Undergraduate and postgraduate students at Delhi University now have the opportunity to concurrently pursue two academic programs, a decision sanctioned by the university's academic council. The approval, spearheaded by the academic council and executive council, allows students to pursue two programs simultaneously. However, the decision on twinning degrees and enrolling in courses across different institutions was postponed during the meeting.
The academic council, in partnership with the executive council, possesses the authority to finalize decisions for the university. In a recent meeting, the academic council granted initial approval for dual degrees, awaiting final confirmation from the executive council, the university's highest governing body. The university has delineated procedures for implementing these dual degree programs, initially allowing students to pursue degrees through a blend of regular and distance learning, as stated.
However, despite the approval, a faction within the academic council expressed opposition to the resolution on dual degrees. Concerns were raised about potential compromises in education quality and the devaluation of degrees. In December 2022, the university formed a committee to explore the feasibility of a joint degree program, aligning with the National Education Policy 2020. Former Executive Council member Abha Dev Habib criticized the concept of dual degrees, denouncing it as a 'total farce' that undermines the significance of a full-time degree. Habib stressed the importance of prioritizing quality education over an excess of degrees, advocating that the National Education Policy should focus on genuine education.
Meanwhile, DUTA Executive member Rudrashish Chakraborty highlighted the strain placed not only on students but also on infrastructure facilities due to the dual degree program. Concerns were expressed regarding the absence of assurances regarding infrastructure enhancement. In the 1,016th meeting of the academic council chaired by Yogesh Singh, the vice-chancellor, detailed information regarding admissions for the current academic session was provided. Singh disclosed that 68,583 admissions were made in undergraduate programs, 11,196 in postgraduate programs, and 784 in Ph.D. programs. Additionally, he mentioned that 98 orphan students received admission with a full fee waiver under a special reservation scheme. The university disbursed a total of Rs 1,00,61,057 in financial support to 1009 students during the financial year 2022-2023.
