Reviews roadmap for NEP-2020 reforms
SRINAGAR, Jul 9: The Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Council (JKHEC) on Thursday prioritised the implementation of the Design Your Degree (DYD) programme and integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across higher education institutions as it reviewed the roadmap for reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020.
The decisions emerged during a meeting of the Executive Committee of the JKHEC held at the University of Kashmir, which brought together academicians, policymakers and heads of higher educational institutions to deliberate on measures aimed at strengthening the Union Territory’s higher education ecosystem.
The meeting was chaired by JKHEC Vice-Chairman Prof. Dinesh Singh, who stressed the need for innovation-driven, interdisciplinary and learner-centric education in line with the vision of NEP-2020.
Highlighting the importance of reimagining higher education through creativity, flexibility, experiential learning and problem-solving, Prof. Singh called for taking forward the Design Your Degree (DYD) programme as an academic initiative that would enable students to pursue multidisciplinary learning pathways and develop skills suited to contemporary challenges.
He said universities and colleges must evolve into dynamic centres of ideas, innovation and research where students are encouraged to think independently, undertake meaningful projects and engage with real-world problems.
The Vice-Chairman also underscored the need to integrate Artificial Intelligence into academics, teaching-learning processes and research to ensure higher education institutions remain responsive to emerging global developments.
Earlier, University of Kashmir Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nilofer Khan reaffirmed the University’s commitment to academic excellence, research, innovation and student-centric reforms. She said the University remains committed to achieving the objectives of NEP-2020 through greater collaboration among universities, colleges and government institutions, adding that the Higher Education Council has provided a platform for developing a shared roadmap for transforming higher education in Jammu and Kashmir.
During the meeting, the Executive Committee reviewed the progress made on decisions taken at previous meetings and held detailed deliberations on strengthening implementation of the Design Your Degree initiative, promoting undergraduate research, entrepreneurship and innovation-led education.
Prof. Shobha Bagai, Director, Cluster Innovation Centre, University of Delhi, shared insights on multidisciplinary education, innovation ecosystems and experiential learning models. She emphasised the need to foster creativity, research aptitude and entrepreneurial thinking among undergraduate students and called for academic frameworks that connect classroom learning with practical problem-solving.
The Committee also discussed strategies for integrating Artificial Intelligence into teaching, learning and research programmes across higher educational institutions to enhance academic practices, improve research outcomes and prepare students for future opportunities.
Members further reviewed initiatives related to entrepreneurship and innovation, proposed programmes under the Higher Education Council framework, budgetary provisions and other academic matters.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, Ram Niwas Sharma (IAS); Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu, Prof. Umesh Rai; Vice-Chancellor, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Prof. Shakil A. Romshoo; Vice-Chancellor, Cluster University Srinagar, Prof. Mohammad Mobin; Vice-Chancellor, Cluster University of Jammu, Prof. K. S. Chandrasekar; Director Colleges, J&K, Prof. Sheikh Ajaz Bashir; Nodal Principal, Government College of Education (IASE), Prof. (Dr.) Seema Naz; Principal, Government College for Women, Parade Ground Jammu, Dr. Naveen Anand; and OSD to the Vice-Chairman, JKHEC, Dr. Guneet Singh Sudan, among others.
Vice-Chancellor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Prof. Pragati Kumar, and Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu, Prof. B. N. Tripathi, joined the meeting virtually.
