Bengaluru: Visvesvaraya Technological University, the umbrella university for all engineering colleges in the state, is set to introduce summer semesters from 2024-25 batch for all its affiliate colleges. This means that students can complete up to 14 credits or a maximum of four subjects in the summer semesters, which come after the even semesters.
“This will be advantageous for both slow and fast learners. In case a slow learner wants to complete two subjects later, he can drop them in the respective semester and complete them in the summer semester. Similarly, if a bright student wants to finish the course early, he can take up subjects from the higher semesters early,” said Vidyashankar S, vice chancellor, VTU.
While VTU gave this provision for autonomous colleges in the past, it was stopped later. Now, the provision is being reintroduced for all affiliate and autonomous colleges of the university. “A new academic calendar will be prepared. However, there will be a credit limit that can be acquired in the summer semester,” he said.
“This could be made possible after UGC recently made provisions to complete courses early,” the VC said.
The proposed changes will also help students vying for admissions abroad. “With this, they can map their academic journey with that of a foreign university, where they want to take admission and complete it in time for joining there,” said a senior academic member.
The summer semester is likely from Aug second week this year. There will be eight weeks of classes and then two weeks of exams. The summer semester will also act as the supplementary exam. Students who already took classes for these subjects in the regular semester but failed the semester-end exam can take these summer exams. Those students who do not have enough attendance or internal marks can appear for classes and make up for the deficiencies and write the exam.
However, subjects dropped by students in the respective semester and taken up during the summer semester will be considered as a single attempt, those who treating it as a supplementary exam will be marked as a ‘chance attempt’. “Students who complete the subjects in time, can use the 10 weeks for either studying for the higher semesters or pursue some upskilling programmes,” he added.