DUTA Statement on UG Curricular Revision Exercise in DU
The DUTA office bearers had a meeting today with the Delhi University's Undergraduate Curriculum Revision Committee that is overseeing the UG Curricular Revision exercise as per the UGC's Learning Outcome-based Curricular Framework (LOCF). The DUTA appreciates the University's prompt and open response to the objections it had raised in its letter to the VC. In the meeting, the DUTA took the reassurance from the Committee that the University's best academic practices will not be compromised under any circumstances.
The Undergraduate Curriculum Revision Committee also agreed with the DUTA that the course drafting committees will not comprise of arbitrarily chosen "three best teachers". Rather, it agreed to the demand for more inclusive committees with a larger representation of teachers. Students who have a consistent academic record and have undergone both UG and PG education in DU will be asked to provide feedback on the draft revisions, by the respective departments.
The DUTA has also been successful in impressing upon the University that the time-frame for completing the syllabus revision exercise must be expanded so that the exercise is not rushed. It was also mutually agreed that respective subject departments will retain the freedom to define learning outcomes as an standardised framework of outcomes is not academically desirable.
However, there could be no agreement on the contentious LOCF model itself, wherein the University pleaded that it has no authority to reject the model as it has become a compulsory part of the quality parameters set by the UGC and NAAC. On this issue, the DUTA will engage with policy-makers in the MHRD and UGC.
The DUTA maintains that an honest effort in identifying learning outcomes must include objective assessment of infrastructure and teachers available. The MHRD and UGC wish to shy away from this exercise. They are in denial of the the fact that the Choice-based Credit System has failed in its aims precisely due to the lack of adequately sanctioned teaching posts and severe shortages in classroom and lab infrastructure across colleges. An Outcome-based framework that ignores the shortage in regular faculty and infrastructure will not help in improving the quality of undergraduate education.
The Undergraduate Curriculum Revision Committee also agreed with the DUTA that the course drafting committees will not comprise of arbitrarily chosen "three best teachers". Rather, it agreed to the demand for more inclusive committees with a larger representation of teachers. Students who have a consistent academic record and have undergone both UG and PG education in DU will be asked to provide feedback on the draft revisions, by the respective departments.
The DUTA has also been successful in impressing upon the University that the time-frame for completing the syllabus revision exercise must be expanded so that the exercise is not rushed. It was also mutually agreed that respective subject departments will retain the freedom to define learning outcomes as an standardised framework of outcomes is not academically desirable.
However, there could be no agreement on the contentious LOCF model itself, wherein the University pleaded that it has no authority to reject the model as it has become a compulsory part of the quality parameters set by the UGC and NAAC. On this issue, the DUTA will engage with policy-makers in the MHRD and UGC.
The DUTA maintains that an honest effort in identifying learning outcomes must include objective assessment of infrastructure and teachers available. The MHRD and UGC wish to shy away from this exercise. They are in denial of the the fact that the Choice-based Credit System has failed in its aims precisely due to the lack of adequately sanctioned teaching posts and severe shortages in classroom and lab infrastructure across colleges. An Outcome-based framework that ignores the shortage in regular faculty and infrastructure will not help in improving the quality of undergraduate education.
| Rajib Ray President, DUTA Vivek Chaudhary Secretary, DUTA |
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