FDP National Education Policy 2020

Faculty Development Programme on Implications of National Education Policy 2020 on Higher Education in India

International School of Informatics and Management, Jaipur, on April 27, 2021, organised a one-day Faculty Development Programme on Implications of National Education Policy 2020 on Higher Education in India. The event witnessed an overwhelming participation of 311 partakers, including from Brazil, Nigeria, and fourteen states of India including, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Haryana, Delhi, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Orissa, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal. The event was organised to understand the essential elements of NEP-2020 and the role of faculty in NEP 2020.
The chief guest of the event was Prof. R A Gupta, Vice Chancellor, Rajasthan Technical University, Kota. The Expert speaker was Prof. Bharat P. Suneja, Dean Faculty of Engineering & Architecture, Rajasthan Technical University, Kota. Dr. Ashok Gupta, Chancellor, IIS deemed to be University and Director ISIM, and Prof. Manju Nair, Principal ISIM, were also present in the Programme. The FDP commenced with the seeking of the blessings of Goddess Saraswati.
Dr. Ashok Gupta, Director ISIM, through his Welcome Address marked the commencement of the day. Dr. Gupta said that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected many sectors, and the NEP-2020 has brought a welcoming change in the education sector. National Educational Policy-2020 is a transformational concept . The FDP commenced with the seeking of the blessings of Goddess Saraswati. The welcome address was followed by an address by the eminent Chief Guest of the conference, Prof. R A Gupta, Vice Chancellor Rajasthan Technical University, Kota.
Prof. R A Gupta, in his address, for Faculty members in Teaching, and Research in higher education through National Education Policy and said that Rajasthan has the potential to become a good destination for Higher Education. He said NEP is envisaged to help teachers modernize their teaching style and inculcate innovative and effective pedagogical practices to impart concepts and information in a meaningful and interesting way among the learners to help them learn more deeply and effectively. He particularly emphasized the importance of learning in the mother tongue, and expressed that this would ensure more confident graduates walking out of the universities.

The expert speaker for the FDP was Prof. Bharat P. Suneja, Professor Civil Engineering and Dean Faculty of Engineering & Architecture, RTU, Kota. Prof Suneja spoke on the benefits and challenges in the current education system. Sir also mentioned the role of teachers in the effective implementation of NEP-2020 and challenges for the teachers to equip with the tools to adapt to the rapidly changing scenarios in higher education.
Prof. Suneja said that the National Education Policy 2020 focuses on strategies to promote research and innovation across all disciplines. The policy exclusively lays stress on establishing a more robust research culture at every level that can play a vital role in students' learning, higher education experience, improved learning, and general skills development. The faculty can incorporate methodologies that are research-oriented, scientific, and conceptual. These teaching-learning methods involve eight steps: observation, question, hypothesis, aims, method, results (data and analysis), discussion, and conclusion. The speaker also discussed the eight significant takeaways of the NEP 2020 which include imbibing research culture in teaching and learning will motivate the student for higher-order learning and develop an exploratory attitude that will bring a conceptual consistency in acquiring knowledge, he said.
Prof. Suneja also elucidated the highlights and key takeaways of NEP 2020. The highlights were Easy Entry at all Levels of School Education, Multidisciplinary & Holistic Education, Rootedness & pride in India and its rich culture, Respect for diversity & Local context, Flexibility and breaking Silos between streams, extensive use of technology and outstanding research, creativity & critical thinking with like skills and multiple entry & Exit.
He concluded that Teachers should become Life-long Learners to upgrade their skills and remain relevant and updated in the technology-enabled teaching-learning environment. Prof. Suneja briefed the participants of the initiatives taken by RTU for effective implementation of the new education policy.
At the end of the FDP, participants asked many queries about the NEP, and the expert speaker patiently addressed the queries and their concerns.