NEP 2020: Single higher education regulator in, MPhil out, focus on research and know what all changed

NEP 2020 proposes some of the major changes in Higher Education. Let's take a look on how it is going to impact the overall Higher education in the country.

The New National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has been launched. The Union Cabinet has given its nod to the NEP 2020 on July 29. The policy's focus on Higher Education in the country has a far-reaching impact and proposes to restructure the higher education into three categories of the institutions that conduct research, teach and degree-granting colleges. The policy also proposed to discontinue M.Phil courses and a 4-years bachelors' degree with research. Let's take a look at the changes proposed by the committee in Higher Education under NEP 2020.

Elaborating on the reforms, Human Resource Development Secretary Amit Khare said at a press briefing that the NEP policy aims to increase the Gross Enrollment Ratio in higher education including vocational education from 26.3 per cent (2018) to 50 per cent by 2035 and 3.5 crore new seats will be added to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The undergraduate degree will be of either three or four-year duration, during which the student will be given multiple exit options, with appropriate certifications -- a certificate after completing one year in a discipline or field including vocational and professional areas, a diploma after two years of study, or a Bachelor's degree after a three-year programme.

"The 4-year multidisciplinary bachelor's programme shall be the preferred option since it allows the opportunity to experience the full range of holistic and multidisciplinary education in addition to a focus on the chosen major and minors as per the choices of the student," Khare said.

The policy also called for single higher education regulator called Higher Education Commission of India (HECI). As the Universities will now be working on the credit-based system, therefore, affiliated universities will get autonomy on the basis of credits they have. For instance, grade a will have more autonomy than grade B and so on. UGC, AICTE, and National Education for Teachers will now be handled by HECI who works via self-discloser based system online maintaining transparency.

Among the key reforms in the policy is the Common Entrance Exams conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to universities and colleges. The policy also proposed discontinuation of MPhil Programmes. A broad regulatory framework to be laid to fix fees and other common norms to be followed by both private and public higher education institutions. 

In order to ensure that the growth, vibrancy and preservation of all Indian languages, NEP has recommended to set up Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI), National Institute (or Institutes) for Pali, Persian and Prakrit, strengthening of Sanskrit and all language departments in HEIs, and use of mother tongue or local language as a medium of instruction in more HEI programmes.

"An Academic Bank of Credit is to be established for digitally storing academic credits earned from different HEIs so that these can be transferred and counted towards final degree earned. Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs), at par with IITs, IIMs, will be set up as models of best multidisciplinary education of global standards in the country.

"The National Research Foundation will be created as an apex body for fostering a strong research culture and building research capacity across higher education. Internationalization of education will be facilitated through both institutional collaborations, and student and faculty mobility and allowing entry of top world-ranked Universities to open campuses in our country," Khare said.

Read More:

• New National Education Policy gets Cabinet's nod; Check details here
• NEP 2020: Proposed reforms for School & Higher Education

• NEP 2020 affect on Board exams, here's what all you need to know