/ground-report/media/post_banners/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Source-Canva-21-2.jpg)
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently issued guidelines instructing affiliated universities and colleges to introduce a compulsory subject on environmental studies in all branches of university degrees.
Under these guidelines, environmental education will cover topics such as climate change, pollution, sanitation, waste management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, forest and wildlife conservation, and management of biological resources.
The UGC, acting under the direction of the Union Ministry of Education, has sent official guidelines to all universities in the country. The guidelines state that environmental education should be included as a core subject in all undergraduate programs.
The Ministry of Education's online platform 'SWAYAM' provides videos and e-content related to the topic, which can be used by higher education institutions across the country.
The environmental education curriculum is considered multidisciplinary, giving universities the freedom to choose their preferred methodology and approach to implement the subject. The objective of this program is to make students aware of the environment.
The guidelines are aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and emphasize the importance of integrating environmental education into degree programs. The curriculum aims to foster environmental awareness, sensitivity and promote sustainable development.
In another significant development in higher education, students who complete the required credits for their degree program before the stipulated four-year duration will earn a degree.
The UGC states that if a student completes all the necessary credits for a four-year program in three and a half years, they should be considered degree eligible. Currently, students receive an honours degree after completing three years of undergraduate programs.
By the recommendations of a committee formed by the UGC to revise the nomenclature of degrees under the National Education Policy 2020, the new four-year degree program in the Science stream may be designated as a Bachelor of Science (BS).
Similarly, degrees in the Arts and Commerce streams may be titled BA Hons with Research and BCom Hons with Research, respectively.
Keep Reading
Indian agriculture household earns just Rs. 10,218 in a month: Govt
Post-harvest losses still high, reveals data shared in Lok Sabha
Iberian Wolf Declared Extinct In Andalusia, Spain, What Does This Mean?
Beating The Heat: How Cool Roofs Are Transforming Ahmedabad
How Is Rising Temperature Reducing Crop Yield In India?
Support us to keep independent environmental journalism alive in India.
Follow Ground Report on X, Instagram and Facebook for environmental and underreported stories from the margins. Give us feedback on our email id [email protected].
Don't forget to Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Join our community on WhatsApp, Follow our Youtube Channel for video stories.
