NEW DELHI: India has to become a producing economy by utilising the opportunities presented by Industry 4.0, and develop the education infrastructure that surpasses global standards, Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan has said.
“Education infrastructure is a multi-dimensional concept, beyond developing brick-and-mortar structures,” he said after inaugurating a two-day national workshop on higher and technical education with the Secretaries of States and UTs in New Delhi on November 12, 2024.
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Addressing the event, Pradhan said that the workshop would serve as a platform for rigorous academic brainstorming, particularly how education could bring substantive improvements in furthering ease of living, enhancing per capita income and achieving national priorities set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Five key areas
The Union Education Minister suggested five key areas for the academic leaders and administrators to focus on— strengthening public universities through innovative modes of funding; setting up think tanks for aligning and tailoring curriculum as per the demand of industry and also as per the needs and aspirations of states/UTs; adopting a multidisciplinary approach to research and innovation for assuming leadership in solving global problems; promoting Academic Leadership Development Programmes in each state and UT through collaborations with eminent central/state institutions; and reviving vibrancy of campus life through sports, debate, poetry, drama, performing arts (already creditised through NEP) and giving primacy to these non-scholastic areas.
Pradhan also emphasised on the importance of teaching in Indian languages. Stressing the accountability towards the students of the country, he said everyone will have to work together to establish India’s global leadership in education.
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
Minister of State for Education and the Development of North Eastern Region Sukanta Majumdar expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his vision to reshape India’s educational landscape through the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
“The NEP is not just a policy. It is a roadmap to make India a global knowledge superpower,” he said.
Highlighting the five pillars of NEP 2020— access, equity, quality, affordability, and accountability— Dr. Majumdar said these are the foundation for a modern, inclusive, and globally competitive education system.
He urged the states and UTs to adopt NEP 2020 in letter and spirit. By implementing the policy, states can foster economic growth, build a skilled workforce, and enhance innovation and technological advancement, he said.
Department of Higher Education Secretary K. Sanjay Murthy described the 14 technical sessions that would be held during the event. Twenty guidelines have been developed, providing a framework for the universities, he said.
The objective of this workshop is to disseminate various approaches and methodologies to implement NEP 2020; effectively articulate the roadmap and implementation strategies, fostering knowledge exchange; provide a common platform for all stakeholders to network for effective and smooth implementation of the NEP 2020 and encourage its adoption in state institutions.
The NEP 2020 can drive economic growth by creating a skilled workforce and attracting investments, and boosting development. By aligning higher education with international standards, it enhances the global competitiveness of states’ education systems, potentially attracting more international students and collaborations.
The policy’s emphasis on research and a multidisciplinary approach fosters innovation ecosystems within states, leading to technological advancements and economic benefits.
NEP 2020: Challenges and roadmap
During this two-day workshop, 14 technical sessions on the themes of NEP 2020 Implementation – Challenges and Roadmap; Technology in Education; Collaboration in Education; Digital Governance; Capacity Building & Leadership; and Financing of Higher Education, have been scheduled.
Additional Secretary Sunil Kumar Barnwal, UGC Chairman Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, Department of Higher Education Joint Secretary Manmohan Kaur, Secretaries of States and UTs, academicians, head of the Institutes, and officials of the Ministry participated in the workshop.