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- Students enrolled through the Directorate of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and the Online Study Section will study the subject through online classes, while those in regular programmes will attend it as part of their classroom curriculum.
- The vice-chancellor also informed the council that the university has initiated steps to establish academic collaboration with the University of Maryland in the United States.
- He noted that the decision aligns with discussions held during the recently organised World Punjabi Conference at GNDU, where scholars emphasised the importance of integrating Punjabi language and Sikh thought into higher education to promote a value-oriented knowledge system.
Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) has decided to introduce a compulsory course titled Basic Knowledge of Sikhism for all undergraduate students beginning in the academic session 2026–27. The decision was taken during a recent meeting of the university’s Academic Council, marking a significant step towards incorporating value-based education and cultural awareness into the institution’s curriculum.
The course, designed by the Department of Guru Nanak Studies, will carry two academic credits and will be mandatory for students enrolled in various undergraduate programmes across the university. According to university officials, the subject aims to provide students with foundational understanding of Sikh philosophy, teachings, and cultural heritage.
The proposal was originally recommended by the Board of Control of the Department of Guru Nanak Studies and later received approval from the vice-chancellor. Following this, the Academic Council endorsed the recommendation, paving the way for its implementation across departments.
University authorities said the course will be delivered through both traditional and digital modes. Students enrolled through the Directorate of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and the Online Study Section will study the subject through online classes, while those in regular programmes will attend it as part of their classroom curriculum.
Addressing the Academic Council meeting, the vice-chancellor described the body as a crucial platform for shaping the university’s academic direction and strengthening curriculum design. He noted that the decision aligns with discussions held during the recently organised World Punjabi Conference at GNDU, where scholars emphasised the importance of integrating Punjabi language and Sikh thought into higher education to promote a value-oriented knowledge system.
In another major policy step, the university approved the Punjabi-First Education, Research and Governance Policy 2026. Under this policy, Punjabi written in the Gurmukhi script will become mandatory alongside English for key academic outputs such as doctoral theses, dissertations and project reports.
The council meeting also considered several academic expansion proposals. A total of 14 new courses were presented by different faculties, including programmes in psychology, a four-year undergraduate course in social sciences, certificate programmes and a new M.Tech course in Electronics and Communication.
Additionally, the university approved the renaming of the Centre for South Central Asia Studies on campus as the Centre for Central Asia Studies. Plans were also discussed to revive certain academic units that had previously become inactive, including the Department of Philosophy and the Central Asia Studies centre.
Another academic reform approved during the meeting involves the digital delivery of certain compulsory subjects for distance and online learners. From the 2026–27 session, courses such as Environmental Studies, Drug Abuse Problem Management and Prevention, Human Rights and Human Values, and Understanding Harmony will be taught entirely through online platforms for students enrolled in ODL and online programmes.
The vice-chancellor also informed the council that the university has initiated steps to establish academic collaboration with the University of Maryland in the United States. The proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to create learning opportunities in emerging technology fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Cybersecurity.
In the initial phase of this collaboration, around 60 students from computer science-related disciplines are expected to participate. About half of them will engage in online interactions and joint academic activities with the partner university. Officials said the programme will be conducted through virtual platforms to ensure that students can benefit from international exposure without incurring significant financial costs.
With these decisions, GNDU is seeking to strengthen both its academic framework and global engagement while promoting regional language, cultural heritage and modern technological education.
