Induction programmes a must for new varsity, college students

ALLAHABAD: New students joining universities and colleges at undergraduate and post-graduate levels will have to undergo mandatory week-long induction programme.

Dean students’ welfare (DSW) and public relations officer of Allahabad University Prof Harsh Kumar said the University Grants Commission (UGC) had issued guidelines to the institutions for holding induction programmes on their respective campuses.

He said according to the missive (dated August 16) issued by UGC secretary Rajnish Jain, the week-long induction programmes should be launched at all the universities and colleges from the 2019 academic session.

“Being introduced with a purpose to help students acclimatise with the new surroundings, develop bond with fellow students and teachers and remain sensitive to issues of social relevance and imbibe human values. It is a part of quality mandate notified by the UGC for improving the quality of higher education,” he added.

In its 534th meeting held on August 2, the UGC approved ‘A guide to student induction programme’. While asking the higher educational institutions to introduce this programme, UGC said as universities and colleges had started various academic activities for the 2018-19 session, they should accommodate induction programme in present academic calendar. “From academic session 2019-20, provision for student induction programme will be included as a regular feature in the academic calendar of universities and colleges,” Prof Kumar said.

He said the induction programme would inculcate universal human values like trust, righteous conduct, love, non-violence and peace among students and stress on the importance of values of equality and responsibility towards fellow citizens.

According to the guidelines, new students should be informed that induction was mandatory non-credit course for which a certificate would be issued by the institution.

Prof Kumar said the UGC missive and the guide for students induction programme would be placed before appropriate bodies of AU for implementation.

NEW STUDENTS SHOULD BE INFORMED THAT INDUCTION WAS MANDATORY NONCREDIT COURSE FOR WHICH A CERTIFICATE WOULD BE ISSUED BY THE INSTITUTION.