Fri Nov 15 00:28:23 IST 2024: ## UGC Allows Flexible Undergraduate Programs: Students Can Adjust Course Duration
**Chennai, November 14, 2024:** The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced a new level of flexibility for undergraduate programs, allowing students to tailor their degree durations to their individual needs and capabilities.
According to UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar, students can now complete their degrees in as little as two-and-a-half years or stretch them out to five years, depending on their pace and aspirations. “Typically, a degree program lasts three or four years, but talented students can finish it faster, while others might need more time,” he said.
The announcement comes as part of the ongoing implementation of the National Education Policy-2020 (NEP). During a conference on the NEP in Chennai, Kumar also emphasized the importance of using English as a communication tool alongside the mother tongue as the medium of instruction, particularly for rural students. He highlighted that institutions in advanced countries teach in their native languages, emphasizing the importance of accessibility and inclusivity.
The UGC is also promoting skill-based courses to encourage entrepreneurship among students.
V. Kamakoti, Director of the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, stressed the importance of education for India’s young population. “If we don’t educate our young people now, we risk becoming the most uneducated nation in the world in a decade,” he said.
These initiatives are part of a broader effort to make higher education in India more affordable, equitable, and supportive for all students, aligning with the objectives of the NEP.
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