Universities to Conduct SWAYAM Exams Alongside Regular Academic Calendar

Universities will soon be able to conduct examinations for students enrolled in SWAYAM courses alongside their regular academic calendar. This new framework aims to encourage more student participation in SWAYAM courses and offers greater flexibility for credit accumulation.

In a significant move, universities will soon conduct examinations for SWAYAM course students in alignment with their regular academic calendar, sources at the University Grant Commission (UGC) revealed on Tuesday.

This initiative is part of a broader framework designed to increase student participation in SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) courses to facilitate credit accumulation. Through SWAYAM, students can engage in online courses from premier Higher Education institutions to meet their university credit requirements.

Currently, end-term examinations for SWAYAM courses, which are proctored, are overseen by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) at designated centers nationwide. To boost the number of students taking SWAYAM courses for credit and offer re-attempt opportunities, the 24th SWAYAM Board meeting on March 5, 2024, approved that universities adopting UGC SWAYAM Regulations 2021 could conduct these examinations for their enrolled students.

Students completing SWAYAM courses will now have the option to take their examinations at their respective universities, an official explained. This step aims to enhance student participation and flexibility related to SWAYAM examinations.

The universities will need to appoint a Nodal Officer to coordinate with the SWAYAM Technical team on various course-related issues, such as registration and credit transfer. Universities will also be responsible for setting question papers, evaluating answer scripts, and declaring exam results for end-term examinations.

To ensure eligibility, only students who complete 75% of assignments and quizzes on SWAYAM will be allowed to take the end-term exam at their universities. The Nodal Officer will verify these details. Universities will attribute 70% weightage to end-term examinations, with the remaining 30% coming from assignments and quizzes conducted by the SWAYAM Course Coordinator.

The Nodal Officer will manage login credentials, monitor student progress on the SWAYAM portal, and prepare the list of eligible students. Additionally, the officer will oversee the examination process and ensure marks are mapped to students' Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID.

For students who failed or missed the end-term exam, the officer will arrange supplementary examinations in the subsequent semester as per the new framework, the official added.

(With inputs from agencies.)