UGC Frames Guidelines to Start Courses on Indian Heritage to Attract Foreign Students; Check Details Here

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The University Grants Commission has ordered the universities to offer diploma programmes based on the Indian heritage and culture to promote the rich cultural heritage of India.

New Delhi: The University Grants Commission has ordered universities to offer diploma programmes based on the Indian heritage and culture in order to promote the country's rich cultural heritage.

The courses will be short-term, multi-tier credit-based modular programmes with various entry and exit centred on Indian tradition and culture, in accordance with UGC rules announced on May 10, 2023 (Wednesday), in order to encourage foreigners to travel to India.

According to the course's rules, knowledge of varied learning in universal human values, Vedic mathematics, yoga, ayurveda, Sanskrit, Indian languages, and even "sacrosanct religious regions" will be disseminated and imparted.

The recommendations include learning about Indian heritage, Indian literature, Indian sculpture, Indian music, Indian dance, theatre, visual and performing arts, as well as the Indian Knowledge system.

The institutions may offer the courses in any of the 46 "tentative areas" that the UGC has designated. It comprises Indian rites, astrology, Indian music or dance, Indian folklore, Indian culture, Indian ethics or morals, and Indian manuscripts among other things. The list of courses also includes Kannada, Pali, Prakrit, Sanskrit, Malayalam, and Bengali literature and languages.

The course can be delivered at three different levels: Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced, depending on the complexity of the respective disciplines' curricula and the extent of learning outcomes.

People from all the nations who are interested in Indian culture and knowledge systems and who have registered in such particular courses to continue their education are eligible for admission, according to the rules.

Universities that offer these curricula are permitted to establish certain qualifying requirements. Draught guidelines for integrating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into curricula for higher education were made available to the public for feedback by UGC in April 2023.

UGC’s Programme Framework

The hybrid curriculum can be made available for at least 60 hours of instruction. Additionally, the recommendations state that "Discussion with the experienced educators (Acharyas), artists, artisans, and craftsmen; confluence with religious devotees (Satsang); exposure to folk cultures; and excursions to famous places in the programmes, especially at advanced level under this scheme" should be included in the curriculum.

Any educational institution may accept credits acquired through such programmes through the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) for credit accumulation and confirmation of academic awards under the credit transfer system.

However, the university offering such courses will determine the necessary credits, educational component, and quality of learning outcome.

UGC Certificate Course Assessment

The new recommendations include information on the disciplines to offer as well as ways for carrying out assessments of enrolled students.

According to the standards, evaluation should be done continuously and thoroughly through project work, term papers, contests, essay writing, speech, and quizzes.

According to the UGC's evaluation reforms document, universities must also periodically perform computer-based evaluation, viva voce, and other relevant assessment methodologies based on the programme learning outcomes.

Students will get certificates at the conclusion of the course, which will be made available in digital format via the National Academic Depository, or NAD.

Artists empanelment in universities

The UGC has also published rules to simplify the hiring of Kala gurus or artists in higher education institutions.

According to the regulations, colleges may invite any artist or kala guru who has taken part in at least five official worldwide, national, or local concerts, exhibitions, or art fairs. If they can produce evidence of the artist's lineage's popularity, artists from traditional families or Gharanas of a particular art form are also invited to teach.

An evaluation committee assembled by the educational institution will evaluate the application of artists who are residents at the university. The relevant university may choose the length of the partnership.

The guidelines have separated artists into three categories: Artists, Parama Guru, or Exceptional Artists, and Parameshti Guru, or Prominent Artists. The guidelines specify that the empanelled Kala Gurus shall be given an appropriate, well-equipped workspace to carry out the activities with the necessary facilities and materials as well as additional help needed to offer the learning.

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