Implement choice-based credits, president urges varsities

President Pranab Mukherjee Wednesday urged universities to consider implementing the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) as it would ensure seamless mobility of students across higher education institutions in the country as well as abroad.

"...because of the diversities in evaluation systems, students have suffered in the acceptance of their credentials across the university system and in accessing employment opportunities. The initiative of CBCS will ensure seamless mobility of students across higher education institutions in the country as well as abroad," Mukherjee said.

He was speaking at a conference of vice chancellors of central universities. This is the third such conference convened by the president since assuming the office.

Mukherjee added that the credits earned by students can be transferred and would be of great value in the event of their seeking migration from one institution to the other.

While 23 central universities have already implemented CBCS, Mukherjee "urged remaining universities to consider implementing this system from next academic year".

The vice chancellors of 40 central universities, to which the president is the visitor, participated in the conference. Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani also attended it.

Mukherjee said the human resource development ministry and institutes of higher learning should develop eco-systems for deriving maximum benefits from applying technology to learning.

He said the university is a role model for the society at large and its persuasive power extends beyond the classroom and called upon central universities to work with at least five villages each to turn them into model villages under the central government's 'Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana'.

Mukherjee said during his visit to Norway and Finland, he called upon academicians and experts to come and teach in India, under the Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN), in higher education.

Under the GIAN, the human resource development ministry has asked central universities for a list of eminent scholars and researchers for inviting them as guest speakers or scholars.

The president also said due to limitations of public funding, costs of creation of physical infrastructure and academic facilities get transferred to students in terms of higher fees.

"Whereas universities earlier used to educate fresh scholars, they now have the added responsibility of training and re-training workers throughout their careers...The twin compulsions of increasing expenditure and dynamic demand can be addressed through extensive use of e-enabled learning," he said.

Both SWAYAM (Study Web of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) and MOOCs could pave the way for speed, scale and efficiency for teaching in the higher education system, the president added.