This story is from August 17, 2014

Gauhati University toes UGC line on four-yr BS course

Gauhati University (GU) has decided to discontinue its four-year Bachelor of Science (BS) programme. The course was very popular among students ever since it was introduced by GU in 2009.
Gauhati University toes UGC line on four-yr BS course
GUWAHATI: Gauhati University (GU) has decided to discontinue its four-year Bachelor of Science (BS) programme. The course was very popular among students ever since it was introduced by GU in 2009.
The university’s Institute of Science and Technology (GUIST), which conducts the course, will not enroll a fresh batch of students this year, considering the University Grants Commission (UGC)’s opposition to four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP).

“The UGC has asked several leading institutions of the country to do away with their four-year undergraduate courses. GU does not want to violate UGC’s diktats. So, its academic council has recently asked GUIST to discontinue the four-year BS programme,” said a senior GU official.
When contacted, GUIST’s director (in-charge) Shikhar Kumar Sarma confirmed that admissions to the BS course has been put on hold.
“Students who are already pursuing the four-year BS programme in our university need not worry. For them, we have the two-year MS course and there will be no dearth of seats for them. All BS course graduates will be enrolled in the university’s MS programme,” Sarma said.
GUIST offers BS courses in physical science, chemical science, mathematical science and medical biotechnology. The number of aspirants seeking admission to the BS courses had been increasing every year till 2013, according to university officials.
The objective behind designing the four-year BS course was to integrate required courses with core science, allowing undergraduate science students the scope for advanced study, an official of the university said.
Sources in the university added that GUIST was hoping that the intake capacity for the BS course would be increased from the current 10 students per batch. However, its latest move has disappointed hundreds of aspirants who were seeking admission to the four-year course.
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About the Author
Kangkan Kalita

Kangkan Kalita is a reporter with The Times of India and covers issues on health, education, stories of human interest while keeping a close watch on political developments and student movements. Reporting on environment and forest related issues and concerns of the northeast interest him equally.

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