This transformative step underscores BHU's commitment to fostering holistic development and nurturing future-ready professionals.
In a significant move aimed at enhancing the quality of education and aligning with the objectives outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has announced the introduction of a four-year undergraduate programme, commencing from the academic session 2024-25. This transformative step underscores BHU's commitment to fostering holistic development and nurturing future-ready professionals.
Under the proposed programme, BHU will offer both honors and research-based undergraduate degrees, namely UG Honors and UG Honors with research. The curriculum is meticulously designed to cultivate critical thinking, research acumen, and interdisciplinary perspectives among students. Notably, students completing UG Honors with Research will gain direct eligibility for the PhD programme, obviating the need for a postgraduate degree.
To ensure academic rigor and merit-based admissions, BHU will allocate only 10% of total admitted students with a CGPA of 7.5 and above to opt for UG Honors with research. This selection criteria underscore BHU's commitment to excellence and scholarship.
Emphasizing experiential learning and skill enhancement, the proposed programme mandates students to pursue credits in Multidisciplinary Courses, Skill Enhancement Courses, Ability Enhancement, Value Added Courses, and internships. Moreover, students pursuing honors with research will undertake a dissertation in their final semester, providing them with hands-on research experience.
In a bid to promote academic discipline and accountability, BHU has decided to offer hostel facilities in subsequent years only to students maintaining a minimum attendance of 70% in classes. This measure aims to instill a sense of responsibility and punctuality among students, aligning with NEP's vision of holistic education.
While introducing these transformative changes, BHU ensures continuity in specialized programmes such as the five-year BA LLB course offered by the Faculty of Law and skill enhancement professional programmes at South Campus. These programmes, falling under specific regulatory frameworks, remain unaffected by the proposed alterations.
Departments at BHU have been tasked with reviewing existing offerings and formulating modalities to seamlessly integrate the proposed changes. By embracing innovation and adaptability, BHU reaffirms its commitment to academic excellence and student-centric learning paradigms in line with the evolving educational landscape shaped by NEP 2020.