UGC asks universities to provide part-time job opportunities for disadvantaged students

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked higher educational institutes (HEIs) to establish an Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC) for socio-economically disadvantaged groups (SEDGs). The commission has issued guidelines to ensure universities are more inclusive, equitable, and sensitive to students belonging to disadvantaged groups.

"To facilitate learning for all students, with special emphasis on socio-economically disadvantaged groups (SEDGs), HEIs may undertake appropriate affirmative actions such as a) Bridge Courses, b) Earn-while-Learn, c) Outreach programmes - SEDGs Special Education Zones, and d) Sensitizing Stakeholders of HEIs,” the UGC guidelines read.

The commission instructed universities to introduce relevant bridge courses for students with learning deficiencies and inadequacies. "These classes are conducted for students to assist them in achieving expected competencies in subjects. Bridge courses can also be taken from online platforms such as SWAYAM," it said.

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Earn-while-Learn scheme

UGC suggested that the institutes may provide various part-time opportunities to the students enrolled. The department heads will have to prepare a pool of such eligible candidates in consultation with the Dean and Equal opportunity Cell and get it approved by a competent authority, ie., vice-chancellor or principal, for each academic session.

“The rate of remuneration for each of the students will be a consolidated amount on an hourly basis for the part-time service they render, a maximum of 20 hours per week, 20 days per month. The payment may be made on an actual basis. The services of the student will be rendered after class hours,” the guidelines read.

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It also asked the universities and colleges to design the curriculum to embed outreach programmes.

The Equal Opportunity Cell within every institution should ensure the constitutional rights of SEDGs are protected and the schemes are implemented properly. It should also ensure "equalizing access and opportunities to pursue higher education with the help of the existing statutory bodies such as SC/ST Cell and OBC Cell". The UGC said that the chairperson for the Equal Opportunity Cell should be nominated by the head of the university.