Higher Education in 21st Century – Possibilities and Challenges under New Education Policy 2020
Kolkata,12 December 2024:
MCCI organised a Special Session on ‘Higher Education in 21st Century – Possibilities and Challenges under New Education Policy 2020’ on 12 December 2024, at MCCI Conference Hall. Shri Binod Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Higher & School Education, Government of West Bengal was the Chief Guest of the Session. Padma Shri Prof. (Dr) Ajoy Kumar Ray, Director, JIS Institute of Advance Studies & Research, Prof. (Dr.) Suranjan Das, Vice Chancellor, ADAMAS University and Prof. (Dr.) Bhaskar Gupta, Vice Chancellor, Jadavpur University also addressed the Session.
Shri Amit Saraogi, President, MCCI urged on the transformation of rural education through digital transformation. The path to integrating technology in rural education has full of challenges. He said that MCCI is eager to work with the Government in this area. He also emphasised on the Industry-Academia partnership and it is not only in terms of internships and placements and experiential learning but also in research and development and MCCI can play an important role here.
Addressing the session, Shri Binod Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Higher & School Education, GoWB emphasised the importance of leveraging technology and innovative practices, including industry-academia collaboration, to further enhance India’s higher education ecosystem. He highlighted India’s impressive progress in higher education in past 7 decades. He emphasised on the need for subjects on the basis of individual competency of the students. He urged that industry academia partnership should be encouraged.
While elaborating on the background of NEP 2020, Prof. (Dr.) Suranjan Das, Vice Chancellor, ADAMAS University mentioned that the rise of the Indian economy with growing global edge in higher education attainments and India’s leadership in world politics, led to the Adoption of NEP 2020 which is rightly timed. He highlighted that although NEP proposes 6% of the GDP to be spent on Education, India’s expenditure today is only 3%. He emphasised on the importance of industry to use the CSR fund for transforming inventions to innovations through effective university-industry partnership. Further he pointed out unstrained financial autonomy of the institutions and raised a question on the idea of University. He suggested that a qualitative distinction is required between presence private players in Higher Education and commercialization of higher education.
Padma Shri Prof. (Dr) Ajoy Kumar Ray, Director, JIS Institute of Advance Studies & Researchin his address pointed out the importance of an interdisciplinary approach in academics. Interdisciplinary education helps to acquire skills for solving complex problems and develop critical thinking skills. NEP helps students to pursue interdisciplinary methods in education and helps them to become skilled enough in job market. Dr. Ray also suggested that like the students the teacher should also be aware of new technologies. He also stressed upon the importance of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship on campuses and supporting research through initiatives. He further mentioned that NEP must take into consideration the vast implications of AI in every sector of the industry.
Prof. (Dr.) Bhaskar Gupta, Vice Chancellor, Jadavpur University complimented NEP for providing a roadmap for holistic development.
Shri Alok Sharma, Co-Chairman, Council on Education, MCCI proposed the Vote of Thanks at the Session. He stressed that this ambitious goal of NEP 2020 requires the collective efforts of the government, private institutions, and all stakeholders
Shri Amit Saraogi, President, MCCI presenting a Memento to Shri Binod Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Departments of Higher & School Education, Government of West Bengal at the Special Session on “Higher Education in 21st Century – Possibilities and Challenges under New Education Policy 2020” organised by MCCI held Today, 12 December 2024 at the Conference Hall of the Chamber.
(L – R) : Prof. (Dr.) Suranjan Das, Vice Chancellor, ADAMAS University, Shri Binod Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Departments of Higher & School Education, Government of West Bengal, Shri Amit Saraogi, President, MCCI, Padma Shri Prof. (Dr) Ajoy Kumar Ray, Director, JIS Institute of Advance Studies & Research, and Prof. (Dr.) Bhaskar Gupta, Vice Chancellor, Jadavpur University at the Special Session on “Higher Education in 21st Century – Possibilities and Challenges under New Education Policy 2020” held Today, 12 December 2024 at the Conference Hall of the Chamber.
