Academic Bank Of Credits: Now UG/PG Students Can Customise Courses Under NEP 2020 - All About It

As per the norms formed by UGC for the establishment of Academic Bank of Credits, the UG/ PG students can learn subjects of their preference from multiple colleges and universities at the same time. 

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New Delhi: On the occasion of completion of one year of transformative reforms under National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Prime Minister launched multiple initiatives in the education sector including the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC). 

As per the norms formed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for the establishment of an Academic Bank of Credits, the Under-graduate/ Post-graduate students can learn subjects of their preference from multiple colleges and universities at the same time. 

On Wednesday, the UGC published Establishment and Operation of Academic Banks of Credit in Higher Education Regulations, 2021 in the gazette as per which, "The regulations are meant to create appropriate credit transfer mechanism and shall facilitate students to choose their own learning path to attain a Degree or Diploma or Post Graduate diploma or academic qualification, working on the principle of multiple entry-multiple exits as well as any-time, any-where, and any-level learning." 

Students will have great autonomy thanks to the Academic Bank of Credits, which will offer a wide range of courses for a programme of study, curricular flexibility, and unique and exciting course selections across a variety of higher education fields or institutions. 

Students will be able to choose the finest courses or combinations of courses to suit their ability and need for knowledge because of the move. It will also allow students to personalise their degrees or make specific adjustments or specialisations rather than following a single university's or autonomous college's inflexible, regularly defined degree or courses. 

“It will enable the integration of multiple disciplines of higher learning, leading to the desired learning outcomes including enhanced creativity, innovation, higher order thinking and critical analysis,” the notification added as reported by The Print. 

How will ABC work? 

Every student will be able to open a unique or individual Academic Bank Account in digital form through the Academic Bank of Credits and each account holder will be given a unique ID and access to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). 

Under these rules, ABC is responsible for registering Higher Education Institutions, ensuring the opening, closure, and validation of Academic Bank Accounts, as well as credit verification, credit accumulation, and credit transfer or redemption for students. 

All higher education programmes that fall within the definition of the Commission, the All India Council of Technical Education and the National Council of Teacher Education would be covered by the Academic Bank of Credits.