UGC pedagogy of Choice Based Credit System and ABC for students with disabilities in HEIs

No two students are exactly alike in their learning styles. Every student including students with disabilities has their preferred way of learning which needs to be kept in mind while teaching. Theories of learning have evolved different learning styles depending upon individual interests, environment, and abilities.

As per the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) is an educational model that offers students to opt for courses and subjects of their choice - core, elective, open or global electives and skill-based courses. 

UGC promotes alternative test formats, assistive technology, accessible question papers, and flexible exam modalities to support students with disabilities. No student should be left behind in their academic journey.

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UGC ensures accessible and flexible assessments for students with disabilities by providing:

Quiet exam areas
Breaks during exams
Scaffolding support
On-demand exams
Extended time

Unlike the traditional marking-based system, the CBCS grading pattern is based on earned credits every semester.
As per National Education Policy 2020, the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) has been envisaged to facilitate the academic mobility of students with the freedom to study across the Higher Education Institutions in the country with an appropriate “credit transfer” mechanism from one programme to another, leading to attain a Degree/ Diploma/PG-diploma, etc.

Academic Bank of Credits shall deposit credits awarded by registered institutions into students’ accounts. The Academic bank credit(s) can only be shared from institutions, not directly from the student. The credits submitted by an authorized institution will be accepted for storage and validation by the ABC.

Accessibility for ABC: For facilitating the Academic Bank of Credits system functional for students with disabilities in HEIs, several provisions can be made.

Credit Accommodations: For a particular course requirement, the following criteria may be used for assigning credits:

Self-study
E-learning
Lab work
Online Accommodations
Home Based Training
Hands-on-Experiences
Project Learning
Short-term course
Engagement in internship
Flexibility in delivery course

Alternative Courses: Persons with disabilities may be allowed to go for continuing and earning credits by making use of one or more alternate courses at one time.

Modification: Students with disabilities need multiple modes of representation, action, and expression. Modifications may be done in a transaction, teaching-learning material, and evaluations.

Guidelines for Credit Based Course on Pedagogical Aspects for Teaching Divyangjans and Persons with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs) 

Additional Measures for Evaluations: In the credit-based system the mode of evaluation may be considered as per the unique need of students with disabilities to earn the credit by using the following.

Additional Test

Additional Assignments

Additional Projects

 Multi-stage evaluation