Credit system

Credit system

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  Credit System By: Ms.Kiran Malik
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  Introduction An academic creditsystem is a standard used by universities to measure and assess students’ work and effort during their Bachelor's, Master's or PhD programme. For each course students will take during their degree studies, they will earn a number of credits.
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  Introduction  The University GrantsCommission (UGC) has asked universities and colleges to carry out academic reforms, including introduction of the semester system and credit- system, “with a switchover to continuous internal evaluation and reducing the written examination component, credit transfer, and credit accumulation,” says a UGC report on ‘Higher education in India - Strategies and schemes during eleventh plan period (2007-2012) for universities and colleges’.
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  Introduction However, there isno uniformity in the credit systems currently followed by some institutions in India. Whatever the variations may be, basically a credit corresponds to a particular amount of study or learning time. A student needs to earn a set number of credits to receive his/her certificate, diploma or degree.
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  Meaning A course creditis a unit that gives weight to the value, level or time requirements of an academic course taken at a school or other educational institution.
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  Characteristics It is studentcentric Student have freedom to study the subjects of their interest. Students can learn on their own pace. They can earn extra credits. They can opt for an interdisciplinary approach to learning. They can opt additional course.
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  Characteristics It caters individualdifferences. It provides need based learning. Students can change college/university with the tranfer of credits.
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  Need and objectivesto adopt credit system To replace teacher-centred education system. To replace subject-centred education system. To eliminate information giving and rote learning dominance in the entire system of evaluation-cum- academic system of higher education. To provide a variety of choices to students to opt for their learning at their own will and interests.
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  Measuring a credit Everyone hour of lecture/week amounts to one credit. It is based on different parameters like student workload, learning outcomes and contact hours. Total credits earned by a student at the end of semester after successfully completing the course is L+T+P
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  Structure of acourse in credit system The structure and credits associated with each course are defined by the (L-T-P) structure which indicates the number of lecture hours /week, number of tutorial hours/week and number of practical hours /week to be devoted for the course.
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  Structure of acourse in credit system Courses may be constructed to combine all three LTP elements, so a four-credit course, for example, might involve 2 one-hour lectures per week (two credits), 1 two-hour tutorial (one credit), and one practicum (one credit). A more interactive course might be structured with no lecture, two 2-hour tutorials (two credits), and two labs (two credits) per week. The specific credit make-up of a course will vary from subject to subject and from institution to institution based on curriculum design and desired learning outcomes.
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  Format of acourse in credit system The credit pattern of a course is indicated as L:T:P format. For a four credit course format could be: 4:0:0 1:2:1 1:1:2 1:0:3 2:1:1 2:2:0 2:0:2 3:1:0
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  Different types ofpapers in credit based system Programs are to be constructed with ‘core compulsory’ courses, elective core classes chosen from a pool of courses relevant to the major and open elective courses that are not necessarily related to the program of study. There are also options for coursework and self-study projects, if desired and allowed by the department or institution.
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  Different types ofpapers in credit based system Common papers: compulsory for all students. Core papers: compulsory for all students of an academic area. Elective papers: choose by students according to their interest. Project papers
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  Advantages Shift in focusfrom the teacher-centric to student- centric education. Student may undertake as many credits as they can cope with. It allows students to choose inter-disciplinary, intra- disciplinary courses, skill oriented papers (even from other disciplines according to their learning needs, interests and aptitude).
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  Advantages It allows forflexibility for students. It enhances quality of education system. It makes education broad-based and at par with global standards. One can take credits by combining unique combinations. For example, Physics with Economics, Microbiology with Chemistry or Environment Science etc.
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  Advantages Credits earned atone institution can be transferred. Students can study at different times and at different institutions to complete one course.
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  Disadvantages Difficult to estimatethe exact marks. Workload of teachers may fluctuate. Demand good infrastructure for dissemination of education.
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  Disadvantages It is atexperimental stage in India. Very expensive. Lack of trained teachers.
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  Thank you