Nine students of Central University of Kerala in a spot over varsity’s stand on FYUGP

The future of nine students of the 2022-2025 batch of BA International Relations course of the Central University of Kerala (CUK) at its Capital centre here hangs in the balance owing to lack of formal communication on going ahead with the transition of the three-year undergraduate (UG) programme to a four-year honours programme in line with the National Education Policy, 2020.

The students point out that a University Grants Commission notice in 2024 allows students pursuing UG programme as per choice-based credit system (CBCS) to pursue four-year undergraduate programme (FYUGP) and the university concerned should provide bridge courses to enable this transition.

In February this year, the CUK Vice Chancellor issued an order approving the transition of the three-year BA International Relations programme 2022-2025 batch to FYUGP. A notification was signed by the Registrar a few days later and students were asked to confirm their willingness to opt for the FYUGP by April 23.

However, no communication has been received on moving ahead with the transition. The affected students who have completed the sixth semester have learnt that an academic council meeting on August 7 decided to withhold the FYUGP to their batch.

Students say the university’s decision has left them in the lurch. For one, it contradicts the UGC’s directive. More significantly, without the honours degree, eligibility for international master’s programmes, UGC-NET, and doctoral admissions will be lost.

However, Vice Chancellor Siddu Algur told The Hindu that the academic council had decided that extending the course to four years would create problems for students who enrolled for a three-year degree. “Students who joined the course were never told it was a four-year programme. They had joined with the understanding that it was for three years,” Prof. Algur said.

To ensure that the students are not disadvantaged, those who express their willingness will be supported in pursuing higher education. “I will facilitate them on the main campus. They can join the two-year postgraduate programme even if the seats are full,” Prof. Algur said.