Workshop on career opportunities under NEP 2020 held in Dimapur

DIMAPUR — Livingstone Foundation International School, Dimapur, hosted a workshop on Friday, focusing on career opportunities under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The event was jointly organised by the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya, in collaboration with Nagaland University and North East Christian University (NECU), Nagaland.

Speaking on the theme of the workshop, Head of Department of Horticulture and In-charge Pro-VC of Nagaland University’s Medziphema campus, Prof. Pauline Alila remarked that the National Education Policy 2020 marks a transformative shift in India's education system, aiming to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and mind-set required for the 21st century workforce.

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By emphasising on holistic multidisciplinary learning and flexibility in subject choices, NEP 2020, she said, opens up diverse career opportunities for learners across academic, vocational, and creative domains.

The policy, according to her, promotes skill-based education, integration and integration of technology and industry collaboration, thereby aligning education and aligning education with the demands of the evolving job market.

The theme speaker highlighted that the primary objective of NEP 2020 is aimed at promoting critical thinking, creativity and problem solving, ensuring equity and inclusion in education. Additionally, the policy seeks to integrate vocational education with mainstream learning, encourage multilingualism, and respect India's rich cultural diversity. It also leverages technology to enhance teaching and learning outcomes, shifting the focus from exam-centric to learner-centric education, Alila said.

Emphasising how NEP 2020 enhances the career opportunities for students, she underlined that there is a great emphasis on multidisciplinary education with the new education policy giving opportunity for students to select courses across all these streams.

She added that this approach enables individuals to pursue their interests and unlocks new career opportunities through skill-based learning in various domains.

According to Alila, NEP also emphasises on entrepreneurship, critical thinking, and creativity. “You can earn a living and you also enjoy while earning your living. So, this is how the new education policy is bringing the individual students to have careers where they enjoy doing the work,” she said.

She further underscored that NEP 2020 promotes the internationalisation of education, bringing India's education system on par with developed countries. This, she noted, creates opportunities for global education, allowing students to pursue their studies across countries.

NEP 2020 is about empowering students, giving them the freedom to choose, the ability to explore, and the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world, she said.

“It broadens the horizon of career opportunities by integrating academic flexibility, vocational training, technology adoption, and critical thinking thus fostering a future-ready generation who are not only qualified but adaptable, skilled, and globally competitive,” she concluded.

Former Nagaland chief secretary Alemtemshi Jamir, in his address, noted that NEP 2020 is rooted in the fundamental philosophy of gyan (knowledge), pragya (wisdom), and satya (truth).

According to Jamir, these principles encapsulate the core values of access, equity, and quality in education, ultimately driving career development and skill development, with the policy moving beyond traditional vocational training, to embracing a more comprehensive approach.

The former bureaucrat observed that India's colonial past has perpetuated a mindset focused on white-collar jobs, with many still aspiring to work in offices. He noted that this mindset persists, with many Naga boys and girls continuing to prioritise government jobs.

However, the introduction of NEP 2020, he noted, is bringing a structural change as it represents a major departure from the “colonial system” of education which was focused on producing “white-collar” government employees.

The new policy, according to him, aims to foster career development, skill development, and self-employment, shifting the focus from job-seeking to job-creation while the key pillars is built on ensuring access, equity and quality in education for all.

The NEP, he remarked, is a crucial response to prepare India's youth for the new, technologically advanced world.

“So kindly remember, students who are here, that this new education policy is meant for you. It is for your growth, your goodness, and your greatness. And you should think about the changes that are here with seriousness,” he added.

The workshop began with a welcome address by USTM Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque, followed by greetings from NECU VC Dr. Darlando T Khathing.

Director of Operations USTM Debasish Saha presented on career opportunities, and USTM VC Prof. GD Sharma addressed the students. The event concluded with a vote of thanks from USTM's Head of the Department of Sociology, Dr. Kughatoli Aye.

NBSE HSSLC 2025 toppers were also felicitated on the day with cash, certificates and mementos.