AICTE’s model curriculum for BBA will standardise the course

To standardise management education at the bachelor’s levels, introduce electives in emerging technologies, and bring flexibility, the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has recently launched the model curriculum for the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programme.

“There is an emphasis on the new areas, including Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), HR, and Business Analytics in the model curriculum. Additionally, there is scope for specialisation in different domains that management education encompasses at the bachelor’s level. The framework has been created for the 3-year and 4-year BBA programmes. The UGC recommendations regarding skill enhancement courses at the bachelor’s level have also been incorporated. A committee has been appointed, and the detailed curriculum will be submitted shortly, which will be implemented at the beginning of the new academic year,” says Rajive Kumar, secretary of AICTE.  

The model curriculum makes provisions for structured 6/8 semesters, depending on the choice of a 3-year or 4-year degree. It also includes multiple entry and exit points. The model curriculum encompasses 120 credits for the 3-year programme and 160 credits for the 4-year (Honours and Honours with Research) programmes. It includes a mix of humanities and social science courses, management courses, programme core and elective courses, and open electives.

The course structure introduces a rigorous induction programme, mandatory visits/workshops, and expert lectures. The model curriculum is based on NEP and encompasses environmental awareness, value-based education. It fosters understanding of human behaviour, empathy and social awareness and includes discipline-specific electives such as Data Analytics using R/Python, Neuro-Finance, Neuro-Marketing, and Behavioural testing and training for employee retention.

Increasing cost

Earlier this year, AICTE’s decision to bring the BBA programme under its ambit was met with resistance from Arts and Science Colleges in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, among other states. Several college principals had written to AICTE asking the regulatory authority to withdraw its notification mandating colleges to seek approval to offer BBA programmes. 

On the condition of anonymity, an academician from Tamil Nadu says, “The new curriculum framework for BBA programmes imposed by AICTE is unnecessary and beyond its mandate as AICTE deals with technical education. The infrastructure requirements mandated by AICTE would lead to a significant cost increase, potentially resulting in doubling or tripling student fees, which will subsequently lead to a decline in interest in the BBA programme. It is possible to deliver good quality education in a non-regulated environment.”  

Talking to Education Times about Arts and Science colleges' reluctance to transact the new curriculum in classrooms. Kumar says, “We have already approved 4,800 colleges offering BBA programmes, and many more are in the process. There is no panic among the institutions regarding BBA as we facilitate the transition. With AICTE bringing the BBA programme under its ambit, several scholarships will be available for students, particularly female students. Colleges must look at it from the student’s perspective, and bachelor’s level education must be student-centric. Additionally, we are giving reasonable time to institutions to upgrade infrastructure; if institutions cannot impart relevant education, their existence is questionable. The new curriculum framework will be a game changer for management education. So far, management education at the bachelor’s level was not standardised, and it was almost like a catchment area for the MBA course. So far, the institutions that have applied have been given approvals, and AICTE will mentor them. This will help make management education at the bachelor’s level more flexible and enable smoother implementation of NEP 2020 across the country.”