Academics expressed their support for the decision taken by Government of Andhra Pradesh to launch the four-year bachelor programmes. The first stage will see the introduction of UG four-your-year courses by five universities – Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, JNTU Kakinada, JNTU Anantapuram and RGUKT, Nuzvid, Krishna district.

P.V.G.D. Prasad Reddy, Vice-Chancellor, Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam says, “The state was contemplating FYUP almost a year ahead of the NEP 2020. This is a positive step taken in students’ interest.”

The four-years honours programme in BA, BSc, BCom marked for 2021-22, will include life skills, skill development, skill enhancement courses, research and ten months of mandatory internship to make the students job-ready.

The fast-changing job market has compelled students to have skill-based education and undergo mandatory internships that prepare them for various job roles. “There is no point in giving a degree which has no relevance in the placement market. It must have the potential to provide a job or become an entrepreneur”, says Reddy.

“This will help students, particularly from rural areas, to equip themselves for better job prospects, which is the main aim of the four-year undergraduate programme,” says K. Raja Reddy, Vice-Chancellor, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, which offers BA, BCom, BSc, BBA, BHM, BCA courses in 140 affiliated colleges.

As per the NEP guidelines, FYUP will have multiple entry and exit points for students to decide their career path. “Students will have a choice to pick three or four-year UG programme. This is beneficial for students planning to study abroad after the completion of three years,” says Prasad Reddy.

Going by the NEP guidelines to emphasise on skill-based education, FYUP in any discipline will have a 10-month mandatory internship with a focus on industry-based training.

“The one-year extra is to make sure that every student gets some kind of internship in the related industry. We would invite industry partners to offer practical training,” says Prasad Reddy.

Regarding the infrastructure to support the initiative, the heads of universities are confident that the one-year increase in the degree programme will not be a major issue as most universities are well-equipped. “Government has granted permission to recruit more teachers. In the coming three years, most vacancies will be filled,” says Prasad Reddy.