UGC Asks Universities To Set Up NEP Cell, Monitor Progress Of Several Initiatives

In a bid to provide quality education to all and make India a global knowledge superpower through active participation of Higher Educational Institutions, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has urged Universities to work in tandem in achieving the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

In a letter, UGC has asked the vice-chancellors of Universities to establish "NEP Cell" in their respective institutions to ensure that vision of NEP, 2020 gets translated into a reality.

It is pertinent to mention here that the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 was launched on July 29, 2020. On completion of one year of launch of NEP 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a number of initiatives including major reforms such as Academic Bank of Credits, Guidelines for Multiple Entry and Exit in Academic Programmes and internationalisation of higher education.

Apart from this, the UGC has also undertaken the following initiatives for the implementation of NEP, 2020.

-Regulations on Academic Bank of Credits to promote flexibility and facilitate student mobility

-Guidelines on Multiple Entry and Exit in the Academic Programmes of Higher Education institutions

-Guidelines for Apprenticeship/internship embedded degree programme as part of the curriculum of general degree programme.

-Amendment of institutions Deemed to be University Regulations to facilitate Vocational Education to enhance Employability

-Regulations on ODL and Online Education to expand access and increase GER

-Regulations on Credit Framework for online courses through SWAYAM, 2021 for recognition and integration of credits - increasing the credit limit from 20 per cent to 40 per cent.

-Guidelines for internationalization of Higher Education

-Establishment of Office for International Affairs - one stop contact for foreign students

-Alumni Connect at University Level to engage with Alumni (of foreign origins and Indians living abroad)

As per UGC, the above-mentioned initiatives are aimed to improve accessibility, equity, quality affordability and accountability and thereby bringing about transformative reforms in the higher education sector.

“The concerned/eligible institutions may implement above initiatives at their level so that the benefits can reach to the stakeholders in a time-bound manner,” the UGC letter read.