With the implementation of NEP, last year witnessed a lot of transformations in the arena of higher education. NEP changed the rigid face of the current education system and restructured it to adapt to the global changes happening in this field. The new policies put forward by NEP envision a holistic and multidisciplinary education that develops all capabilities of human beings. The future imagined by this policy will be achieved only by the integration of sustainable development goals in the education system.
According to the structural and functional shifts brought by NEP in the higher education sector, the assessment and accreditation system is also revamped to include the changes taking place in the curriculum, pedagogy, research and extension. In this context, we wish to address the most important dimensions of NEP such as blended learning and its challenges, outcome-based education and its attainment, academic bank of credit, skill and vocational education etc.
IQAC of Al Ameen College in collaboration with UGC STRIDE, MG UNIVERSITY, KOTTAYAM organized a 2 day National seminar on 14th and 15th of October, 2022 on Reforms in Higher Education Post NEP 2020: Challenges and Opportunities.
Focus areas of the seminar:
- Academic Bank of Credit
- Multidisciplinary & Skill based education
- Future of HEIs in the light of NEP
- Curriculum Design based on NEP
- Assessment and Accreditation on implementing NEP 2020
The target group of seminar was teaching faculties and 103 participants from different institutions and our institution attended the sessions.
Day – 1, 14th October, 2022
Inaugural Session
The first day of the seminar started with the registration and 103 participants from different institutions registered for the seminar which include papers presenters also. 7 participants were from outside the state and 18 participants were from outside institutions. The seminar started with a silent prayer followed by the welcome address by Dr. Leena Varghese, IQAC Coordinator, and the meeting was presided over by Dr. Cini Kurian, Principal. Dr. Mohan B Menon Former Deputy VC, Wawasan University, Malaysia delivered the keynote address, Dr. KC Sunny, VC, NUALS inaugurated the seminar and pointed out the importance of student-centric learning and the role of teachers as facilitators. Dr. K.M. Sajad Ibrahim Professor, Director of UGC HRDC University of Kerala was the Guest of Honour. Dr. Junaid Rahman, Manager felicitated the occasion.
Day – 1, 14th October, 2022
Technical Session:1
The future of higher education in India in the context of NEP 2020
The first technical session started at 10.30 and the resource person for the session was Prof. Dr. Amruth Kumar, Professor, Department of Education, Central University of Kerala, Kasargod. He pointed out the importance of quality enhancement and technological updating of teachers. He empahsised about transforming to autonomous bodies or else HEIs will not receive financial aid from central Government or state Government. In spite of Government changes the policy will not differ because these changes are due to the changes happening at international level. The new strategy of Government is to increase the GER through MOOC and other platforms instead of constructing new Colleges and Universities. According to the new policy only 60% of the course will be offered by institutions and remaining 40% students shall acquire through online mode. So affiliated institutions will have to provide part time facilities to engage students in work and other activities. Moocification of HEIs will result in dismantling concept of teacher. Socio economic factors of a family plays a great role in selecting MOOC courses so economical background will be a crucial factor in course decisions by students. Equity or accessibility in this sense must be debated. They requires device, facilities, fees etc which will certainly will bring out a division in the education sector.
Day – 1, 14th October, 2022
Technical Session:2
Multidisciplinary Education & Research Universities (MERU)
The second technical session focused on MERU and the resource person for the session was Prof. Karanam Pushpanadham, Professor, Department of Educational Administration, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat. He spoke on research traditions adopted by education institutions. The autonomy of faculty and institutions was elaborated on in the session. Multidisciplinary education is a unique educational approach that allows students to learn & explore distinct subjects or curricula from various disciplines. Education is not limited to a particular discipline. For instance, a student of Engineering can take a subject from humanities. National Education Policy 2020 has recommended setting up Multidisciplinary Education and Research University (MERU). Reasons (R): MERU will aim at attaining the highest global standards in quality education.
Day – 2, 15th October, 2022
Technical Session:3
Inclusion of NEP Parameters in AQAR & SSR
The second day of the seminar started with the third technical session handled by Prof. Harry Cleetus, Principal (Retd.)St Alberts College, Ernakulam. The incorporation of NEP parameters in the area of Multidisciplinary courses, ABC, Indian Knowledge etc. were discussed in detail by the resource person. The new strategy of tenure tracking and transformation of HEIs were also discussed in detail. The resource person also familiarized the participants with the new NAAC parameters, a drastic change, where significance was given to Educatedness.
Paper Presentations:
Chair : Dr.Biju K Assistant Professor, Central University of Tamilnadu.
There were 8 paper presentations from teachers of different institutions and the selected papers were published in the conference proceedings.
Day – 2, 15th October, 2022
Technical Session:4
Actualising OBE through Curriculum Implementation
The resource person of the last session of the seminar was Dr.Biju K, Assistant Professor, Central University of Tamilnadu. The session was very informative and apt to the current scenario where education is always read together with outcomes. The methods and techniques to be adopted by teachers in framing the outcome of curriculum and to assess it was elaborately delivered by the resource person. This session has finally helped the teachers to equip themselves to frame their own outcomes of courses.
Valedictory Function:
The valedictory function was presided over by Dr. Junaid Rahman, the Manager who congratulated IQAC for organizing such a seminar. The conference proceedings were published and a copy was handed over by Dr. Junaid Rahman, Manager to Dr. Biju Assistant Professor, Central University of Tamilnadu. A vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Leena Varghese, Coordinator, IQAC.
