UGC issues Draft National Higher Educational Qualification Framework, Feedback by Feb 13

The University Grants Commission has released a draft National Higher Educational Qualification Framework as part of the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020. The draft framework was put in the public domain on January 31, 2022, and the commission has sought feedback and suggestions on the draft by February 13, 2022. 

As per reports, the Higher Education institutions across the country will soon be brought to a new framework to assess students on a range of learning outcomes, including from job readiness to constitutional values, theoretical knowledge to technical skills. 

The UGC in a tweet has stated that suggestions are invited from all stakeholders on the Draft National Higher Education Qualification Framework developed as part of the recommendations of NEP 2020. Suggestions have been invited through nepnheqf@gmail.com.

UGF Draft

UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain in a public notification has stated that the NEP 2020 stipulates that a national higher education qualification framework will be formulated and will be in sync with the National Skills Qualification Framework so as to ease the integration of vocational education into higher education, prescribe the facilitative norms for issues including credit transfer, equivalence, etc. Higher education qualification leading to a degree/ diploma/ certificate will also be described by NHEQF with respect to learning outcomes.

Assessment Parameters

As per the framework the NHEQF  has established certain assessment parameters for students in higher education institutions and divided it from levels 5 to 10. School education is covered in levels 1 to 4. The draft further states that the Level 5 of the NHEQF  represents learning outcomes appropriate to the first year of the UG programme and level 10 represents learning outcomes with greater complexity appropriate to the doctoral level programmes of study.

As per the draft, students will be assessed on different factors including theoretical knowledge and understanding, cognitive and technical skills, application of knowledge and skills, decision-making abilities, constitutional, humanistic, ethical, and moral values, employment-ready skills, and the entrepreneurship mindset.

Credit system as per UGC Framework

It also mentions the number of credits required to complete the different levels of the 4 year UG programmes, Masters's programmes, and doctoral degrees as per the NEP framework. Students looking to exit the UG programme with a certificate will require 40 credits, while those exiting with a diploma after 2 years will need 80 credits. Those completing a degree after three years will require 120 credits and a degree with honours/ research after 4 years will need 160 credits. The value of 1 credit is 2 hours of teaching or two hours of practical work. Fieldwork per week.

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