As part of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates an interdisciplinary and fluid approach to education, the University Grants Commission (UGC) announced regulations that would allow students to pursue multiple degrees simultaneously online, offline, or in a blended environment. The higher education industry is undergoing a wave of reforms aimed at increasing Gross Enrollment Ratio and employability.
Vineet Gupta Ashoka University Founder asserts, “As per NEP 2020’s charter, dual degree programmes will now be possible in Indian universities. Such programs have been fairly common abroad. Students may think about enrolling in dual degree programmes after the specifics are ironed out by the academic institutions. This is a welcome development as dual degrees help students broaden their knowledge and improve their work prospects.”
It is anticipated that this reform will enable students to earn dual degrees at the same time and increase their career prospects. There may be criticisms of the proposed reforms, but they have more benefits in the long run. Increasing individual knowledge and abilities will improve the standard of education. Dual degree programs provide graduates with a variety of career options and skills. As a result of the blending of talents from different disciplines, students will be able to address critical challenges and solve real-world problems.
Implementing a dual degree program may present some difficulties due to the additional workload. It is also possible for a sense of inadequacy to develop when students from single-degree and dual-degree programs are enrolled in the same class. “Students must get a detailed orientation and information about the benefits and drawbacks of this new scheme. Diverse educational institutions at the graduate and postgraduate levels must adapt their institutional structure in order to adopt dual degree programmes. The students may find it challenging to take two full-time programmes simultaneously in one setting and how these programmes roll out will be clarified in the upcoming months” states Vineet Gupta Ashoka University Founder.
A dual degree student will benefit more from courses in technology, engineering, management, commerce, education, and vocational training. A dual degree is especially useful if one program emphasizes technical skills, such as law, finance, marketing, linguistics, or engineering, while the other program emphasizes topics of interest to students, such as environmental studies, international relations, coding, healthcare, art, and drama.
It can be difficult for students to narrow down their interests when deciding which bachelor’s or master’s degree is best for them. By obtaining two degrees, one is able to satisfy his or her curiosity in more than one area of study. As part of Ashoka University’s undergraduate curriculum, students are exposed to a variety of perspectives and disciplines. It is possible for students to choose their intended major as late as the third semester. By doing so, they will have the opportunity to explore different options, explore extracurricular activities, and explore their interests.
Today’s highly competitive market requires students to have a wide range of skills and be active to stand out from their peers. Students are therefore seeking programs that will prepare them for decent jobs upon graduation and help them succeed in their future careers. It will be necessary for higher education institutions to provide innovative courses in order to attract more students. In the event that a student is adept and capable of simultaneously pursuing both degree programmes, a dual degree program may benefit him or her.
“Students may pursue two degrees simultaneously while saving time and money and enhancing their career prospects. To transform Indian higher education, we must not only maintain the current trajectory of policy reforms but also ensure that these reforms are implemented. In order to address of unemployment, it is also necessary to include job-oriented courses into the dual degree system” opines Ashoka University’s Founder, Vineet Gupta.
