ABC credit system widens scope to benefit students – Times of India

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently amended the UGC (Establishment and Operation of Academic Bank of Credits in Higher Education) Regulations, 2021 which was issued on July 28, 2021. Due to this amendment, all universities, autonomous colleges and institutions of national importance that satisfy sub-regulation 2 of regulation 1 may be part of this Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) process, regardless of their NAAC ranking. So that students will be benefited in taking courses and admission in colleges. Before this amendment, only those colleges and universities that received an ‘A’ grade from NAAC could be part of the ABC process. Institutions satisfying sub-regulation 2 of regulation 1 means universities, deemed universities and autonomous colleges established by means of Central or State legislations.

Speaking to Education Times, Yogesh Singh, Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi, says, “ABC will provide academic flexibility to the students. For example, if there is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two universities, the students will be able to get credits from both the universities. When a student drops out of a particular course after the first or second year, the credits earned by him will be included in the students’ ABC account. These credits will be applicable when a student joins a course of his/her choice.”

“It is important to have provision for multiple entry and exit options. A student decides to drop out after the first year, he can rejoin the same or another university after a while. This is a new concept in our country which will develop gradually. Implementing this initiative is important because our higher education system operates in silos that prevent students from studying a limited number of electives in a particular stream. This system of multiple entry and exit options will allow students to follow a diverse approach. For example, a student pursuing a major in physics will be able to pursue a minor in psychology because of this ABC system,” says Singh.

Anil Joseph Pinto, Registrar, Christ University, Bangalore says, “The ABC regulation, gazetted by the UGC, created ABC as a separate depository database similar to the then existing National Academic Depository (NAD), which was introduced in 2016. At NAD All are included. Marks card and degree certificate of the students. Through ABC or multiple entry or exit options, students will be able to exit only in even semester. Parents of those students who are working with Central Govt. are often transferred all over India. Children of such parents will now have the option to change the college accordingly. Also, if a student gets admission in a government college which is not very famous, the student Can transfer to a central university as both will accept credits earned by the student.

However, students must ensure that 50% of the required credits earned come from the institution they are primarily enrolled in to graduate, further adds Pinto.