BENGALURU: Karnatak University in Dharwad on Monday became the first university in the country to conduct semester-end examinations as per the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 guidelines. More than 60,000 students appeared for the exams.
Ashwath Narayan CN, minister of higher education, announced the development during the maiden convocation of Bengaluru City University (BCU) held at the Jnanabharathi auditorium at the Central College campus on Monday.
“Karnatak University — Dharwad is the first university in the country to implement and conduct semester examinations as per NEP, 2020. I congratulate the entire university team, administration & officials for their success,” the minister said, adding that the university also conducted admissions for undergraduate courses during the 2021-22 academic year as per NEP guidelines, and the examinations for that batch started from Monday.
KB Gudasi, vice-chancellor of the university, told TOI that the exams are now held for a maximum of 60 marks (previously it was for 80 marks), while the remaining 40 marks are awarded based on internal assessment. “The internal assessment is through continuous assessment, not another set of internal exams. The NEP methodology is helping enhance not just the examination-conducting method, but the overall ability of a student,” Gudasi said.
The university has also adopted the ‘Unified University College Management System’ platform to maintain data of each student from all departments in a digital format. It is going to be the first varsity in the state to have this technology platform to maintain student data under NEP.
“With the implementation of NEP, if students choose to leave after the first year, they earn a certificate. If they exit after two years, they earn a diploma; after three years, a degree and after four years, an honours degree,” he said, adding that students have also opted for skill-enhancement courses that train them in skills that are in demand in the job market.
“Further, students now have the option to attend up to 40 per cent of classes online,” Gudasi added.
