Shillong, Nov. 8: The vice chancellors of the private universities in the state came together for the first time at a conference on the theme: Implementation of NEP 2020: A Catalyst for the Transformation of Higher Education. The conference was hosted by Martin Luther Christian University at its Umsawli campus.
The education minister, Mr Rakkam A. Sangama, the chief guest, commended the private universities for their initiative in taking up the implementation of NEP 2020, which is a priority and panacea for the improvement of higher education in the state and country. He highlighted the need to contextualise the curriculum to the culture and needs of youth in the state. He asked the vice chancellors to submit a report of their recommendations on the implementation of NEP 2020 and assured them that the education department would consider their report with full consideration.
Mr H. M. Shangpliang, advisor to the Education Department, Government of Meghalaya, added his support to the private universities for the implementation of NEP 2020. Dr GD Sharma, vice chancellor, USTM, urged the universities to prioritise the unique cultures, indigenous knowledge and biodiversity of the state. Prof Sharma also explained how the NEP could be implemented in a low-cost manner. Dr Jennifer War, Dean, Academics, presented a report of the full implementation of NEP 2020 for the undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs at MLCU from the 2023 batch.
The vice chancellors were unanimous in their view that NEP 2020 should be fast-tracked for the benefit of the youth of the state and to help them be on par with the best universities in the country. The universities who participated in the conclave included the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), CMJ University, North East Adventist University (NEAU), Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) and the host, Martin Luther Christian University.