Shillong, July 21: Consequent upon the press conference conducted by the Vice-Chancellor of NEHU on 19th July 2023, the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) today conducted a meeting of the Vice-Chancellor, the NEP 2020 Implementation Cell, and the principals of colleges affiliated to NEHU to discuss matters and concerns related to the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The meeting was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, and was attended by the principals of all 73 colleges affiliated to NEHU. The members of the NEP 2020 Implementation Cell of the University represented NEHU in the meeting which included Prof. Sherwin May Sungoh, Prof. G. Bez and Dr. Dinesh Bhatia.
The Controller of Examination, Col. Omkar Singh (Retired) and Shri Debashish Choudhury, OSD, College Development cell also attended the meeting to reply to the queries out forward by the principals of the colleges affiliated to NEHU.
The meeting discussed a wide range of issues related to the implementation of NEP 2020, including the curriculum, syllabus, stand alone colleges, Academic Bank of Credit (ABC), multi-disciplinary courses, skill enhancement courses, and the need for faculty development.
The principals raised a number of concerns about the implementation of NEP 2020, including the lack of infrastructure and the need for more training for faculty. The Vice-Chancellor assured the principals that NEHU would provide them with all the necessary support to implement the NEP 2020 successfully.
A question was raised about colleges that do not have affiliation for certain courses, even though the NEP 2020 framework directs them to offer those courses. The OSD, College Development Cell, clarified that these colleges may apply for affiliation for the courses they do not currently have, and the University will expedite the process of inspection and affiliation.
The NEP 2020 implementation cell apprised the principals of the upcoming ordinances governing the introduction of NEP 2020. They also cleared all doubts and questions regarding the major and minor courses. The benefit of introducing four-year undergraduate courses was discussed in detail.
Students will now have the choice of leaving the study after every academic year under the multiple entry and multiple exit provision. A student who wishes to discontinue after the first year will get a certificate, a diploma after the second year, and a degree after the third year. A student who completes the four-year program will receive a degree with research.
The college principals also put forward the issue of internships. The Vice-Chancellor replied that the NEP-2020 envisions making the youth skillfully educated and internships are an integral part of that vision. Therefore, colleges should make an effort to collaborate with various skill development centers, industries, and enterprises to provide internships to the students.
The committee also addressed the issue of the dearth of teachers in colleges that do not offer all the disciplines, “It is important to start by offering MDCs and SECs courses in a way that does not overburden the existing human resources.
This will allow the colleges to gradually build up their capacity to offer these courses, while also providing students with the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge they need” Prof. Sungoh said.
At the end of the meeting, all the colleges were of the opinion that the implementation New Education Policy is the need of the hour and that they will do everything in their capacity to make it a success.
The college principals were all satisfied with the answers to their questions. The Vice-Chancellor thanked the principals of the colleges and promised to guide and help the colleges in smooth implementation of the NEP-2020.
