FYUP: fourth year about to start, several DU students drop out citing uncertainty

Even as the University of Delhi (DU)’s first batch of the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) enters its final year in July, several students have already dropped out of the course, citing a lack of infrastructure and unclear prospects.

The FYUP was introduced by DU in 2022 in line with the National Education Policy 2020. The curriculum for most courses was discussed and finalised in the university’s Academic Council meetings in the past few months. Under the FYUP, a student receives an undergraduate certificate after completing one year, an undergraduate diploma after two years, an undergraduate degree after the third year, and an undergraduate degree with a research specialisation after the fourth year. After the fourth year, the students can complete their master’s in a year.

Many students who opted for the FYUP had applied to other universities for postgraduation and taken the Common University Entrance Test.

“We know that the fourth year will be research-intensive. But how will we conduct research when there are no additional laboratories available for fourth-year students? Some of my classmates have opted out of the FYUP and wish to complete postgraduation from other universities,” said Lipi, a third-year student at Miranda House studying BSc (Hons) in Physics.

Expressing similar concerns, another Miranda House student, who did not want to be named, said, “I have been accepted to an IIT for postgraduation and decided to drop out of the FYUP.”

Tanvi Sharma, a third-year student of BA (Hons) in Multimedia and Mass Communication at Indraprastha College for Women, said she is still undecided whether to opt for the fourth year. “Neither has any new teacher been appointed for the fourth-year students nor additional infrastructure created. Where will we sit as there are no designated classrooms for us,” she asked.

Ravikant Tiwari, a third-year student of B.Com at Aryabhatta College, has dropped out of the course as he has got through Delhi School of Economics’s master’s programme. “Since our first year of the FYUP in 2022, it was known we would enter the fourth or final year in 2025. Yet, only recently, the fourth-year course was finalised and made available to us,” he said.

TINA factor

Several teachers said that a number of the FYUP students are approaching them for career counselling.

Astha Ahuja, a Professor of Economics at Aryabhatta College, who was also a member of a college committee to devise timetables for the fourth-year students, said, “For now, existing teachers will be teaching the fourth-year students in the existing classrooms. However, due to the shortage of classrooms, students may have to stay longer at the college, as their classes can only be conducted when a classroom is available. If it happens, it will be unfair to the students.”

Maya John, Assistant Professor at Jesus and Mary College, said, “In 2019, the Economically Weaker Section quota was introduced, and seats were proportionately increased in all the colleges. But a corresponding increase in teaching staff did not happen. Now, the burden of an additional batch of the fourth-year students will be borne by the existing teaching staff and will affect the entire teaching ecosystem.”

‘Initial hiccups’

Balaram Pani, DU’s Dean of Colleges, admitted that the university is in a transformative stage and there might be some initial issues. “However, we will ensure that the infrastructure gaps are identified and addressed at the earliest opportunity. We would request students and teachers not to be apprehensive before we have even begun,” he said.

Mr. Pani said guest lecturers are being appointed for the time being and the university administration is working to ensure that there are no teacher shortages.