Steps have been taken to implement changes for enhancing quality of education, promoting research and providing opportunities for students
The New Education Policy (NEP) of India was launched in 2020 and it introduces several changes in the higher education system. Some of the key changes include multidisciplinary approach to education, flexibility in choice of subjects, focus on skill development, emphasis on research, Technology integration and internationalization. Overall, the NEP aims to transform the higher education system in India to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world and to produce graduates who are globally competitive, socially responsible, and innovative.
Comprehensiveness in implementation will be the key, as this policy is interconnected and holistic and so only a full-fledged implementation, and not a piecemeal one, will ensure that the desired objectives are achieved. At the state level, therefore there needs to be careful planning, joint monitoring, and collaborative implementation between the Directorate of higher education and the Higher education institutions.
Crucial role
The directorate of higher education can play a crucial role in helping the implementation of new education policies in higher education institutions in India. The following initiatives of the Directorate of Higher Education, Government of Goa for facilitating the implementation of NEP in the HEIs is an example for the other States to follow heed. Director Prasad Lolayenkar, IAS and his team at the Directorate of Higher Education, Government of Goa, with the constant support of the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who is also Education Minister, have started working on the implementation of the new policy with a clear focus and have taken several steps to prepare for its implementation. Some of these steps taken by the Directorate of Higher Education to facilitate implementation of NEP in HEIs are as follows:
Capacity building programmes: Various capacity building programmes are being organised for the faculty members and administrators to familiarize them with the new policy and its provisions. Roadmaps and guidelines of implementations are provided to the HEIs.
Curriculum revision: The DHE is working on revising the curriculum of higher education institutions in Goa to align it with the new policy and make it more relevant to the needs of the industry and society. The revision and curriculum framing works of the Board of studies of the Goa University are closely monitored.
Formation of Cluster Colleges: Concept of ‘Cluster Colleges’ is adopted to promote collaboration and synergy among higher education institutions. The DHE is facilitating the process of cluster formation and has given a structure wherein a cluster will be governed by a board of governors, comprising representatives from the member colleges, industry, and the government.
Facilitating preparation of ‘Institutional Development Plan’(IDP): National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recognises the importance of Institutional Development Plan and recommend that each institution will make a strategic Institutional Development based on which institutions will develop initiatives, assess their progress, and reach the goals set. The DHE facilitated this process by proving skeletal framework for formulation of IDP for all the HEIs in Goa.
Promoting research: The DHE has constituted ‘Goa State Research Foundation’ (GSRF) on lines of National Research Foundation, with the objective of improving quality of research, facilitating interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research and developing central facility for research. There is inclusivity in formulation of deeper objectives and goals of the GSRF where the coordinators have visited most of the HEIs to know the requirements of the HEIs and faculty for enabling them to conduct quality research and receiving inputs from the faculty on suggestions for promoting interdisciplinary research, promoting local specific research which can provide solution to local issues etc. The GSRF also plans to create a central instrumentation centre for promoting high end research.
Industry-academia collaboration: The Directorate of Higher Education is working on forging partnerships with industry partners to provide students with hands-on experience and exposure to the latest technologies and trends.
Faculty development: The Directorate of Higher Education is organizing training programmes for faculty members to upgrade their teaching and research skills and make them better equipped to implement the changes proposed by the new policy.
Infrastructure development: Several initiatives are undertaken by the DHE to develop the infrastructure of higher education institutions in the state. These initiatives include the construction of new buildings, classrooms, laboratories, and libraries, as well as the provision of modern equipment and facilities for teaching and research. DHE has also built digital infrastructure for facilitating admissions, track record of students, credit collection as well as DISHTAVO and MANDAVI (mooc) which are learning platforms for students.
Skill development programmes: Some of the skill development programmes include the Hospitality Skill Development Programme and the Skill Development Programme for Women. DHE has also started development on training and internship portal.
Facilitating Academic Bank of Credits (ABC): Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) is a virtual/digital storehouse that contains the information of the credits earned by individual students throughout their learning journey. There will be “multiple exits” & “multiple entries” points during the higher education tenure & credits will be transferred through the ABC seamlessly. The Directorate of Higher Education has facilitated the process of opening ABC account for all the students of HEIs in Goa. The students’ Academic Credit Bank’s account on the digital portal will reflect credits obtained by the student in offline mode or online courses of NPTEL, SWAYAM and V-LAB.
Overall, the Directorate of Higher Education, Government of Goa, has taken several steps and continues to guide the HEIs to prepare for the implementation of the New Education Policy and effectively implement the changes proposed by the policy of enhancing quality of education, promoting research and providing opportunities for students to acquire the skills and knowledge required for a successful career.
