Moving Towards a Knowledge Economy

Happy to kick start the year with IBEF's first blog on "Higher Education." This is a momentous time for us in the academic fraternity, rejoicing the way India's higher education landscape is shaping up.

The New Education Policy ( NEP ) that was released in July 2020 has come as the harbinger of hope to make India a "Vishwaguru". The policy is forward-looking and will elevate India's position as one of the quality imparting education systems in the world, by 2035.

The most remarkable highlight is the inclusion of 'internationalization' in a national document for the first time in the history of Indian education. The policy covers all aspects of internationalization viz attracting a large number of foreign students to India, increasing collaborations with foreign Universities, and joint research among many others. The pivot to multidisciplinary education with a flexible curriculum, opening avenues to top 100 ranked universities setting up branch campuses in India, laying down clear guidelines for Trans-National Education programmes, promoting the digitalization of education are key recommendations of this policy. The plan to set up a National Research Fund is a positive step to enhance research in Indian Universities which will help in building a knowledge economy. The regulatory system has also been revamped to having a single umbrella regulator for higher education, which is a welcome step.

Indian Institutions are now heavily embracing technology and digital learning which is going to be the mainstay. We have found an accessible way of reaching out to the world, making new connections, and testing the waters before plunging in.

The emphasis on Teacher education and faculty development in the NEP is an encouragement to teachers. The new 4 years' teacher education programme will also bring in young, professional people into the academic world.

What is most critical now is the implementation of this NEP so that it benefits the younger generation and helps in creating a human resource that will be a confluence of Indian values and global competencies.