The National Institute of Technology Calicut (NITC) successfully hosted a two-day national conclave titled Implementation of NEP 2020: Moving Towards Academic Excellence on April 25 and 26. The conclave brought together academic leaders, policymakers, nodal officers, and representatives from Centrally Funded Institutions (CFIs) across the country, creating a collaborative platform to discuss strategies for effectively implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The event commenced with an inaugural address by Anil D. Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of the National Board of Accreditation (NBA). Emphasizing the need for a paradigm shift in higher education, he called for flexibility, innovation, and holistic student development as core objectives in implementing the policy.
In the keynote address, Ved Prakash, former Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), reflected on the foundational principles of NEP 2020. He stressed the urgency for systemic reforms that encourage multidisciplinary learning, student-centric methodologies, and greater internationalisation of India’s higher education system.
Throughout the two days, the conclave featured a series of expert-led sessions, each contributing valuable insights. Shakila Shamsu, former Officer on Special Duty (NEP) at the Ministry of Education, underscored the importance of holistic and multidisciplinary education. She advocated for learner-driven models, flexible academic structures, and lifelong learning pathways.
In a virtual address, V. Ramgopal Rao, former Director of IIT Delhi and current Group Vice-Chancellor of BITS Pilani, discussed the long-term global impact of NEP 2020. He highlighted how strategic policy implementation could enhance Indian institutions’ research output, foster innovation ecosystems, and strengthen international partnerships, ultimately improving global university rankings.
Further enriching the discussion on internationalisation, P. Arumugam from IIT Roorkee shared actionable strategies for promoting student and faculty mobility, global collaborations, and increasing the international visibility of Indian institutions.
The significance of integrating India’s intellectual heritage into contemporary education was highlighted by R. Sridharan, former chairperson of the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems at NIT Calicut. He advocated for incorporating indigenous knowledge, philosophy, and scientific traditions into modern curricula, enabling students to develop a stronger connection to India’s rich cultural and intellectual legacy.
Addressing curriculum design aligned with NEP 2020, Sameer S.M. from NIT Calicut presented a vision for flexible and modular course structures. He emphasized the need for interdisciplinary pathways and the integration of technological tools to create more personalized and adaptive learning experiences for students.
One of the key highlights of the conclave was an interactive session featuring nodal officers from six nominated State universities in Kerala, along with participants from various CFIs. This session provided a valuable exchange of experiences, challenges, and best practices, offering practical insights into the diverse approaches institutions are adopting to implement NEP 2020 effectively.
The conclave concluded on a promising note, with participants reaffirming their commitment to implementing NEP 2020 in a manner that fosters academic excellence, holistic education, and global competitiveness for Indian higher education institutions.
