Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 6
As the Bar Council of India (BCI) has decided to scrap the one-year LLM course, introduced in 2013, Panjab University (PU) is now looking ahead for some drastic changes.
As per the notification issued by the BCI under the Legal Education (Postgraduate, doctoral, executive, vocational, clinical and other continuing education) Rules, 2020, the postgraduate course ndash; master's degree (LLM) ndash; has to be of two years (completed in four semesters).
The LLM course is offered at PU's Department of Laws, University Institute of Legal Studies, and Regional Centre, Ludhiana.
In what could be a major setback, PU was planning to introduce the same course through correspondence mode starting this year. However, after this notification, PU has to abide by the new rules, which would further delay any further developments.
Limited seats setback for university
PU used to conduct entrance test for filing seats in LLM courses, which helped the institution generate some revenue. Sources maintained that number of seats was limited and subject to increase or decrease as per the requirement after approval of the PU Senate and Syndicate. However, after introduction of these rules, a common entrance test will be conducted to fill limited seats.
"Admission to LLM will be through postgraduate common entrance test in law (PGCETL) to be conducted by the BCI. Until the PGCETL is introduced the present system followed by respective universities shall be followed," the sources added.
Submit dissertation to assistant professors
The notification also directs that dissertation should now be submitted to senior assistant professors. The notification further states: "The institution should also have a dedicated core faculty of not less than 10 of whom minimum four should be professors/associate professors,"
It also asks to maintain student, teacher ratio. "The conditions to be satisfied to offer an LLM course, includes student, teacher ratio not exceeding 1:10 and maximum student strength of 20 in each branch of specialisation subject to maximum of 50 students overall in the LLM programme of the institution," the notification adds.
Encouraging students to teach?
Experts believe changes announced by the BCI may help law graduates adopt the teaching profession in a phased manner.
Notification envisages these changes
- BCI to regulate postgraduate and other higher education in law
- One-year master's degree to be scrapped
- LLM cours to be restricted to law graduates
- All universities under the aegis of the BCI to conduct the PGCETL for admission in master's degree
- Only universities can run masters course and it cannot be outsourced to any affiliated institution
- Not more than 20 students in each branch of specialisation.
- Maximum 50 students overall in the LLM programme
- If there is no specialisation offered, all students in the programme may opt for the general course.
- Each semester will comprise 18 weeks with minimum 90 working days excluding orientation programme, examinations and viva.
- A student may do internship in any teaching institution earmarked by the BCI for three months in the final semester.
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2XiS8he
No comments:
Post a Comment