MHRD to focus on ‘Stay in India’ along with ‘Study in India’

MHRD to focus on ‘Stay in India’ along with ‘Study in India’

c-Sheetal.Banchariya@timesgroup.com

03.08.2020

The COVID-19 outbreak has altered the plans of many students who were aspiring to study abroad this year. Along with ‘Study in India’ scheme, MHRD has now decided to focus on ‘Stay in India’. The move is aimed at helping students who have decided to stay back to pursue higher education in India and Indian students who have returned because of the pandemic. The HRD minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has constituted a committee, headed by DP Singh, chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC), which will prepare guidelines and measures to strengthen both ‘Study in India’ and ‘Stay in India’.

“Students who have returned to India in the middle of their courses are worried about their plans and many students have cancelled their plans for studying abroad because of COVID-19. Initiatives are being designed to retain students in India by providing appropriate opportunities in premier institutions. Bright students, who have returned to India, maybe accommodated in the IITs and other institutes to help them complete their education,” says Anil Sahasrabudhe, chairman, AICTE, who is also a part of the committee. The committee will also prepare mechanisms for increasing intake of foreign students in well-performing universities.

Separate sub-committees consisting of directors of IITs, NITs, IIITs, Council of Architecture (CoA) and VCs of central universities will also be created. “To strengthen the ‘Study in India’ initiative, we need to have an Indian network of international educators. Many universities do not even have dedicated offices for the international students. Institutional reforms are required to make sure that the number of foreign students choosing India for higher education increases,” says Pankaj Mittal, secretary general of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). The institutes may have to start multidisciplinary innovative programmes, twinning and joint degrees, and cross-country centres to help foreign students.

Bhushan Patwardhan, vice chairman, UGC, says, “Internationalisation has become imperative but there has been no substantial change in the last decade. The new NEP emphasises internationalisation of education and retention of students in the country. Not just premier institutes but universities across the country need to transform themselves to welcome more foreign students.”

Discontinuing MPhil may improve research quality

Discontinuing MPhil may improve research quality

c-Sheetal.Banchariya@timesgroup.com

03.08.2020

As per the recently approved National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, students will no longer be able to enrol in Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programmes. The minimum eligibility for a PhD will now either be a four-year undergraduate (UG) programme with research, or a master’s degree after a three-year UG degree. Academicians call it a welcome move as MPhil was not “effective” in training students for research.

Besides, the numbers of students opting for MPhil programmes were anyway declining. Around 43,267 students enrolled in MPhil programmes in 2016-17, which dipped to 34,109 in 2017-18 and 30,692 in 2018-19. RK Kohli, vice chancellor of Central University of Punjab (CUP), says that MPhil was a waste of time for students and faculty. “There are no fellowships available for MPhil students and it is extremely difficult to conduct substantial research in around two years of course duration. Discontinuing MPhil may help in improving the quality of research as only serious researchers will commit 4-5 years to a PhD degree.” Many universities that did not see merit in MPhil had already discontinued the programme even before the new policy was announced. The CUP had de-listed MPhil in 2015 while the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) had delinked MPhil course two years ago.

“MPhil is just a preparatory course, which does not provide much skilling in research. Research is a continuous process and cannot be completed within two years. Besides, the young researchers are more interested in joining integrated MPhil-PhD degrees, which is why stand-alone MPhil courses have lost their relevance with time,” says Venugopal KR, vice chancellor, Bangalore University.

Will NEP 2020 transform the future generations

Will NEP 2020 transform the future generations

Aimed to significantly overhaul several aspects of Indian education system, the new education policy might dissect out cramming, reports Priyanka Srivastava

03.08.2020

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 introduced recently is set to change the face of education ecosystem. In the coming time, we may also hope to see bright young adults with innovative approach towards work and life, instead of pawns obsessing over marks.

Thirty-four years ago, in 1986 when the Rajiv Gandhi-led government changed the education policy, the focus was on ‘operation blackboard’ to strengthen the primary school system. Keeping in view the changing demands, the NEP 2020 now aims to offer skill-oriented education. Change is possible if all the measures introduced are implemented in a structured way. Kiran Hazarika, member of University Grants Commission (UGC), Principal, Tengakhat College, Assam, who was associated with the formulation of NEP is hopeful of the positive outcome in another decade. “This will lead to liberal education in the coming times. We will save the youth from unnecessarily running after degrees,” he tells Education Times.

