The National Education Policy (NEP) was released in 2020 with the goal of transforming India into a global knowledge superpower by providing a broad-based, flexible, multidisciplinary education that meets the requirements of the twenty-first century. On July 29, 2023, at ITPO, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam, which coincides with the third anniversary of National Education Policy 2020. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship are organizing the two-day event. On this occasion, the Prime Minister will initiate numerous initiatives.
In anticipation of this weekend’s celebration of the third anniversary of the NEP, the chiefs of institutions of higher education and officials of Skill Development institutes shared with the media the accomplishments and highlights of the NEP’s implementation thus far.
Prof. BS Murthy, the director of IIT Hyderabad, stated that the institute was a pioneer in the introduction of Fractal Academics, i.e. courses with credit values spanning from 0.5 to 3, allowing students to gain breadth and depth in their areas of interest. He stated that 10% of the curriculum for all UG programs is comprised of liberal arts and that students can also acquire credits outside of the institution. Prof. Murthy stated that in order to promote entrepreneurship leading to Atmanirbhar Bharat, IIT-H is supporting student innovations through BUILD (Bold & Unique Ideas Leading Development) initiatives and providing students with a semester break and 6 credits to pursue such innovations. IIT Hyderabad has created a Technology Research Park (TRP) for industries and a Technology Incubation Park (TIP) for startups, each with a space of 150,000 square feet, in order to encourage innovation with industry support, according to the Director.
Prof. B. Jagdeeshwar Rao, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad, stated that the Academic Bank of Credits scheme has begun while discussing the implementation of NEP. He revealed that the Multiple Entry and Exit facility is being implemented for all 19 Integrated Master’s programmes. Prof. Rao reported that regulations for concurrently pursuing two academic programs have been adopted, and the University offers 14 Diploma courses through the Centre for Distance and Virtual Learning. In accordance with the multidisciplinary approach outlined in NEP, the University of Hyderabad has introduced new courses such as -Introduction to Gender Studies, Value-Based Education, NGOs and Nation Building, etc.
Vidyanad, the Joint Director of the Regional Directorate of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship for the state of Telangana, stated that since the NEP emphasizes the integration of vocational education into general education, the institute is working to equip students with both academic and practical skills. Sh. Vidyanand informed that under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY 2022-23), Schools, Higher Education Institutions, Colleges, Universities, institutions of national repute, etc. are being on-boarded as ‘Skill Hubs’, leveraging their existing infrastructure and domain expertise to provide quality training under PMKVY. Currently, there are close to one thousand Skill Hubs with one hundred thousand candidates enrolled, he revealed. Targets have been assigned to over 2000 institutions, including institutions of national renown such as IITs, IIITs, NITs, and central universities. ISM Dhanbad and IIT Guwahati have already begun training for the following positions: Assistant Mine Surveyor, Greenhouse Operator, Self-Employed Tailor, and Social Media Associate.
NEP 2020 paves the way for developing and grooming our youth for such a responsibility, thereby preparing them for emerging future job positions. The policy emphasizes developing each individual’s fundamental and advanced cognitive abilities, such as critical reasoning and problem solving. Therefore, the leadership of academia, policy experts, and industry experts must join together to engage in strategic planning and brainstorming. From the 29th to the 30th of July, sixteen sessions will be held in New Delhi on the topics of Access to Quality Education and Governance, Equitable and Inclusive Education, Issues of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Group (SEDG), National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF), Indian knowledge System, Creating Synergy between Education and Skilling the Future of Work, and Internationalization of Education, among others.
