DIMAPUR — The internal quality assurance cell (IQAC) of Immanuel College, Dimapur, organised a one-day NAAC-sponsored national seminar on 'NEP-2020: Challenges and Opportunities in Higher Education' on September 8 at the college’s conference hall.
The keynote speaker for the programme was Dipak Sinha, director IQAC, Nagaland University (NU), and Nodal Officer, NEP 2020, NU, according to a press release.
In his speech, Sinha emphasised India's adoption of the NEP in 2015, reciprocating the global education development agenda reflected in Goal 4 (SDG4) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030.
He stated that NEP 2020 is the first education policy of the twenty-first century, aiming to address the country's many growing developmental imperatives. According to him, it proposes revising and revamping all aspects of the educational structure in order to create a new system that is aligned with aspirational goals while building on India's traditions and value systems.
The speaker cited that structural change and academic flexibility are two broad categories of reforms under NEP.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]The speaker highlighted some key benefits of the choice-based credit system (CBCS), including allowing students to choose multi-disciplinary courses, broadening education to meet global standards, allowing students to study at different times and at different institutions, allowing credits earned at one institution to be transferred, and so on.
He stated that NEP 2020 proposed ending higher education fragmentation and transforming it into multidisciplinary universities, colleges, and knowledge hubs to achieve maximum productivity with a greater emphasis on research and development, innovation, and incubation. He also talked about the Academic Bank of Credits.
While reflecting on Nagaland University's implementation of NEP, he mentioned system challenges such as the implementation of common courses, credit transfer due to a lack of uniformity in credits, multiple entries and exits, and so on.
In his concluding remarks, Sinha emphasised the University's future initiatives, such as the possibility of creating cluster colleges, developing skill enhancement courses and value-added courses, encouraging students to earn credit from Swayam MOOCS courses, the need for teachers to develop online course content, industry linkage to improve placement, and developing courses on indigenous knowledge systems.
The seminar had two technical sessions.
The inaugural programme was chaired by Khrutalu Dozo, assistant professor, department of Political Science, Immanuel College, and the welcome address was delivered by Th. Sharatchandra Singh, principal. IQAC coordinator Nengpilhing proposed the vote of thanks.