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INTENTION  VS REALITY 

The New Education Policy announced in July 2019 and notified a year later has left a large number of issues unanswered even though the original intention spelt out in the draft  policy circulated in early 2019 seems to remain the guiding document of the policy. Even though, ideally we should have removed the draft policy from these pages, for any serious academic it is necessary to make a comparison as to what was the intention and what is the reality! Hence the document remains here for enabling healthy academic debate. 

List of themes for consultation on Higher Education
I. Governance reforms for quality II. Ranking of institutions and accreditations III. Improving the quality of regulation IV. Pace setting roles of central institutions V. Improving State public universities VI. Integrating skill development in higher education VII. Promoting open and distance learning and online courses VIII. Opportunities for technology enabled learning IX. Addressing regional disparity X. Bridging gender and social gaps XI. Linking higher education to society XII. Developing the best teachers XIII. Sustaining student support systems XIV. Promote cultural integration through language XV. Meaningful partnership with the private sector XVI. Financing higher education XVII. Internationalization of higher education XVIII. Engagement with industry to link education to employability XIX. Promoting research and innovation XX. New knowledge

Some of the questions raised which need answering! 

Ranking  & Accreditation
 Should India focus its resources on research universities, including liberal arts and social sciences so as to improve the country’s position in the global rankings?
  Should not India develop its own ranking system relying on indicators more suitable to Indian situation as other ranking systems have heavy weightage for perception/subjective factors in which Indian Universities lose out.
 Accreditation has been made mandatory for all institutions (whether the institution is publicly funded or not)? Is this approach correct or not?
 How should we facilitate the process of accreditation to make the process more objectively verifiable and transparent?

 Should we focus on programme accreditation or institutional accreditation or both?

 Higher Education & Skill Development

 At what level of education should skill be introduced?  Should not skill be introduced in higher education?

 What efforts should be made to introduce need based employable skill courses?

 In what ways, bridge between general a vocational courses should be established to enhance employability of the educated?  What institutional mechanisms should be established to make provision for certification of skills already in the informal sector?

 In what ways, linkages should be established between educational and industries to promote skill based education.

 What guidance and counseling should be provided to the prospective youth for opting skill based courses?

 Should not Associate Degrees be introduced in the Community Colleges as in the U.S.A.?

 Should not higher education allow entry at any stage and temporary exit at the end of any semester?

 Should regular course enable modules of skill which will increase employability?

Faculty Training and development 
 What strategies can be in place to attract the best from the university sector to teaching profession?

 How could support system for research and academic development be provided?

 What incentives could be provided to promote research among teachers of higher education institutions?

 Whether the scheme of National Mission on Teachers & Teaching is adequate or should it be enhanced with some additional features and what are they?

 What percentage of academic leadership training should be online?  What percentage of Pedagogical training should be online?

 What percentage of Professional course training – should be online?

 What is the role of industry experts as teachers?

 Is not Academic leadership course essential for all VCs and principals?

 How can teachers be given exposure on a timely or constant basis to new knowledge being developed worldwide in their domain?

 Is not counselling an essential role of teachers also?

International Education & linkages

 Please suggest strategies for cross border higher education

 How can we encourage foreign education providers?  

 Can improving infrastructural facilities on university campuses such as student facilitation centres, international student’s hostels, faculty guest houses help to attract more foreign students

 Suggest changes in the student faculty exchange programmes and institutional/research collaborations

 Suggest ways by which educational services can be exported

 Which state universities can take in 10% international students?  Do they have adequate ranking and diversity etc.?

 Which universities should try to get international students in 5 years time?

 Should these universities get Global Initiative in Academic Network (GIAN) scholars/teachers?

Regulation

 Has the present system of regulation stifled the growth of our institutions?

Would it be better to reduce the number of regulatory bodies and/or should they undergo massive restructuring so as to function effectively. Please examine in detail.

 How do we ensure accountability measures while granting autonomy to institutions of higher education?

 Are the existing regulations sufficient and how to enforce regulations?  

 How autonomous should the regulatory bodies?

 Should Inspectorate function be discharged by accreditors?

 Should systems be put online for accreditation and videographic evidence be accumulated by regular for ascertaining what ranking to be given to which institution?

 What are the anomalies/challenges thrown to education sector by private sector which converts education into a profit making enterprise at the cost of students and academics?

Online & Distance Education 

 Should open courseware and MOOCs supplement/complement learning in colleges and Universities?  Do the colleges and Universities in your State have connectivity either through the NMEICT of NKN?  

 Would you suggest promoting MOOCs or specific online courses? If yes, could you suggest in which disciplines online courses would be useful in your State.

 What impediments are likely for implementing online courses and how can they be resolved? • To what extent MOOCs substitute for traditional institution based face to face teaching learning process?

What are the constraints to access MOOC courses in rural areas?  

How MOOCs can help expanding the learning opportunities or improve quality of the existing courses?

 Should DTH facility be given to students for anytime learning   Should On-line testing should account for 20% of the grading.

Financing Higher Education  

 What are the innovative ways of financing HE?

 When States not able to increase their share of funding education and how can the situation be remedied?

 How can Corporate sector participation help mitigate problems of financing higher education and what are the ways that they can participate?

 Is it desirable to have a variable Student fee structure?

 Any other suggestions that can resolve issues of financing higher education

 Should all educational loans provide interest subsidy of 5% and moratorium of 1 year?

 If additional education is taken, should it provide rolling moratorium and additional loan?

 Should each institution should cover 1% meritorious students and 1% needy students not covered by any scholarship by Alumni contribution, fund raising.  Should each institution raise Alumni fund and local contribution.

Industry linkage & employability

 Should higher education institutions be oriented to impart skills required by the industry?

 How can institutions of higher education link with industry to change study programmes and improve employability of its graduates?

 How can Industry academia linkages help for start ups and entrepreneurial ventures

 How can Industry orient students to develop entrepreneurial skills  Should Industry representatives be included in the governing bodies of Universities/ colleges

 How can industry help in framing industry relevant courses for enhancing student employability?

 How can Region and sector specific distinct skill profiles and Institutional Profiles be created and matched?

How can we ensure that Agriculture and traditional arts and crafts industry/sector are not ignored?  

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