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SPECIAL ESSAY
National Education Policy 2020 —

Reimagining Higher Education & Rewriting

the Future of Young India

he promise of radical reforms in the education could come together as a more
Indian education space has been integrated whole, if the NEP’s vision
a long time coming. To be precise, of combining different institutions into
Tthe newly launched National multidisciplinary universities and “higher
Education Policy 2020 bears the tremendous education institution clusters” or “knowledge
challenge of plugging a 34-year gap since the hubs” can be successfully charted.
National Policy on Education, 1986. Undergraduate programmes will be
The visionary proposal keeps today’s either three or four years, with multiple entry
learners at the centre of a multi-pronged and exit points offering different levels of
approach to transform education right from early certification. Coupled with a credit transfer
childhood to higher education. By recognising system, this reform opens the doors for
on-going challenges, the NEP boldly envisions students to gain a lot more control over their
revamping every step along the way. It outlines education.
a fundamental shift in the perception of teaching The overarching goal of increasing the Professor Arjya B. Majumdar
and learning, jolting the country out a slumber of Gross Enrolment Ratio in HEIs to 50%
dated practices, into a refreshing new possibility by 2035 will be a big victory for Indian Common entrance exams for universities
for the future. education, if achieved in time. Creating a level playing field for students
Here are some of the key highlights that can Leveraging technology and digitisation to gain admissions to quality HEIs calls for
herald a new age of higher education in India: Making students “future-ready” means common entrance exams. The NEP will reform
Redefining the meaning of “education” initiating more digitisation in teaching the National Testing Agency’s scope to conduct
A slew of changes is to be expected in the and developing tech-savviness among such exams across the board in India.
very ways in which higher education institutions students from across socio-economic Boosting internationalisation, building
(HEIs) will operate. In fact, the NEP challenges backgrounds. This digital divide in access to world-class institutions
the core understanding of “education” itself. quality education has been a major barrier In an increasingly interconnected world,
It seeks to free students and educators of that’s become more evident during the students must prepare for the global nature
the prevalent binds of a culture of rote learning. on-going pandemic. By upgrading digital of their future prospects. From supporting
It offers, instead, frameworks that will create infrastructure, supporting digitisation of institutions to welcome more international
a more immersive, exploratory, creative, higher education, and promoting online students in India, to offering Indian students
stimulating and conceptual educational courses, the NEP charts a careful and robust the opportunity to study abroad, the NEP aims
experience, where students will shift from route to overcome this challenge. to foster international partnerships in various
learning “what to think” to learning “how to Focus on capacity-building of faculty models.
According to the NEP, “high performing
think”. The NEP acknowledges that the Indian universities will be encouraged to set
Multidisciplinary learning, the key to holistic most important factor in the success up campuses in other countries” and “selected
growth of higher education is the capability universities e.g., those from among the top 100
A central theme in the NEP is of faculty. It focuses on substantially universities in the world will be facilitated to
multidisciplinarity. Today, only a niche group boosting the motivation of highly qualified, operate in India”.
of schools and universities have adopted this experienced and exposed academicians The aforementioned steps will be a major
approach. The idea of moving away from silos and professionals to enter academia. thrust to boost the quality of higher education in
and compartmentalised disciplines to combine Faculty may have the academic freedom to India to come up to par with global standards.
different perspectives is the bedrock of a holistic design their own curricula and assessment In an ambitious roadmap, the NEP offers
learning framework. As young students prepare methods, and implement innovative a progressive new paradigm crafted for the
to enter a world that is increasingly multifaceted, pedagogies, within certain frameworks. new generation of young Indians. It will call
an atmosphere that nurtures dynamic thinking Further incentives include faculty research for greater levels of transparency within
and transferrable skills will go a long way. and faculty development programmes, government and regulatory bodies, more
As per the policy, all HEIs will aim to move among others. institutional independence, and an urgent
towards interdisciplinary, holistic curricula that More public funding; encouraging private sense of responsibility among all.
offer every opportunity for students to pursue philanthropy Can the NEP transform India into a global
their diverse interests, across social science Such transformative measures to boost education hub or perhaps even a superpower?
and STEM disciplines, to transform into well- higher education need significant funding. It has floated many big ideas to harness this
rounded individuals capable of succeeding in To that end, the NEP has underlined potential—and it is now up to the government,
tune with the changing times. Students will have the importance public as well as private educators, students, parents and various
increased flexibility to chart their path in sync initiatives and assures increased funding stakeholders involved to rise to the occasion.
with their unique interests and future plans. from the government. Additionally, it has Professor Arjya B. Majumdar
Restructuring higher education encouraged the role of philanthropy in Dean, Admissions & Outreach
The “fragmented” ecosystem of higher uplifting quality education. O.P. Jindal Global University

EDUCATIONWORLD AUGUST 2020