The Kerala government-appointed committee tasked with reviewing the implementation of the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP) has recommended the establishment of an Inter-University Board of Studies Committee (IUBC).

It has also called for constituting Assessment and Evaluation Review Committees (AERC) in each university to periodically review question papers, with an emphasis on ensuring alignment with course outcomes and improving the quality of assessments.

The recommendations are part of an interim report submitted by the committee constituted by the Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) to evaluate the implementation of the FYUGP in universities and colleges in Kerala.

The committee, chaired by Gladston Raj S, Professor, Government College, Karyavattom, said the measures are intended to strengthen academic quality, governance, assessment practices, student support and regulatory coherence while ensuring uniform implementation of the objectives of the programme.

The proposed IUBC would be constituted by the KSHEC for each academic discipline and would include the chairpersons of the Boards of Studies of all universities. A convenor designated by the council would coordinate meetings at least twice every academic year.

The panel would review and recommend measures to harmonise curriculum structure, syllabus format, internship requirements, assessment practices and examination frameworks in universities. The report recommends that the committee meet at least once every semester, no later than one month before the commencement of the semester. 

The proposed AERC in each university is expected to periodically scrutinise internal assessments, end-semester examination papers and assignments to ensure their quality and alignment with prescribed course and programme outcomes. The committees will meet at least once every semester and communicate recommendations for improvement to teachers.

The committee also recommended that both internal and external question papers be designed in accordance with Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy to evaluate a broader range of cognitive skills.

Other recommendations

Among the other major recommendations, the committee has suggested that 20% of the internal evaluation marks be awarded on the basis of the teacher-specific fifth module included in every course.

The report has also recommended that Boards of Studies notify the list of approved online courses before the beginning of every semester so that only those courses are considered for credit transfer. It has proposed the creation of a State Consortium for Academic Planning and Examination Coordination (SCAPEC), comprising representatives of the KSHEC, university registrars and controllers of examinations, to publish a common academic calendar and examination schedule by March 31 each year for the succeeding academic session.

To strengthen research-oriented undergraduate education, the committee has recommended permitting departments with adequate research infrastructure and at least two permanent Ph.D.-qualified faculty members to offer the fourth-year Honours with Research option. 

The committee also called for an urgent technical and user-experience audit of the K-REAP examination management platform, constituting a FYUGP Facilitation and Resolution Committee for five years to address implementation issues, establishing a university-level grievance redressal and support portal for affiliated colleges, and initiating preparatory work for the next phase of reforms, including planning for the fourth year of FYUG.