Credit system at NALSAR University from next year

Courses at the NALSAR University of Law are set to become more dynamic from the next academic year with the introduction of credit system in tune with the western varsities apart from offering a wide range of optional subjects.

NALSAR Vice Chancellor Faizan Mustafa told The Hindu that courses would be converted into credits so that students can have a choice of pursuing their courses not only at NALSAR but also at the 23 foreign universities it has tie-ups with.

Each credit will be equivalent to 16 classes and the entire course will comprise 200 credits. “The courses will be compatible with the western universities and students can choose to study a few credits at NALSAR and the remaining at foreign universities,” Prof. Mustafa said.

As of now, the students have to study 47 out of the 50 courses but from next year they can choose the courses they wish to specialise in. The new system will bring in diversity among the courses and help students who wish to pursue research.

The NALSAR attracts top rankers from the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), held for admissions into national law universities, and these changes are being seen as a step to make it a varsity with a futuristic outlook.

Prof. Mustafa said that NALSAR also wants to concentrate on producing professionally competent and socially relevant lawyers. With that view in mind, eight new courses on Constitutional Law are being planned at the undergraduate level.

Prof. Mustafa, who himself is an expert on Constitutional Law, said that mostly students prefer to specialise in Constitutional Law at the postgraduate level but the new initiative will sensitise all the law students.

He felt students should be exposed to social justice issues while studying so that their contribution becomes more relevant. The university is also heavily into research. In fact, the NALSAR faculty was in the forefront in designing the disability rights adopted by the Central government last year. “Focus of research will be on the societal needs,” Prof. Mustafa added.

Source: The Hindu