“UG Research Internship to be compulsory from 2023” announces UGC; know the details here

UG Research Internship: The University Grants Commission (UGC) announces compulsory Undergraduate (UG) Research Internship programmes for students pursuing various UG courses in recognized universities and institutions. Students have to complete the internship programme within a period of eight to ten weeks.

The main motive behind the UG Research Internship programme is a step toward ‘self-reliant’ India and the UGC has to say the same. To introduce the young generation to the importance of self-discipline, employability, research culture, etc. embedded in the National Educational Policy or NEP, this Research Internship programme will be the bridge.

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The guidelines of UGC state, “The integration of Research, Innovation and Technology Development is the foundation of Atma-Nirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India). An institutionalisation of Research Internship at Undergraduate Levels is expected to play a pivotal role in catalysing interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary/ transdisciplinary and translational research culture embedded in NEP 2020.”

How to apply for a UG research internship?

Regarding the UGC-approved UG Research Internship programme, all the undergraduate students studying in whichever college, institute, or the university of India have to apply for the same. The students for the registration process purposes can opt for applying for the research internship all by themselves and also can seek help from the faculty mentor of their parent Higher Education Institute (HEI). The only criteria they must follow regarding the UG research internship is that it must be UGC recognised. There might be some clear guidelines regarding the application procedures of different internship programmes in the future.

Registration Portal Date

The commencement date and closing date along with the other details of the research internship registration portal are yet to be announced by the UGC. Chances are that the registration portal is most likely to be inactive mode soon. Students will have to keep an eye on the new notifications and updates released on the official website.

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UGC UG Research Internship: Details

The whole UG research internship will be a workshop session for the students to learn new skills and techniques. There, they will be assigned to a research supervisor who shall either belong to the same institution or other Higher Education Institutions (HEI). The internship programme will be of a particular duration at the research facility of the supervisor to perform an internship project.

Students pursuing a research internship will be given hands-on training in research tools, techniques, methodologies, and types of equipment, and learn other aspects of quality research.

They will also avail the opportunity to gain research experience by working with faculty and scientists in HEIs, research institutes, industrial research labs, nationally-reputed organizations, and professionals distinguished in specific fields like draftsmen, artisans, musicians, and artists, choreographers, etc.

Research Internship Timeline

The UG Research Internship programme has to undertake after the second or fourth semester of the respective course. Completing 450 hours of the internship programme, which is compulsory for all the students, they will be awarded 10 credit scores including with it a certificate or diploma.

Likewise, 1 credit implies a minimum of 45 hours of engagement in internship activities in a week. For students who want to quit their Four Year Undergraduate Program (FYUP) after two years with a certificate or a diploma, it will be mandatory to have completed one research internship at the end of the second or the fourth semester.

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On the other side, students who want to complete their four years of the FYUP can opt for completing their second internship of 10 weeks at the end of their fourth semester or the second year of the FYUP.

Additionally, UGC has also proposed respective HIEs to offer Research Ability Enhancement Courses (REAC) which would be worth 10 credits. These courses will be offered during the 7th semester as pre-requisite courses for 4-year degree (research) students.

Successful completion of the research internship programme, students will need to submit an internship report, of which one copy will be given to the host organization and the other to the parent HEI.

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