Sat Sep 27 19:56:14 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The Academic Council of the University of Madras (UoM) has postponed its decision regarding a proposed four-year dual degree program in basic sciences in partnership with the University of Melbourne. Council members raised several objections concerning the program’s structure, its conflict with state language policy, lack of clear degree specifications, and low enrollment numbers in the associated blended B.Sc program. Doubts were also expressed regarding Tamil Nadu’s stance on the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages such four-year programs.
**News Article:**
**University of Madras Delays Decision on Dual Degree Program Amidst Concerns**
**Chennai – September 28, 2025** – The Academic Council of the University of Madras (UoM) has deferred a crucial decision regarding a proposed four-year dual degree program in basic sciences offered in collaboration with the University of Melbourne. The move comes after council members voiced significant objections to the program’s design and implementation.
The proposed program, an extension of the existing B.Sc (blended) Science program, would have allowed students to complete the first two years at UoM and then transfer to the University of Melbourne for the final two years, earning a Bachelor of Basic Science from UoM and a Bachelor of Advanced (Honours) from the Australian institution.
However, the proposal faced scrutiny on several fronts. Council members raised concerns about the program’s alignment with Tamil Nadu’s language policy, which mandates Tamil or another language for all undergraduate courses. The blended course lacked provisions for language courses other than English.
“There was a lack of clarity on where Tamil Nadu stood on the National Education Policy 2020, which encourages four-year undergraduate programs, and we brought that to the notice of the Council,” said P.K. Abdul Rahiman, Head (in-charge), JBAS Centre for Islamic Studies.
Further objections centered on the program’s structure and degree specifications. “It does not specify the title of the four-year degree and leaves it ambiguous as B.Sc Advanced (Honours),” noted K. Kathiravan, professor and head of the department of Biotechnology. Concerns were also raised about the program’s equivalence to core subjects like Physics, Chemistry, or Mathematics.
Adding to the council’s hesitation was the low enrollment figures in the associated B.Sc (blended) Science program, with numbers ranging from just 3 to 11 students per year since its inception in 2022.
The future of the dual degree program now hangs in the balance as the Academic Council reassesses its viability in light of the concerns raised. The decision to defer highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the implementation of NEP 2020 within Tamil Nadu’s educational institutions.
First Piper 