[WEBCAST] Universities of the Future - NEP and Higher Education

Replacing a three-decade-old framework, the recently released National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 introduced reformative changes in Indian education. Rooted in the principles of access, quality, equity, affordability and accountability, the policy when implemented, will impact the lives of more than 300 million students in the country. NEP 2020 aims to resolve the multi-layered challenges in public education systems in India.

Among these challenges, access continues to remain the most pressing one, as reflected in India’s gross enrolment ratio (GER) of ~26% in higher education institutes. NEP 2020 aims to increase this ratio to 50% by 2035. Additionally, the policy also emphasises on bridging the infrastructure gaps between urban, rural and semi-urban institutes. Open learning platforms and digitalisation of higher education will play a crucial role in this process. In order to leverage the use of technology in higher education, the policy has proposed the establishment of the National Educational Technology Forum. 

A major highlight of NEP 2020 is the proposed overhaul of undergraduate studies with multiple exit points and promoting a multidisciplinary approach for learning. The policy also encourages research in universities by establishing a National Research Foundation which will promote and fund outstanding academic research. Admissions have been simplified by introducing a single university entrance exam and regulatory structures will be unified under a central body called the Higher Education Commission (HECI). NEP 2020 has also opened doors for foreign universities to set up institutes in India and also allowed national universities to set up offshore campuses. 

While the blueprint for India’s futuristic higher education has been laid out, what are some of the immediate concerns in its implementation? Will the digitalization of higher education address the long-standing challenge of poor learning outcomes and skill-based education? How will NEP 2020 address the problems of insufficient infrastructure and high teacher vacancies among Indian higher education institutions? Will the proposed changes lead to higher employability and skill-development? 

Join us for a discussion with Kapil Viswanathan, Chairman, Executive Committee, Krea University, Prof Anju Seth, Director, IIM Calcutta and Vineet Gupta, Founder & Trustee, Ashoka University. The discussion will be moderated by Ritika Chopra, Senior Assistant Editor, The Indian Express. 

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Kapil Viswanathan serves as the Chairman of the Executive Committee at Krea University. He has played a central role in the conception and establishment of the University. Mr Viswanathan is also the President of the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR), a not-for-profit society focused on education and research. Previously, Mr Viswanathan was the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Lumina Datamatics.

Dr Anju Seth is the Director of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta. Dr Seth has a distinguished academic career spanning over twenty-five years with global experience in the USA, Europe and India. Dr Seth presently serves on the Boards and Councils of several professional organizations in India, USA, Europe and Asia. 

Vineet Gupta is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Jamboree Education. Mr Gupta is also the Founder and Trustee of Ashoka University. He also serves as the Trustee of Plaksha University which he founded in 2015.

Ritika Chopra is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express in New Delhi. Ms Chopra has over 14 years of experience in journalism, reporting on politics, government policy and education. In 2017, she was awarded the UNFP-Laadli Media Award for her report which highlighted the impact of the Supreme Court’s verdict that upheld the law barring illiterate candidates from contesting panchayat polls.   

This event is organised in partnership with the H T Parekh Foundation