In the run up to the 3^rd anniversary of the National Education Policy, 2020 on 29^th July 2023, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati and Indian Institute of Information Technology, Guwahati held a joint press conference on the implementation of NEP 2020 in Guwahati today.

During the media briefing, it was informed that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the second Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam which is coinciding with the 3rd anniversary of NEP 2020, on 29th July 2023 at ITPO, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The two-day event is being organised by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. The Prime Minister will be launching various initiatives on the occasion. The Samagam will provide a platform for experts of schools, higher educational institutions, and skilling institutions to discuss, deliberate and share insights, strategies, success stories and best practices in implementing the NEP 2020.

Speaking about the implementation of NEP 2020, Prof. Gautam Barua, Director, IIIT Guwahati said “the vision and provisions of the National Education Policy are so vast and holistic that all the provisions of the policy can be expected to be fully operationalised by 2040.” Thereafter, Dr. Ferdous A Barbhuiya, Associate Dean (Administration) at IIIT Guwahati went on to share the details of initiatives taken by IIIT Guwahati in holistic academic growth as well as student welfare.

In his opening remarks, Prof. Parameswar K. Iyer, Officiating Director, IIT Guwahati said “NEP 2020 has set up the base for streamlining an array of progressive objectives, which is expected to catalyze the furtherance of academic and research excellence in the institutes of higher education. NEP2020 envisions to setup a workforce to fulfill the needs of an enlightened, conscious, knowledgeable, and skilled Nation capable of identifying and solving its own problems for a long-term sustainability. At IIT Guwahati, we are implementing NEP2020 in a phase-wise manner to make sure the best practices can be included in our curriculum in the most efficient way possible.”

                                                                  

He went on to list some of the key features of NEP2020 implemented by IIT Guwahati through multiple inter, multi, and trans-disciplinary initiatives:

• Establishment of Multidisciplinary Academic Centres and Schools such as Centre for Disaster Management and Research, Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems
• Research and Development (R&D) in areas such as Health care, Translational Chemical Engineering Science, Agro-Food Processing, Traditional Foods and Agriculture Practices etc. At present, the institute is working on 470 research and 593 consultancy projects worth over Rs. 673.80 crores.
• Under the Integrated Teacher Education Programme IIT has proposed a Four Years Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) with multiple exit options.
• Center for Indian Knowledge System - a vision to build capacity for a sustainable knowledge system. Programs such as ‘Introduction to Indian Knowledge Systems’ for Ph.D. students, Archaeological Studies in Ancient Technology as an elective course, and Short term courses on ‘Spoken Sanskrit’ and ‘Spoken Assamese’, are being offered by this centre.
• IIT Guwahati has also registered in the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) platform (https://www.abc.gov.in/). IIT Guwahati is the first IIT to create its account on ABC and has already uploaded 3004 graduating students’ degree records.
• To bring industry and other professional expertise into the academic institutions IIT Guwahati has engaged 5 “Professor of Practice”.
• IIT has collaborated with the Govt of Assam to setup Assam Advanced Healthcare Innovation Institute – AAHII at the Institute’s campus. Apart from leveraging advanced technologies to transform medical science, AAHII will also offer Advanced Medical Degrees in different programs including a Diplomate of National Board (DNB), Doctor of Medicine (MD), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) among others.
• Internationalization: IIT is offering Joint Masters Degree Programme in Food Science and Technology with Gifu University, Japan. Along with this, IIT Guwahati has over 100 MoUs with foreign Institutions to provide exposure to its students.
• For SDG implementation, the Institute has launched first-of-its-kind course on UN-Sustainable Development Goals 2030 in its Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) curriculum

For more details about the initiatives of IIT Guwahati refer https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1942207 

                                                                   

In the concluding remarks, Smt. Pavni Gupta, Deputy Director, PIB Guwahati mentioned that NEP2020 along with its provisions aims to bring about a change in the way education is seen by students, parents and teachers. Apart from academic excellence, it aims to build essential life skills for a multi-disciplinary outlook in all fields of work, entrepreneurship, service etc.

To know more about the salient features of the National Education Policy 2020, refer https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1847066 

About Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam (29^th – 30^th July)

Taking into consideration the fact that India aims to become a 5 trillion economy in the period of Amrit Kaal, all sectors of the economy have to be bolstered and strengthened by supply of knowledge-oriented leadership and skilled workforce. NEP 2020 paves the way for developing and grooming our youth for such a responsibility, preparing them for emerging job roles of the future. The policy emphasizes developing the foundational and higher cognitive capacities of each individual such as critical thinking and problem solving. Therefore, there is a need for the leadership of academia, policy experts, and industry experts to come together for brainstorming and devising implementation strategy. Accordingly, the event will include sixteen sessions spread over 2 days from 29^th to 30^th July, discussions will be held on Access to Quality Education and Governance, Equitable and Inclusive Education, Issues of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Group (SEDG), National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF), Indian knowledge System, Creating Synergy between education and Skilling Future of Work, Internationalisation of Education, among others.

The sessions will be attended by around 3000 participants which will include, Principal Secretaries of Education / Skill Department of States / UTs, Directors of IITs, NITs, IIITs, IISERs, IISC, Vice-chancellors of Central, State and Private Universities, Heads of other HEIs, faculties, Principals / Teachers / Students of Schools, ITIs, Heads / representatives of Regulatory Bodies like NCERT, CBSE, UGC, AICTE, NCTE, NCVET, SSCs, NSDC, Heads / representatives of CII, FICCI, NASSCOM, ASSHOCHAM etc.

Another very attractive element of the celebrations is a multimedia exhibition showcasing the best initiatives from the world of school and higher education and the skill ecosystem. Two hundred multimedia stalls will be set up by institutions and organisation under education and skill landscape, industry, and key stakeholders. Over 2 lakh attendees would be visiting the exhibition over the two days, including students, youth volunteers and participants of Yuva Sangam.

The two-day programme will end with valedictory session. The event will also be graced by Hon’ble Union Minister for Education and, Ministers of State for Education, along with Shree Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Shri K. Sanjay Murthy, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, heads of the Autonomous Bodies, and officials of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

 

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Pavni Gupta/Smita Saikia

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