Delhi University is set to introduce a doctoral program in Fine Arts starting from the academic year 2024. This decision was made during a meeting of the university’s Executive Council, the institution’s highest decision-making body, which convened on Friday. Responding to requests from various student unions, the Executive Council has granted a one-time age relaxation of three years for both voting in and contesting Delhi University Students’ Union elections. The maximum age limit for undergraduate students has been raised from 22 to 25 years, and for postgraduate students, it has been extended from 25 to 28 years. During the council meeting, approval was also granted to initiate a PhD program in Fine Arts, commencing from the 2023-2024 academic session, within the Faculty of Music and Fine Arts. According to the newly established rules, PhD scholars are required to attain a minimum of 55 percent marks or nine credits (or equivalent grade) in the UGC 7-point scale for their coursework to remain eligible to proceed in the program and submit their dissertation or thesis. Each credit is equivalent to four hours of teaching, as per the statement issued. In addition to the Fine Arts PhD program, the Department of Commerce will introduce a new program called MBA (Business Analytics) with an initial intake of 76 seats. The Executive Council has also accepted recommendations from the Value Addition Courses (VAC) Committee, which include implementing courses such as Vedic Mathematics-III, Vedic Mathematics-IV, and National Cadet Corps-III from the academic year 2022-2023. Furthermore, various committees have been formed to structure the Research and Development Cell (RDC) of DU, aimed at promoting a research culture. This includes the establishment of an RDC Advisory Committee and five other committees, as mentioned in the statement. During the EC meeting, recommendations from the Academic Council held on August 11 were deliberated upon. The syllabi for the fourth, fifth, and sixth semesters for various departments and colleges in alignment with the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework-2022 (UGCF-2022) were approved. In the same meeting, Self Learning Material (SLM) was accepted for students of the School of Open Learning (SOL) under the Department of Distance and Continuing Education, following UGCF-2022 guidelines. The SLM for SOL will be reviewed by an expert group, taking into consideration suggestions from Academic Council members, with the updated/revised SLM slated for presentation in the next Academic Council meeting. Regarding the proposed registration fee for SC/ST and PWBD students enrolling in the five-year Integrated Law Programme for the academic session 2023-24, it has been reduced from Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,000. Additionally, papers based on Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC) under UGCF-2022 were approved. These encompass courses like Basics of Food Science and Nutrition, Basic Forensic Science, Basic Laboratory Techniques, and Public Health, Hygiene, and Nutrition, among others. Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh emphasized that these courses would equip students for employment opportunities in various sectors, including food and drug evaluation centres. He also mentioned that these programs could empower students to establish their own businesses. Concerning the fees for the new five-year Integrated Law programs, the university has provisions for a fee waiver of up to 90 percent for students coming from families with an annual income of less than Rs 4 lakh. Such students can also receive assistance through the Financial Support Scheme for economically disadvantaged students. Furthermore, students whose parents’ income falls between Rs 4 to 8 lakh will benefit from a 50 percent fee waiver. The Vice Chancellor also disclosed that students in the five-year Integrated Law program would be eligible for reimbursement of up to Rs 50,000 for laptops provided by the university. Finally, the Executive Council approved guidelines for internships, apprenticeships, and community outreach, applicable from the third to the sixth semester under UGCF 2022. These guidelines stipulate that colleges must establish prior Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with specific commercial and non-commercial organizations or enterprises and industries before commencing apprenticeships or internships. The number of seats for apprenticeship/internship training can be determined by the college based on available facilities and infrastructure.