“The transformation of education will modify the psyche of the coming generation as we will have an educated population armed with innovative thinking,” says Hazarika.

Knowledge Hub

Academics have hailed the policy as an important step to transform India into a knowledge hub. “Besides incorporating the ethos of Indian philosophy, it has also incorporated Sustainable Development Goals at the undergraduate level. Inclusive education from foundation to professional level will help in the long run,” says TG Sitharam, director, IIT Guwahati.

Entrepreneurial mindset

With most sectors moving to the digital platform, India needs to create an army of tech-enabled youngsters willing to take calculated risks. “Emphasis on critical thinking, creativity and stronger conceptual understanding will encourage students to become self-motivated learners,” says Byju Raveendran, Founder & CEO, BYJU'S.

Since Indian students were branded as products of rote-learning, systematic change towards innovation may prove beneficial. “Increased focus on the application rather memorisation is much needed. Having championed the inclusion of 21st century skills in the curriculum, things will change,” says Sriram Subramanian, CEO, Callido Learning, Mumbai.

Multi-disciplinary learning

As the NEP emphasises on offering the exit-re-entry option in HEIs, credit transfer across universities and making all streams equal has come as a breather for students who were getting suffocated of the water-tight compartmentalisation. “Rote learning is passé and with vocational training making headway into mainstream curriculum, a mechanical/electrical engineer can finally fix a motorcycle/fan. Universities will no longer just survive on students’ tuition fees but research funding from corporates,” says Rajesh Panda, founder & CEO, Corporate Gurukul, Singapore.

Discontinuing MPhil may improve quality of research

Discontinuing MPhil may improve quality of research

c-Sheetal.Banchariya@timesgroup.com

03.08.2020

As per the recently approved National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, students will no longer be able to enrol in Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programmes. The minimum eligibility for a PhD will now either be a fouryear undergraduate (UG) programme with research, or a master’s degree after a threeyear UG degree. Academicians call it a welcome move as MPhil was not “effective” in training researchers.

Besides, the numbers of students opting for MPhil programmes were anyway declining. Around 43,267 students enrolled in MPhil programmes in 2016-17, which dipped to 34,109 in 2017-18 and 30,692 in 2018-19.

RK Kohli, vice chancellor, Central University of Punjab (CUP), says ,“There are no fellowships available for MPhil students and it is extremely difficult to conduct substantial research in around two years. Discontinuing MPhil may help in improving the quality of research as only serious researchers will commit 4-5 years to a PhD.”

The CUP had de-listed MPhil in 2015 while the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) had delinked MPhil course two years ago.

Teachers urge SC not to permit final exams in Maha

Teachers urge SC not to permit final exams in Maha

Hemali.Chhapia@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:3.8.2020

The state teachers’ federation has filed an intervention in Supreme Court against University Grants Commission, stating that final exams cannot be held in Maharashtra.

Seeking quashing of a UGC notification that says all universities must conduct final exams by September-end, Maharashtra Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisation stated it would not be logistically feasible to conduct exams. It said if 11 lakh students in final year are to be seated in exam halls by maintaining social distancing, 60,000-70,000 teachers would be needed as supervisors, in addition to 1 lakh support staff like peons, clerks, laboratory attendants.

“Since 2014, recruitment has stopped and 50% posts of teachers are vacant. Many teachers were on yearly contracts and having lost jobs in or after March 2020 will not be available for exam duties. This will impact exams and assessment,” they said.

Starting the process now would push deadlines too, stated MFUCTO. “The process requires an additional 45 days, so there will be delays, because of which the new semester may not begin until December. This will result in students being unable to enter the job market because of non-declaration of results and issue of mark-sheets. Admissions to higher classes will also get delayed.” Earlier, they had informed the state government that if final exams are held, faculty will not be able to participate.

MFUCTO also trashed the idea of conducting online exams.

NBE Notification

E-pass a must for air travellers to Tamil Nadu

E-pass a must for air travellers to Tamil Nadu

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.08.2020

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has requested all airlines to ensure passengers boarding domestic flights to Chennai and other airports in Tamil Nadu should hold a TN e-pass and also register with the state government website. Earlier, airports here were offering a provision to register for an epass after landing at Chennai and other airports.

The move comes after the state government revised its guidelines for travellers in August.

It also says that all passengers arriving from Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi will be tested for Covid-19 on arrival at Chennai.