Exams contribute to lifelong credibility: UGC

NEWDELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Saturday said 194 universities in the country have conducted final-year exams for graduating students while calling examinations an integral part of the education system and a measure of learning and competencies of students.

“The performance in examinations contributes to merit, lifelong credibility, wider global acceptability for admissions, scholarships, awards, placements, and better future prospects. A large number of best universities across the world, including [in the] US, UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong..., have conducted or are conducting examinations by giving various options such as online, offline, blended or other alternative forms of examinations,” UGC secretary Rajnish Jain said in a statement.

The statement comes even as states like Punjab, Maharashtra, and Delhi had expressed their inability in conducting the exams in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. Institutions like the Delhi University have tried to conduct exams but have faced opposition from students and parents with some citing digital divide in case of online tests.

UGC, the higher education regulator, on July 6 asked universities and colleges to hold their final-year, or final-semester examinations, by September 30 after the Union home ministry gave the go-ahead for them.

The statement cited the pandemic and said it was difficult to conduct the examinations in July. Therefore, as per the directions of the Union home and human resources development ministers as well as recommendations from an expert panel, UGC issued the revised guidelines for examination and academic calendar on July 6, the statement added. The statement said the universities were accordingly required to chart out plans for completion of the examinations by the end of September.