Institutions of higher learning should invest thought and resources into introducing Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS) effectively as it had several advantages in strengthening the learners’ ability, K. Baskar, Vice-Chancellor, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, has said.
Addressing the university’s 44th Standing Committee on Academic Affairs meeting here on Monday, he said that University Grants Commission and National Assessment and Accreditation Council were strongly in favour of developing the CBCS in tune with global trends and adoption of a proper grading system for measuring performance of learners.
The UGC, in its Plan for Academic and Administrative Reforms, had indicated that curricular flexibility and learners’ mobility were issues that required urgent attention. “The CBCS eminently fits into the emerging socio-economic milieu and could effectively respond to the educational and occupational aspirations of upcoming generations,” Dr. Baskar observed. Referring to the comment by some contemporary educationists that ‘education system in India is nothing but examination system,’ the VC said that students might pass with good marks with scanty preparation done just prior to the examination.
Hence, the present system should be modified with the modern facilities available for grade reporting by presenting a wider range of performance parameters.
“With effective use of automation and technology, a seamless connectivity can be ensured by incorporating all these parameters from the first semester to the issue of final mark statement,” he suggested.
International collaboration
The VC spelt out his plan for ensuring more international collaboration in research at the MSU and enhancing quality and quantity of research publications.
“Since the quality and quantity of a university’s publication output help determining its international reputation and the amount of funding that it receives based on the international research performance reviews, there is a need to take steps to achieve this,” he said. Dr. Baskar emphasised the need for transferring the technology developed in MSU laboratories for developing community, particularly to the farming community, under its ‘lab-to-land’ programme.
