UGC Makes Internships Mandatory For UG Students, Releases New Draft Guidelines

UGC introduces mandatory internships for undergraduate students under new draft guidelines.

New Delhi: Students enrolled in undergraduate programs will be required to undertake internships and they will receive academic credits for their internship experiences, as per the new draft guidelines from the University Grants Commission (UGC). The release of the draft "Guidelines for internship and research internship for undergraduate students" aligns with the principles of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, news agency PTI reported. The NEP 2020 underscores the significance of integrating research and internships into undergraduate (UG) curricula. This approach is intended to offer students opportunities for meaningful involvement in on-site experiential learning, thereby promoting a more practical and holistic educational experience.

"A minimum of two to four credits, out of the required minimum 120/160 credits, of a three-year UG degree/four-year UG degree (Honours)/four-year UG degree (Honours with Research) can be assigned for internship as per the National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF) and Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programme (CCFUP)," the draft guidelines stated.

It has been specified that UG degree program students must complete a mandatory internship lasting between 60 to 120 hours after their fourth semester.

"Three-year UG degree, four-year UG degree (Honours) and four-year degree (Honours with Research) programme will be operating strictly adhering to NEP-2020, NHEQF and CCFUP provisions," the draft guidelines stated.

"Based on the higher education qualification level descriptors for level-5.5 and level-6 some of the competencies with research orientation should be attained by the students by studying the courses under the Research Ability Enhancement Courses (RAEC) and by undertaking the research internship project," they stated.

In the case of students pursuing a three-year UG degree, they are required to complete a mandatory internship spanning 60 to 120 hours after their fourth semester. On the other hand, for those opting for a four-year degree, a mandatory research internship during the eighth semester is essential.

These internships can encompass a wide range of experiences, including regular internships with government or private organizations, non-governmental organizations, businesses, local industries, artists, craftsmen, and similar entities. For research internships, students can engage with faculty, scientists, mentors at higher education institutions (HEIs), research institutions, universities, industrial research labs, well-established national and international organizations, farmers, and entrepreneurs, as outlined in the provided guidelines.

"Each HEI should have a nodal officer who is responsible for developing need and demand-led verticals as well as expectations from each vertical in undergraduate programmes…to define verticals, HEIs must undertake a survey in the local market to understand the needs of companies and the expectations of student," the draft guidelines stated.

The Commission has recommended a variety of sectors for internships, including trade and agriculture, economy and banking, financial services, logistics, information technology, art, design, music, healthcare, life sciences, sports, wellness and physical education, environmental studies, and more.

"The interns will be evaluated by the research internship supervisor based on their efforts and research output, or the interns will be evaluated through seminar presentation or viva-voce at the HEI," the draft guidelines stated.

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