Indore: Consumer studies to be part of DAVV curriculum

Indore: Students of Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV) and affiliated colleges would be taught consumer affairs from session 2018-19.

Citing directives by University Grants Commission, DAVV has announced plans to include consumer studies as an elective in its curriculum at undergraduate level.

“The UGC has suggested us teaching consumers rights and make them informed consumers. The UGC’s suggestion is welcome. We will start offering elective on consumer studies from the upcoming session,” vice chancellor Dr Narendra Dhakad said.

He said that board of studies of the university will soon prepare and subsequently include module for consumer studies in its curriculum.

The announcement came following directives by the higher education regulator to all universities, including DAVV, to include consumer studies as an elective in their curriculum to make students informed consumers.

The course module for consumer affairs at under graduate level as an elective is any discipline has been prepared by an expert committee constituted by UGC.

The commission has uploaded the model syllabus on its website.

“Since every student is a consumer and will continue to be a consumer for the rest of his or her life, the module may be offered as an elective for students of any discipline. The same may be perused and suitably adopted by your university and affiliated colleges,” says a letter issued by UGC to the universities.

The universities have also been asked to conduct faculty development programmes for those who will be teaching the module, considering the relevance and complexity in terms of topics.

“The idea is to strengthen the consumer movement in India through creating awareness among all segments of consumers including young college students. The objective can be realised through the inclusion of modules on consumer studies as an elective in syllabi,” the UGC letter reads.