In a surprising turn of events, Gujarat University's pioneering move to introduce twice-a-year admissions for its conventional degree programs has met with an overwhelmingly poor response from students. The initiative, aimed at filling nearly 7,000 vacant seats across its affiliated colleges, attracted a mere 82 applications, raising serious questions about the policy's design and appeal.
A Drastic Shortfall in Applications
The university had opened a second admission cycle for undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses in arts, commerce, and science streams. However, official data reveals a stark reality. Against thousands of available spots, only 68 UG and 14 PG applications were finally submitted.
The application process showed a significant drop-off at each stage. For undergraduate courses, 608 students initially registered on the portal. Of these, 165 proceeded to pay the requisite fees, but ultimately, only 68 completed the entire application process. The pattern was even more pronounced for postgraduate courses, where 441 registrations and 95 fee payments translated into a final tally of just 14 complete applications.
Root of the Problem: An Unconventional Academic Sequence
While the policy aligns with the state education board's decision to hold Class 12 exams twice a year and mirrors the existing biannual admission system for technical courses, a key difference appears to have deterred students. Unlike engineering programs, students admitted in this second cycle for arts, commerce, and science are placed directly into Semester 2. They are required to complete Semester 1 at a later stage.
Sources indicate that this unconventional and seemingly backward academic sequence was a major discouraging factor for potential applicants. The prospect of joining a course mid-stream, without first covering foundational Semester 1 subjects, created confusion and lack of confidence among students.
Outcome and Future Implications
University officials have stated that admissions for the limited number of applicants who did apply will be processed shortly. However, the extremely low turnout has sparked concern among educators and administrators regarding the practicality of extending the biannual admission model to non-technical courses.
The tepid response forces a re-evaluation of the policy's structure. It highlights a potential disconnect between administrative decisions and student readiness or understanding. The outcome in Ahmedabad serves as a crucial case study for other universities considering similar flexibility in their academic calendars, underscoring the need for student-friendly frameworks that do not compromise academic coherence.
