PATNA, May 29 -- Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain on Thursday accorded assent to the Ordinance and Regulations for 4-Year Under Graduate Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme (AEDP) and seven AEDP course structures for four state universities. As per the notification signed by the Dipak Kumar Singh, ACS to the Governor, it would apply to Patna University, Patliputra University, Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, and BRA Bihar University (Muzaffarpur) subject to laid down conditions. One of the conditions is that the tripartite MoU should be signed and implemented as per the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines of Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme (AEDP), if not signed earlier. The seven approved 4-year UG AEPD courses assented to by the Chancellor are Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) with Major in Banking Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI); Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) with Major in Retail Operations; Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) with Major in E-Commerce Operations; Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) with Major in Human Resource Operations. The other three UG AED courses are Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with Major in Content and Creative Writing; Bachelor of Sciences (B.Sc.) with Major in Healthcare Management and Bachelor of Sciences (B.Sc.) with Major in Digital Electronics. The AEDP is a 4-year undergraduate degree programme that integrates academic knowledge (75%) with industry-specific skills (25%). Its most significant feature is that in the third year, a paid apprenticeship in industry will be mandatory for all students. The programme is in accordance with the guidelines of the UGC and the National Education Policy, 2020, and carries recognition equivalent to any other regular undergraduate degree (B.A., B.Com., B.Sc.). Students will be fully eligible to appear in any competitive examination or pursue higher education (Masters/PhD) after completing this programme. In another significant development, Dipak Kumar Singh, additional chief secretary to the Governor, has written to all the VCs to refrain from floating tenders for the a university Management Information System (UMIS) or their renewal, as the Governor has already issued directive for adoption of Samarth portal. "It has been brought to the notice of the Chancellor's Secretariat that certain universities have proceeded to float tenders of UMIS or are in the process of renewing such arrangements, as it will be in clear violation of the Chancellor's directive and the policy framework already communicated to the universities," he wrote. The Governor has consistently emphasised the complete digitalisation of the universities covering the entire student life cycle from admission to mark-sheet generation as well as payroll, pension disbursement, leave management, finance and accounts shall be carried out exclusively through Samarth portal. "You are herby directed to not float any tender for UMIS or any similar system and immediately revoke/cancel any such tenders already floated or under process. Non-compliance will be viewed seriously and may invite appropriate administrative action " Singh wrote. The emphasis of the Governor on adoption of Samarth portal of the union ministry of education, to digitise, automate, and bring transparency to the day-to-day operations of academic institutions, is also aimed at making the system accountable....