UGC publishes draft guidelines for research internships
Guidelines for Research Internships: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has drawn up guidelines for research internships as outlined in the National Education Policy 2020. The draft guideline is now available on the official website: ugc.gov.in. As per UGC guidelines, internships have been made mandatory to increase the employability of students.
The guidelines suggest two types of research internships: students can either improve their employability or develop their research skills. They will have to do an internship for at least 20 points out of the 160 points of the 4-year undergraduate program.
An 8-10 week 10 credit internship after the second and fourth semesters will be mandatory for students who wish to graduate with a certificate or diploma. The UGC has also invited feedback, comments and suggestions from all stakeholders till November 12, 2023 regarding these draft internship guidelines.
UGC Tweet regarding Internship Guidelines and Feedback
The UGC tweeted, “UGC invites comments/suggestions/feedback on the draft UGC Guidelines for Internship/Research Internship for Undergraduate Students.” Check out the tweet below:
UGC invites comments/suggestions/feedback on the draft UGC Internship/Research Practice Guidelines for Undergraduate Students. Send it to [email protected] by November 12, 2023 Read UGC Guidelines: https://t.co/BjjGPUMDJM #Internship #Research #NEP2020 pic.twitter.com/YKI0LttWtn
— UGC INDIA (@ugc_india)
October 10, 2023
What is the goal of including undergraduate students in professional practice programs according to UGC guidelines?
These guidelines are expected to impact undergraduate education, bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical experience. The goals of including undergraduate students in professional practice programs are listed below:
- Integrating the workshop with the workplace: Align classroom learning with real-world outcomes, integrating academic knowledge with practical workplace skills.
- Understanding the World of Work: Help students gain insight into the challenges, expectations and culture of the professional world.
- Figital and hybrid learning: Enable a blended learning experience by combining physical and digital modes, guided by a mentor or expert.
- Developing Research Abilities: Foster research skills, analytical thinking and ethical research behavior to solve real-world problems.
- Exposure to new technologies: To acquaint students with new technologies and their applications in various fields.
- Improve entrepreneurial skills: Encourage entrepreneurship and job creation by understanding the dynamics of organizations and start-ups.
- Decision-Making and Teamwork Skills: Develop problem-solving, decision-making and teamwork skills for professional growth.
- Cultivate social image and civic responsibility: Inculcate a sense of social responsibility and citizenship among students.
- Encouraging collaborative impact: Promoting collaboration between higher education institutions (HEIs) and industry. This initiative aims to encourage institutions, universities, organizations, academics and students to engage in collaborative learning and knowledge sharing.
- Improving professional competence: Internships should encompass more than just employment opportunities or research skills. They should also inculcate professional principles, ethics, values and integrity in order to stand out in the labor market by developing the necessary competencies.
Check the UGC Draft Guidelines for Research in PDF here
The structure of the internship
Internships offer educational experiences aligned with the student’s area of interest or study, allowing them to acquire new skills. Higher education institutions (HEIs) have a key role in organizing internships for their students, which requires the establishment of a structured and strong internship program within their research and development (R&D) unit.
The Research and Development Unit may appoint a coordinator at the university level to facilitate seamless coordination and internship work across disciplines. Furthermore, there are certain categories that higher education institutions may offer as a choice when a student selects a sector during registration for an internship or research internship. The opportunities allow students to tailor their internships to their interests and career aspirations. Check out the list below:
- Trade and agriculture
- Economy and banking, financial services and insurance
- Logistics, automotive and capital goods
- Consumer goods and retail
- Information technology/services and electronics enabled by information technology
- Crafts, art, design and music
- Healthcare and life science
- Sports, wellness and physical education
- Tourism and catering
- Digitization and new technologies (artificial intelligence/machine learning)
- Humanitarian, public policy and legal service
- Communication
- Education
- Sustainable development
- Environment
- Trade, medium and small industry
Where to send feedback regarding UGC Internship Draft?
The UGC has invited all stakeholders to provide feedback and suggestions by November 12, 2023 on these draft internship guidelines. Comments and feedback can be sent to [email protected]. This inclusive approach aims to ensure that the final guidelines are comprehensive, relevant and useful to all stakeholders within the education community.
Also Read: UGC extends last date for enrollment in distance learning, online courses, check details here
Register for score updates
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education