By H. Srikanth
The first batch of students pursuing the FYUP under NEHU are now writing their third-year UG exams. As the first batch of students, they indeed became guinea pigs in the experiments conducted by NEHU authorities in collaboration with the state government and college managements. Surmounting all the problems and difficulties that they had to encounter through no fault of their own, the first batch of students is now about to complete their third-year of FYUP. Students who complete a three-year degree with one major and secure 120 credits have the option to discontinue with a three-year degree, pursue the fourth year of FYUP for an Honors degree, or opt for a traditional two-year postgraduate program at NEHU. This article helps undergraduate students understand their priorities and make their choices.
For students aspiring to secure a valid degree that enables them to appear for most competitive exams for central and state service jobs, a three-year degree is enough. Those who aspire to become school teachers or lawyers can join B.Ed. or LLB. after a three-year degree. They may pursue short-term coaching to enhance skills necessary in their respective fields. Learning AI or computer courses helps. Some papers or topics taught in the PG or fourth-year FYUP may also help in competitive exams. For that purpose, there is no need to pursue postgraduate studies. The students can study those specific topics and papers on their own.
Those keen on competing for All India Civil Service Exams or interested in pursuing an academic career in higher education institutions may opt for the fourth year of FYUP or join the traditional two-year PG program offered by NEHU or other known universities. The fourth-year under FYUP is something new that the university is experimenting with. Only those who have completed the third-year degree without backlogs become eligible to pursue the fourth-year under FYUP. In the fourth-year, the students will study ten advanced courses to get an Honours Degree, or do seven advanced courses and one dissertation to get an Honors Research Degree. Although NEHU has gone for FYUP, several college-managements have realized that they do not have the infrastructure or human resources to run the fourth-year under FYUP. They have made the right decision not to offer the fourth-year courses. Consequently, only select UG colleges in the state will run the fourth-year FYUP. Since the fourth year involves advanced courses unfamiliar to UG college teachers, the Academic Council suggested that colleges offering the fourth year should appoint two additional teachers. Such colleges should acquire books and study materials for their libraries and improve lab facilities for the students. Furthermore, UG colleges aspiring to offer Honours with Research Degrees should have at least two teachers with Ph.D. degrees in the concerned department. Without fulfilling these requirements, the UG colleges cannot offer the Honors degree programs under FYUP.
It makes no sense to join the fourth year of FYUP in UG colleges that have limited infrastructure and inadequate teachers. After obtaining a three-year degree, students have the option to choose good colleges with better infrastructure and faculty to offer the fourth-year FYUP. However, students should be prepared to pay an enhanced fee and experience teething problems, as these colleges are offering the courses for the first time. As of today, no government in the country has stipulated a four-year Honours degree as minimum eligibility for appearing in any competitive exams. Still, doing advanced courses may help improve knowledge in the discipline, provided the UG colleges have the infrastructure and enough faculty. Still, doing advanced courses may help improve knowledge in the discipline, provided the UG colleges have the infrastructure and enough faculty.
According to NEP 2020, one who gets an Honours degree may go for a one-year PG degree. It even says that those who secure over 75 percent CGPA may go for research, bypassing the PG program altogether. Although this looks good on paper, there is little possibility of a one-year PG program materializing soon. Few reputed public universities have gone for one-year PG. It is not clear whether the government expects the universities to give up the two-year PG degree program and run only one-year PG programs, or the NEP expects all the universities to run both two-year and one-year PG programs. Running two parallel PG programs becomes difficult because it requires additional financial allocation for the universities which also necessitates recruiting additional faculty. The financial allocation by the governments–both central and state–for higher education has drastically reduced in recent decades. Many PG programs in universities are run with temporary faculty. The quality of PG programs drastically declines if universities are asked to run two or three streams of PG programs with the same infrastructure and faculty. Further, it is not clear whether those completing an Honours degree will have a separate CUET to enter the one-year PG.
At present, NEHU is going through a crisis period. Apart from the financial crunch, NEHU is facing problems because of the absence of a regular, functional Vice-Chancellor. Many senior teachers and non-teaching staff have retired, but there have been no fresh recruitments. Some departments are running with five or six teachers, and some have even fewer. Because of the research component, which has become compulsory, the teachers in some departments are guiding around ten PG dissertations in the second year of PG. If NEHU is to offer a one-year PG alongside traditional PG program, then the quality of PG will drastically decline. The students may secure a PG degree, but they will not have any market value. The teachers, overloaded with teaching responsibilities, neglect research and publications, bringing down the university ranking further. Individuals and organizations in the state rooting for a one-year PG should be aware of the ground situation, and not force the university to take a hasty decision. Students should join the FYUP fully aware of the pros and cons of this still-evolving system.
Under these circumstances, the best option for the UG students who complete the three-year degree is to compete for traditional two-year PG program offered by NEHU or other reputed public universities in India. Those who cannot afford to study in better universities outside the region, may seek admission in traditional PG program offered by NEHU in its campuses or in select affiliated colleges. There is nothing special that the fourth-year of FYUP offers to the students, for they study the same syllabus taught to the students of the first year PG program offered by NEHU.
Compared to the colleges, NEHU has more qualified teachers and better library and laboratory facilities than the UG colleges in the state. Teachers in NEHU and affiliated PG colleges are better equipped to teach and guide research. Once the students join the traditional PG program, they don’t need to worry about the one-year PG. They don’t need to change the institutions to complete their PG. Given these advantages, NEHU students should first try to gain admission into the University’s two-year PG program. Only those students who fail to secure admission in NEHU or in its affiliated colleges offering traditional PG programs may consider joining the fourth-year FYUP in some good UG colleges.
It’s imperative that students understand the pros and cons of different options, discuss with their teachers and parents, and take appropriate decision.
