Greater Noida (Education Desk): The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed universities and affiliated colleges across the country to bring about comprehensive reforms in their academic courses with immediate effect. This initiative is being taken to make the higher education system more relevant, practical and in line with the needs of the 21st century in line with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The consultation issued by the UGC makes it clear that now the time has come for the institutions to move beyond the traditional, theoretical and content-heavy education system and prepare students for practical life. Under this, it has been said that it is necessary to add elements promoting life skills, experiential learning, and the ability to solve real-world challenges in the new courses.
The curriculum will include skill-based modules and internships
UGC has urged all universities to incorporate short-term skill-based modules, industry-linked internship opportunities, and apprenticeship-embedded degree programs in their courses. The aim is to enable students not only academically but also professionally so that they can contribute directly in the workplace after graduation.
Compliance to national academic frameworks is mandatory
Institutions have been recommended to follow major academic standards such as National Credit Framework (NCrF), National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF), Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programs while revising the curriculum. UGC believes that adopting teaching methods in line with these frameworks will not only increase the quality but will also ensure standardization of higher education across the country.
Leadership expected from teachers and administrators
To effectively implement this change, the Commission has appealed to academics, faculty members and administrative officials to play an active role in this campaign. UGC has said that these reforms should not be limited to guidelines only, but institutions should adopt a time-bound and strategic approach to implement them on the ground.
Partnership with industry was also said to be mandatory
UGC has also emphasized that the gap between education and industry should be reduced. For this, universities have been advised to establish dialogue with industry experts and corporate leaders, so that academic programs can be made in line with business requirements. This will not only benefit the students, but will also ensure a more effective contribution of the higher education sector in the economic and technological progress of the country.
Steps towards student-centric and equitable higher education
This directive of UGC strengthens the thinking of NEP 2020, which emphasizes on making education student-centric, inclusive, flexible and result-oriented. This step will not only improve the quality of education, but will also prove to be helpful in making the young generation of the country globally competitive.
Finally, UGC has made it clear that all institutions must implement these reforms in a time-bound manner and any laxity in the process will not be acceptable. This is not just a policy change but a decisive step towards taking India’s education landscape to global standards.
