Bangalore University panel: Revise college hours to help students work part-time

Bengaluru: The Institutional Development Plan (IDP) of Bangalore University proposes expanding online academic programmes and revising college hours as part of its roadmap for the coming years.The University Grants Commission-mandated IDP, prepared by a team led by senior professor Ashok Hanjagi, has recommended rescheduling academic working hours to allow students to attend classes in the morning. This, it believes, will enable them to pursue part-time work, prepare for competitive examinations, or enrol in additional courses alongside their primary degree.The university also needs to align undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD admissions with national and state academic calendars. It should also consider making the admission process more flexible and year-round to improve student diversity and increase enrolment, the document suggests."We do not want to restrict students to the four walls of the classrooms. They should have time to pursue part-time jobs or do another degree or a skill-based course. We also suggested that there should be a strong learning management system by which students can attend classes online, too, in case they are unable to attend physically," explained Prof Ashok.IDP also suggests building a directorate for online programmes and increasing the number of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offered in online mode. This will widen access to higher education and improve the revenue streams for the university.IDP recommended that BU should target working professionals and students who require flexible learning options."The directorate of online programmes will offer courses online, which will enable departments to generate revenue while enhancing the institution's global academic profile," he added.Among the challenges the university faced, the document points to financial constraints, including inadequate govt grants and limited success in securing international research funding. To bridge these gaps, the university should expand collaborations with the private sector, attract CSR funding, and participate in global academic networks such as Erasmus+ and Fulbright programmes, it says.Dedicated career services and placement cells, as well as innovation hubs and start-up incubators, are also proposed to promote entrepreneurship among students.———Emphasis on technologyRecommendations in institutional development plan-Strengthen teaching and learning systems through the use of digital technologies-Upgrade classrooms and laboratories with smart technologies-Implement a centralised learning management system-Build an alumni network to generate revenue-Set up research grants through collaborative programmes with leading institutions in emerging research areas-Rent out university auditoriums, seminar halls, and guesthouses-Raise funds through patent commercialisation and consultancy