UGC to Allow Students to Pursue Two Courses Together, Asks Universities to Implement Process

The University Grants Commission has asked all universities to make required changes in their structure to facilitate students in pursuing two academic degrees at the same time. “All the Higher Educational Institutions were requested to devise mechanisms through its statutory bodies for allowing students to pursue two academic programmes simultaneously. “With the rapid increase in demand for higher education and limited availability of seats in regular stream, several higher education institutions have started a number of programmes in open and distance learning mode to meet the aspirations of students. The issue of allowing students to pursue two academic programmes simultaneously has been examined by the UGC, keeping in view the proposals envisaged in the NEP 2020 which emphasises the need to facilitate multiple pathways to learning involving both formal and non-formal education modes,” reads the UGC guidelines. According to the commission, students should pursue degree or diploma programmes under ODL and Online mode with only higher education institutions which are recognised by UGC, Statutory Council, and Government of India.