With a majority of the elected teachers on the Academic Council dissenting, the suggestion to Delhi University on a twinning degree scheme with other universities was rescinded and so was the plan to allow students the option of completing 40% of their semester courses online. But the dual degree scheme in where students can complete a full-time course as well as one distance-based course was approved despite the opposition of 15 members.
The session, which was facilitated by Vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh dissolved the extra regulations for the promotion to associate professors, assistant professors, and professors, and decided to adhere to The University Grant Commission’s rules on the subject.
In the twinning scheme, students could enroll in the Du courses and its colleges that are part of it and be able for study for a period of time in an international university, and receive credits from the host institution which could be used towards necessary credits required for the award of the degree in DU.
AC Member Mithuraaj Dhusiya said, “After we vehemently protested against the twinning program the university was compelled to withdraw the plan. They acknowledged that homework had to be conducted in this regard before it could be put in the AC for discussion.”
In the case of the proposal to approve regarding dual degrees, those who opposed it feared that it could result in “dilution in the process of learning, making it more of a collection of degrees rather as opposed to a rigorous process in the development of knowledge and thinking critically”.
The rules for promotion have also been discussed particularly the rule that to advance from associate professor to assistant professor, the candidate should have published at minimum four papers during the assessment period, and at least two of them in Scopus an index journal. AC Member Megh Raj said, “All suddenly the delhi university ( du) changed its rules in the violation of UGC regulations. UGC states that the candidate should have published a single research paper in published peer reviewed journals, or journals that are listed by UGC.”
The VC told the meeting that there had been 6,115 promotions granted and 3,441 new appointments have been made up to date in the university and in the colleges.
There was a lot of opposition to DU seeking to permit students to take 40% of their semester classes on the internet. AC Member Maya John reported, “It was decided to put off on the subject of online and MOOC courses. A number of technical issues remain to be dealt with. A number of technicalities remain to be resolved. AC will be reorganized on an agenda section Strategic Plan 2022-47 as members do not want a rush discussion about the long term planning.”
Singh stated at his AC session that in the 2023-24 academic year the admissions of 68,583 students were granted on an undergraduate couses basis and 11,196 for PG classes and 784 for doctoral research. A sum of Rs 1,00,611,057 was allocated to 1,009 students in the system of financial assistance in 2022-2023. In addition, the orphans received 98 students the full waiver of fees.