Nagaland University organised an online programme on NEP 2020 and AI integration, highlighting learner-centric education, digital skills, experiential learning and regulatory reforms.
DIMAPUR — Nagaland University (NU) organised a one-day online programme on “Sensitisation & Implementation of NEP 2020 in HEIs” on August 27, focusing on the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into higher education.
The programme was organised by the team for Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam 2026 (Nagaland University) under the aegis of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, the university stated in an update.
The programme, chaired by Prof. PK Pattnaik, began with a welcome address by Prof. L Tongpang, followed by an address by Prof. Bendang Ao, Director, Research and Development Centre (RDC), Nagaland University.
Prof. Bendang highlighted the progress made by Nagaland University in implementing NEP 2020, including initiatives related to the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), SWAYAM, MOOCs, Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), and the introduction of AI-related courses and syllabi.
He also highlighted the university’s MoUs with international institutions and other initiatives undertaken as part of the policy’s implementation.
The second lecture, delivered by Prof. K. Srinivas, Head, ICT & Project Management Unit, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), New Delhi, focused on “Integrating AI Competencies into Learner-Centric, Experiential and Blended Learning Environments for NEP 2020.”
Prof. Srinivas stressed the growing importance of AI competencies in transforming teaching and learning practices.
He said the emergence of AI and other technologies requires a rethink of the traditional classroom and called for teachers to strengthen their digital, pedagogical and soft skills to meet the demands of 21st-century education.
He emphasised the need to develop open educational resources and repositories that promote learner-centric education, enabling students to learn and engage independently with knowledge.
Teachers, he said, should leverage AI tools to strengthen learning strategies while continuously updating their own knowledge and professional competencies.
Prof. Srinivas also highlighted the importance of teachers becoming proficient in digital learning platforms such as Moodle, Canvas and Google Classroom, as well as cloud-based and AI-enabled tools.
He underlined the value of experiential learning in helping students connect classroom concepts with practical situations and improve their understanding and application of knowledge.
As part of the hands-on training, participants were introduced to examples of classroom-based AI prompts to demonstrate how AI tools could be integrated into teaching and learning activities.
He also discussed the growing role of AI in higher education research and its responsible use in supporting different stages of the research process.
The first lecture was delivered by Prof. CB. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribag, Jharkhand, on “Implementation of NEP 2020: Role of Regulatory Frameworks for Higher Education.”
Prof. Sharma stressed the importance of effective regulatory frameworks in facilitating the implementation of NEP 2020 and strengthening the higher education system.
He called for a stronger connection between higher education, the evolving skills and job market, and the needs of society.
He said academic knowledge should be aligned with contemporary employment requirements and stressed the need for India to strengthen its position in global knowledge sharing.
Describing higher education institutions as storehouses of knowledge, he called for a transformation in the way knowledge is created, shared and applied.
Prof. Sharma also highlighted the need to strengthen the relationship between school and higher education and underscored the importance of the mother tongue in education.
He said vocational education should be linked with local industries to ensure that students acquire skills relevant to economic and employment opportunities in their communities.
He further advocated greater flexibility in curriculum design to enable learners to pursue areas of interest, along with mentorship policies that give students greater ownership in shaping their academic pathways.
Competency-based certification, multiple entry and exit options, multidisciplinary education and greater institutional autonomy were highlighted as important components of a responsive and future-ready higher education system.