UGC’s biannual admission policy: Benefits and implementation

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of India’s recent directive that allows universities to admit students twice annually — in June and December — marks a significant shift in the nation’s higher education framework. This progressive policy aligns with global best practices, catering to the evolving needs of students while offering substantial advantages to recruiters. By fostering greater flexibility and accessibility, this initiative seeks to enhance the responsiveness of India’s academic institutions to contemporary demands.

The twin-admissions-a-year initiative meets a demand that industry recruiters have been making for over decades, especially from the 2008-09 worldwide economic slowdown.

What does this portend for different sections:

Advantages for students

Enhanced accessibility and flexibility: Introducing a biannual admission cycle offers students additional opportunities to enrol in higher education programs. Those unable to secure admission in the June intake due to unforeseen personal, financial, or academic constraints can now avail themselves of the December intake. This mechanism mitigates the adverse impact of missed deadlines, ensuring that students do not lose an entire academic year. Losing an entire year also means a student could suffer social stigma (of a failed candidate) or mental strain.

Global synchronization of academic calendars: Aligning India’s academic calendar with international standards facilitates smoother transitions for students aspiring to pursue education abroad. It also simplifies participation in exchange programs and collaborative degree initiatives with global institutions.

With foreign universities coming into India to set up campus, starting with GIFT City, Gujarat, this policy move is key to two admissions a year)

Opportunities for non-traditional students: The December admission window provides an invaluable opportunity for individuals seeking to return to education after a hiatus or for those contemplating a career shift. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for professionals aiming to upskill or reskill in response to changing industry demands.

Relief for competitive examination candidates: Students preparing for competitive exams such as NEET, JEE, or UPSC often face considerable uncertainty regarding their results and career trajectories. The availability of two admission windows empowers them to make well-informed choices without forfeiting valuable time or “drop year”.

Personalised learning trajectories: The flexibility afforded by the biannual system encourages the adoption of modular and stackable degree structures. For instance, students may take a semester-long break to gain practical experience or undertake internships, rejoining their academic pursuits during the next cycle.

Benefits for recruiters

A continuous talent supply: While business demand is all through the year, supply happened only once a year, which disadvantaged companies across industries. For recruiters, the biannual admission framework ensures a consistent flow of graduates entering the workforce throughout the year. This is particularly advantageous for industries with secular hiring requirements or project-based talent demands.

Improved workforce readiness: The staggered graduation timelines allow organizations to align talent acquisition strategies with business cycles. Companies with fiscal year-end demands, for example, may benefit significantly from graduates available in December, while others with summer-specific needs might prefer June graduates.

Refined recruitment strategies: The dual admission system facilitates targeted campus recruitment efforts, enabling companies to engage with diverse cohorts of students and select candidates best suited to their specific requirements, through customized recruitment drives.

Expanded internship opportunities: With overlapping academic schedules, businesses can design internship programs that align seamlessly with the academic calendar. This arrangement ensures that students gain valuable practical exposure, while organizations build a talent pipeline of pre-trained professionals.

Challenges and mitigation strategies

While the biannual admission cycle offers numerous benefits, its successful implementation necessitates addressing certain challenges.

Harmonization of academic calendars: Universities must synchronize academic schedules to accommodate two cohorts without compromising educational quality. Leveraging technology and meticulous planning will be crucial in achieving this objective.

Efficient resource allocation: Academic and administrative staff may experience increased workloads due to overlapping admissions, teaching responsibilities, and evaluations. Institutions can address this challenge by employing additional personnel and adopting digital solutions. And better utilization of lab and other infrastructure can happen, which can be efficient calendarization.

Industry awareness: It is essential to ensure that recruiters are adequately informed about the revised academic timelines. Collaborative efforts between universities and industries will be instrumental in fostering awareness and alignment.

Most institutions have a sanctioned intake for different programs. Now they need to figure out how they can divide their intake among the two cycles. They will need to approach policy and standard-setting bodies for clarity on whether the intake numbers need to be also split or whether they could take more than the sanctioned strength to meet the new demands that could ensue the policy decision.

Calibrated execution

Every which way, the UGC’s decision to introduce a biannual admission policy, seems to be a forward-thinking initiative poised to democratize access to higher education and enhance employability. It also addresses long-standing challenges in India’s higher education system.

However, it is always the execution that needs to be calibrated. A robust implementation of the decision across the nation requires active collaboration among policy makers, academic heads, administrators and state-level higher education departments. Only then the new framework’s potential can catalyse a more inclusive, dynamic, and future-ready education ecosystem.

(K. Ramachandran writes on higher education and is also a business leader in 361 Degree Minds.)