Nishikant Khajuria
nishikantkhajuria@gmail.com
Over the past week, while working on this feature, I noticed a surprising sense of envy toward some students at the University of Jammu — all because of the degree program they are pursuing.
I wish I could turn back the clock to my late teens and enrol myself in that very program just to design the future entirely of my choosing.
You’ve likely guessed which one I am talking about: the undergraduate “Design Your Degree” program at the University of Jammu, a bold innovation that is revolutionizing and rewriting the rules of higher education.
For decades, students have been forced to choose between streams—Science, Commerce, or Humanities—often at the cost of their broader interests. Design Your Degree (DYD) programme dismantles this “either/or” framework and replaces it with a multidisciplinary approach. Conceived by JU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Umesh Rai, in alignment with the transformative vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, this innovative four-year undergraduate programme seeks to redefine how students learn, specialize, and prepare for the future.
Launched in 2023, the DYD programme has been designed to move beyond the rigid, traditional structure of fixed courses. Instead, it offers students the freedom to craft their own academic pathways, combining subjects from multiple disciplines according to their interests and career goals. Built on flexibility, inter-disciplinary, and experiential learning, the programme is not just producing graduates—it is nurturing innovators, problem-solvers, and confident individuals ready to navigate an uncertain future.
The programme begins with a two-year exploratory phase, where learners engage with diverse subjects ranging from Mathematics and Technology to Environmental Science and Ethnographic Research. This deliberate “intellectual wandering” enables students to discover intersections—such as using satellite data for agriculture or linking tourism with cultural preservation. Only after this phase do students transition into a domain-specific major, such as BBA or B Tech, but with a strong interdisciplinary foundation already in place.
What truly distinguishes DYD is not just its structure, but lived experiences of the students themselves as the classrooms extend into laboratories, communities, industries, and even national institutions. This blend of academic and practical learning allows students to connect theory with application—an essential skill in today’s job market.
“My journey began at a defining moment… I felt a disconnect with traditional courses. Choosing DYD was a shift from being a passive learner to an active ‘doer,” says Narayan Choudhary, a BBA student, whose journey reflects the core philosophy of the programme—freedom to explore before committing to a specialization.
Similarly, Malhar Khadyal recalls how the programme helped him find direction. “When I started, I didn’t have much clarity about what exactly I wanted to do, but this program gave me the space to explore different areas and understand what actually suits me,” he said.
A defining feature of DYD is its emphasis on real-world exposure. Internships, projects, and fieldwork form an integral part of the curriculum. Shubham Sharma, a third-year student, highlights this aspect by saying: “The best thing about DYD is that it is not only about theory… I worked on different projects and also did internships, including at IIT Bombay and Zigma Global. These experiences helped me understand the real work environment.”
One of the most striking outcomes of the programme is the transformation it brings in students’ confidence and mindset. Adil Mahajan, who transitioned from a medical background to Artificial Intelligence, shares: “I had a deep fear of mathematics… but this program helped me see math and code as tools to solve real-world problems. That shift in perspective changed everything.”
Likewise, Paridhi Mahajan reflects on her personal growth: “Initially, I had very low communication skills and a fear of speaking on stage… DYD provided me a platform to express myself and become confident.”
For Kashvi, the transformation was equally profound. “I was quite introverted when I joined, but DYD helped me come out of my comfort zone… Today, I feel more confident and ready to face new challenges,” she said.
The programme’s interdisciplinary approach has enabled students to develop innovative solutions and compete at national and global levels. Narayan Choudhary’s team, for instance, achieved remarkable success. “We were ranked 1st in the nation in the qualifying rounds of a national innovation challenge and represented India at a global platform,” he notes.
Students like Vidhita Arora have also excelled in hackathons. “Participating in competitions helped me enhance my practical skills, teamwork, and ability to think under pressure,” she said. These achievements underline the programme’s focus on turning ideas into impactful outcomes.
Despite its many advantages, DYD is not without its challenges. The flexibility it offers can sometimes feel overwhelming. Neamat Kour candidly shares: “Making the right choices without a fixed structure was sometimes confusing… but it helped me become more independent and confident in my decisions.” Similarly, Vidhita Arora acknowledges that there were moments of confusion and setbacks, but each challenge taught her resilience, patience, and consistency.
These experiences highlight how the programme not only imparts knowledge but also builds essential life skills. Beyond academics and innovation, DYD fosters holistic development. Sarnish, another student, emphasizes the value of exposure and says: “It’s not just about classroom learning—we had internships, workshops, webinars… These helped me build confidence and understand my strengths.” For Tavishi Amla, the journey has been deeply personal. “DYD gave me the freedom to explore and grow beyond boundaries… It helped me turn curiosity into purpose,” she said.
The Design Your Degree programme reflects a larger shift in education—towards flexibility, inter-disciplinary, and student-centric learning. It prepares students not just for jobs, but for dynamic careers and evolving industries. As Pawandeep Singh aptly puts it: “DYD has been a journey of self-discovery… It helped me identify my interests and choose a path that excites me and has real impact.”
At the University of Jammu, the DYD programme is more than an academic innovation. It is a transformative experience. By giving students the freedom to explore, the tools to create, and the confidence to lead, it is redefining what it means to be educated in the 21st century. In the words of its students, it is not just about earning a degree—it is about designing one’s future.
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