Launch of a 4-year UG program in Kerala: ABC to guarantee student mobility

The four-year undergraduate program (FYUGP) that colleges and universities in the state plan to implement this year is expected to undergo a significant transformation thanks to the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), which allows students to deposit their credits earned for various courses in a centralised digital repository and redeem them in the same higher education institution or another institution when needed.

According to the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, ABC is mainly intended to support students’ academic mobility, allowing them the flexibility to pursue their studies at any of the nation’s higher education institutions. The Union Education Ministry will virtually deposit the credits that pupils have earned into their ABC Academic Account.

The accrued credits are transferred to the new institution’s account in the event that the student transfers to another one. It is possible to transfer credits across institutions so they may be accrued in different programs that are offered by the same or other institutions. The credit will be permanently deducted from the corresponding student’s ABC Academic Account if it is redeemed for the aforementioned prize. In 1,989 higher education institutions throughout India, about 29.87 crore students have already been enrolled in the ABC framework.

According to UGC rules, ABC will only consider papers that are sent by the relevant registered higher education institution that is granting the credit, and will not accept any documents directly from students about course credits.

All of Kerala’s state institutions have already adopted the ABC structure, according to vice-chairman Rajan Gurukkal of the Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC). The state’s 62 higher education institutions have embraced the ABC platform, according to the most recent statistics. The number of state-created ABC IDs for pupils has grown from 3.36 lakh in December 2023 to 4.40 lakh through May 2024.

“After the student’s credit information is uploaded to the ABC academic account, they may apply for lateral admission into any institution in the nation for a specific subject and graduate with a degree. The smooth transfer of students abroad may even be facilitated if the ABC framework is globally recognized, according to Gurukkal. Additionally, it would enable students to take a sabbatical from their studies and return to the program later on by using their earned credits.

Gurukkal said institutions would be forced to closely follow their academic schedule in order to administer exams and promptly announce results. Gurukkal said, “If a student feels that another university’s system is more efficient, he can approach that university, redeem the credits, and obtain the degree from that institution if he earns the required credits for award of degree.”

Students may pick a study pace and the ideal courses or combinations of courses based on their ability with the help of the ABC method. Apart from standard courses, online courses taken by students via national programs like SWAYAM, NPTEL, V-Lab, or any designated institution, will also be taken into account for credit accumulation and transfer.

According to the UGC rules on ABC, it will include “amalgamation of various existing and futuristic teaching-learning models” rather than being restricted to distance or non-contact modes. Notably, students will also be allowed to add credits to their own academic bank accounts by enrolling in extra courses that suit their aptitude outside the requirements of degree programs.

advantageous system

Academicians assert that universities may no longer prevent their students from enrolling in a restricted number of electives. Students may now study a variety of courses from the same university or from separate universities, such as music as a minor and mathematics as a major, thanks to the advent of ABC.

“schools adopting the ABC framework immediately commit to recognizing and rewarding the credits transferred by students from other schools in accordance with UGC norms. Thus, children are less likely to have difficulties with mobility, according to a KSHEC official engaged in the development of the FYUGP model curriculum.

Academic Bank of Credits’ terms and conditions

At least 50% of the credits must be earned from the higher education institution conferring the degree, even if students are free to choose from a variety of courses offered by one or more of the ABC-registered higher education institutions. Additionally, the student must get a particular amount of credits in core areas as determined by the degree-granting higher education institution where they are enrolled. Student credits must be put into the appropriate Academic Bank Account with ABC and are only good for a maximum of seven years. Any credit that is used toward the granting of a degree will be permanently deducted from the student’s academic bank account.

Kerala’s ACADEMIC BANK OF CREDITS

There are 62 higher education institutes in all.

Independent universities: 22

15 state universities

13 independent institutions

Central Universities: Five

Three colleges

Universities that are deemed to be: 3

Universities in the center: 1