The University Grants Commission (UGC) has reported that it has been constantly persuading the universities to introduce academic reforms like introduction of semester system, choice based credit system, grading etc. with a view to bringing about qualitative improvement in higher education in the country. Guidelines, in accordance with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), were also required for integrating skill and vocational development with mainstream general education in Universities and Colleges. Accordingly, the UGC has issued guidelines for Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) and Credit Framework for Skill Development (CFSD). The CBCS guidelines are available at http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/9555132_Guidelines.pdf and CFSD at http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/6925009_SkillNSQF.pdf.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education convened a meeting of all State Education Ministers looking after Higher / Technical Education, on 6th January 2015 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, to discuss adoption of the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) and the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) in Colleges and State Public Universities. The details of the issues discussed and decision taken during the meeting are at http://mhrd.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/Press_Release_06-01-2015.pdf. All State Ministers of Higher/Technical Education endorsed the Credit Framework for Skills and the Choice Based Credit System in the meeting held on 06th January 2015 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The UGC is also conducting eight Regional Workshops from 20th March, 2015 to 16th April, 2015 so that all the universities can be prepared and assisted in the implementation of Choice Based Credit System (CBCS). The UGC has also setup a Cell to address challenges emanating from the implementation of CBCS and NSQF. Details are available at http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/6685669_English.pdf.
This information was given by the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Smt. Smriti Irani in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha question.
Source: PIB
