UGC Develops A System To Evaluate Institutes Based On NEP 2020

The progress made by the HEIs in implementing the NEP 2020 will be considered while granting privileges and entitlements.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is planning to develop a system to evaluate higher education institutions (HEIs) based on the implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. In some of the UGC regulations, grades/scores obtained in NAAC accreditation are taken as criteria to make HEIs eligible for certain privileges/entitlements.

In line with this, the commission has invited suggestions/feedback from the stakeholders/public to draft document which may be submitted through the Google form available at https://forms.gle/xY6avHXGfKXJuwBk8 

An official notification by the UGC reads, "It has been decided to develop a system to evaluate HEIs based on the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020. The progress made by the HEIs in implementing the NEP 2020 will be considered while granting privileges and entitlements under various UGC regulations. To facilitate this, a two-step evaluation process has been developed, and specific parameters have been identified to determine the allocation of points."

A higher education institution may be required to pass through a two-step process. In the first step, an institution needs to fulfill the mandatory requirements called 'qualifiers,' followed by 'quantifiers, where the HEI will have to reply with 'yes' or 'no' to a series of questions based on the initiatives of NEP 2020 and the UGC Regulations. 

The assessment will be based on the data/evidence to be submitted by the HEI. Submission of false evidence and or any wrong declaration by HEl will lead to the rejection of the application and any other action as deemed fit by the UGC.

The two-step evaluation is as follows:

1. Eligibility Qualifiers: These will be the mandatory benchmarks that an HEl needs to fulfill in order to become eligible for the grant of privileges/entitlements.

2. Quantifier Parameters: The eligible HEI will be evaluated on the identified parameters and the grant of privilege/entitlement will be determined on the basis of the points obtained by the HEI.

An HEI will be mandatorily required to attain the qualifier benchmarks to become eligible for submission of an application to obtain a privilege or entitlement to be granted or conferred by the UGC. HEI will also be required to submit evidence in support of achieving a benchmark parameter. 

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/education/ugc-develops-a-system-to-evaluate-institutes-based-on-nep-2020-7396880

AICTE set to lift cap on engineering seats, mid-level colleges wary

CHENNAI: In a move that could bring more students to top engineering colleges at the cost of mid-tier ones, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) proposes to remove the cap on seats for individual branches from 2024-25.
At present, a college can have a maximum of 240 seats in one branch. The upper limit was introduced following a mismatch between demand and supply.

“As envisaged in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and the nation's proactive initiatives towards enhancement of Gross Enrolment Ratio, the council proposes to remove the upper limit on intake allowed for colleges/programmes offered by existing institutions,” AICTE said in its draft approval process handbook.
The council mentioned that this was subject to infrastructure availability and occupied faculty positions. Expert committees will make inspections before granting approval for an increase in intake.

An increase in seats will be allowed only if the institution already offers at least three courses in core branches.

Top engineering colleges welcomed the proposal. “Colleges providing quality education may be able to increase their intake and expand their campuses by this move. It will also help improve the quality of education,” said Abhay Meganathan, vice-chairman of the Rajalakshmi Group of Institutions. He pointed out that colleges in the US had an average student strength of 30,000 to 40,000, while the corresponding numbers in India were much smaller.

Some are worried that the move would affect admissions in mid-level colleges that provide quality education. "We will wait for the final approval process handbook, although there is a likelihood that the proposed move will increase the gap between the top colleges and mid-tier ones. They may not be able to provide quality education if admission dips," said B Chidambararajan, director of SRM Valliammai Engineering College.

Anna University vice-chancellor R Velraj said the move would accelerate the end of sub-par engineering colleges. As of now, Tamil Nadu has a sanctioned strength of 2.6 lakh seats in 440 engineering colleges.

Source: The Times of India dated 27 November 2023

NEP 2020 has helped in making Engineering courses inclusive and modern

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 completed three years of its inception on July 29 and has brought dramatic changes in the educational ecosystem, by bringing in multidisciplinarity to implementing multiple entry and exit options. Apart from policy changes in schools and colleges, teacher training has been emphasised to ensure the effective implementation of NEP 2020. Technical education will see a massive facelift with the introduction of a few inclusive initiatives giving a boost to regional language as the medium of learning.

Read the full article: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/nep-2020-has-helped-in-making-engineering-courses-inclusive-and-modern/articleshow/102543944.cms