Courses at DU’S CIC a viable alternative to regular degrees

NEW DELHI: For students who could not have fared well in their senior secondary exams and may not clear the cut-offs to top colleges, Delhi University's Cluster Innovation Centre (CIC) can be a good option. “To enhance the research environment, the University started a CIC about six years ago,” said Prof Pankaj Tyagi, coordinator, CIC.

Aimed at solving problems through innovative ideas, the CIC offers innovative degree programmes, such as a B Tech which combines Information Technology and Mathematical Innovation, a BA (Hons) in Humanities and Social Sciences, and a unique Masters of Education joint degree in collaboration with Jamia Millia Islamia designed on the basis of the ‘meta-university' concept.

Through these new courses and a variety of other activities that support and mentor new innovations, the University hopes to aid students in solving real-world problems. “Among the subjects offered, students can study a combination of two subjects in one year and get a different combination for the other year,” Tyagi added.

“An online repository of research publications is being built, which the students and faculty can access even when not on campus,” an official of the CIC said. Last year, around 18,000 students applied for the entrance test for these innovative degrees at CIC. The CIC has 40 seats each on offer for both the B Tech and BA (Hons) programme, both of which are based on the ‘design your degree' concept.

For the Master of Education course, 20 seats are available. Interested candidates must have cleared Class XII examinations from CBSE or an equivalent recognised board with 60 per cent aggregate (for general category) marks in their best of four subjects. Eligibility of candidates will be judged on the basis of an entrance test, followed by an interview to be taken by the selection committee of the centre.