire for developing an informed society that can lead to creation and sustenance of knowledge-based economy. The Department has designed this reform so that it produces individuals whose minds are well equipped and make them useful citizens within such societies while at same time providing them many choices for employment opportunities.
What are the misgivings about the new change?
A statement from a group of educational professionals and cultural campaigners who were against ‘unilateral’ implementation of FYUP, warned that such a reform would “disassemble” arts and science courses including BA, BSc, BCom that have been in operation for many years. They also claimed that it was close to lacking deep exploration of any single topic. Moreover, some teachers went on to observe infrastructure deficiencies in the institutions as well as lack of enough training for teacher on various aspects concerning it.
What’ll be changed by FYUP in postgraduate programms?
The KSHEC has started consultations with experts on how to move forward based on the recommendations contained in Curriculum and Credit Framework for Postgraduate Programmes introduced by University Grants Commission (UGC).
