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India Gazette
09-07-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Education Ministry organises two-day Vice Chancellors' Conference of Central Universities in Gujarat's Kevadia
New Delhi [India], July 9 (ANI): The Ministry of Education is organising a two-day 'Vice Chancellors Conference' of Central Universities in Kevadia, Gujarat, from July 10-11. The event will be attended by the Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan; Minister of State for Education, Sukanta Majumdar; and senior officials from the Ministry of Education. According to an official release from the Ministry of Education, the conference, as part of the five years of implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) on July 29, will bring together leaders of Central Universities to review the institutional progress and collectively shape the path ahead. The discussions over the two days are expected to broadly cover three key areas, including Strategic Alignment, to ensure that Central Universities are aligned with the policy's next-phase goals; Peer Learning and Knowledge Exchange, to foster dialogue among academic leaders on institutional innovations, enabling environments, and shared challenges; and Forward Planning and Readiness, to prepare institutions for upcoming policy milestones, regulatory transitions, and the global academic landscape of 2047. The conference will cover key aspects of higher education - teaching/ learning, research and governance through ten thematic sessions spread over the 2 days aligned with the key pillars of NEP 2020 --Equity, Accountability, Quality, Access and Affordability. These include Understanding and Implementation of NHEQF/NCrF with focus on Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP), Future of Work - Alignment of Courses as per the requirement of future job roles, Digital Education - SWAYAM, SWAYAM Plus, AAPAR with focus on Credit Transfer. It also includes the University Governance System - SAMARTH, Promotion of Equity in HEIs- Fostering an Inclusive and Equitable Environment. PM Vidya Lakshmi, One Nation One Subscription - Education in Bhartiya Bhasha and Indian Knowledge System, Bhartiya Bhasa Pustak Scheme, Research and Innovation including ANRF, CoE, PMRF, Ranking and Accreditation System, Internationalisation including Study in India and Faculty Development - Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme. Some of the participating institutions include the University of Delhi, Central University of Haryana, Assam University, Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Central University of Rajasthan, Central University of Kashmir, Visva-Bharati, National Sanskrit University, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU), Sikkim University, Tripura University, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), University of Allahabad, and many others. NEP 2020 lays out a clear vision for transforming India's higher education landscape by 2040. It envisions vibrant, multidisciplinary institutions that encourage inquiry, collaboration, and global engagement. In alignment with this vision and to build synergies between different stakeholders, the Vice Chancellors' Conference is expected to generate meaningful insights, strengthen collaboration among institutions, and help chart a clear roadmap for the next phase of NEP 2020 implementation. The outcomes of this conference will play a key role in shaping the future of higher education in India and advancing the nation's collective vision of becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047. (ANI)
Hans India
25-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Creating employment-first education pathways: A vision for youth
India is a young country and more than 65% of its population is under the age of 35. That's a powerful advantage, but only if it is harnessed properly. For that to happen, education must lead to employment. Today, that connection isn't always clear. Many young people complete their education only to find that they're not prepared for the jobs they want or worse, the jobs don't exist where they are. To unlock the full potential of India's youth, the country needs to build education systems that put employment at the centre starting from the ground up, not the top down. What's missing, the skills gap India's workforce has seen more young people enter higher education than ever before. But at the same time, employers across sectors say they struggle to find candidates with the right skills. And this isn't just about advanced technical knowledge, it's also about practical abilities, communication, problem-solving, and adaptability. In rural areas, the gap is even wider. Nearly 80% of rural youth have never received any formal vocational training. That means a large section of our population is being left out of the country's economic growth story. The reality is, traditional education which is focused heavily on theory and exams, often doesn't prepare young people for real-world work environments. This disconnect needs to change. New tools for change: NEP 2020 and NCrF Fortunately, the country is beginning to move in the right direction. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 brings in a fresh perspective. It pushes for more holistic, flexible education, and places real emphasis on skills and vocational training. The goal is that by 2025, at least half of all students will have some kind of hands-on, work-related learning. The National Credit Framework (NCrF) complements this beautifully. It allows students to earn credits not just through traditional classroom learning, but also through on-the-job experience, short-term courses, and even informal training through experiential learning. It creates a more flexible learning environment where students can pause, switch paths, and build their education around their lives and careers—not the other way around. Together, NEP and NCrF are helping redefine what success looks like in education. This is not just in terms of degrees, but also in terms of employability and holistic development. The UGC's Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) guidelines offers a massive opportunity to formalize skills in India's unorganized sectors for creating employment backed education pathways. For individuals working for years without formal degrees/ certification be it in the beauty and wellness, construction, logistics, or manufacturing industry, RPL creates a pathway to validate one's expertise through practical assessments, bridge courses and documented work experience. This structured approach not only enhances their employability but also contributes to building a skilled and recognized workforce. Another gamechanger to strengthen India's education ecosystem is the integration of the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) in the curricula, which will allow students to accumulate and transfer credits seamlessly, providing flexibility in their learning journey. Working together: Industry and education None of this works unless industry is brought into the conversation. Employers shouldn't just be passive recipients of talent but need to be active partners in shaping it. That means co-designing curriculum, offering internships or apprenticeships, mentoring students, and helping institutions understand where the world of work is heading. When students get to learn by doing, by working on real-world problems, using real tools, with real accountability, they gain a different kind of confidence. That is the kind of learning that sticks. There is a need for more structured, long-term partnerships between educational institutions and industries. This isn't just a luxury but is essential for making education meaningful and employment-ready. Reaching Rural Youth: Inclusion starts from the ground up The economic survey 2022-23 suggests that around 68% of India's youth lives in villages and small towns. But most of the employment-linked education is still centred around big cities. This needs to change. Catch them young If employment-first education pathways have to be built, the efforts have to begin early. Every child has something unique to offer, but the chance to spot it in time is often missed. Which is why it's crucial to prepare teachers to identify talent and potential, rather than test scores. By assisting kids in finding what they're best at and what they love, teachers can teach to their strengths and passions. This makes learning more relevant, and prepares the students for a career they'll not only enjoy, but excel at. This involves reconsidering what we teach, how we teach, and who we teach. The future is flexible: Lifelong learning is the new normal In this rapidly changing world, learning doesn't have to stop at college. Careers are changing, industries are changing, and technologies are upending what we used to think were stable career paths. That's why modular, flexible, and ongoing education is key. The NCrF makes it possible for people to build their skills over time, adding micro-credentials or short-term courses as needed. This shift towards lifelong learning helps people stay relevant, resilient, and employable throughout their careers. It has to be made easier and more normal for people to keep learning at every stage of life, whether they're starting out, changing paths, or just looking to grow. Although policy frameworks and tools like NEP 2020 and NCrF already exist, real impact will come when these provisions are put into practice, in every village, every college, and every workplace. It will take collaboration between educators, industry leaders, policymakers, communities and all the stakeholders. But the result, millions of young Indians who are skilled, confident, and ready to contribute will be worth it. This is not just about jobs. It's about dignity, purpose, and building a nation where every young person has a real shot at success. (The author is Advisor for Government Engagements at the National Skill Development Corporation, New Delhi & Co-Founder and Pro-Chancellor of Medhavi Skills University
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
IIT Madras launches free AI courses on Swayam Plus
Chennai: Indian Institute of Technology Madras ( IIT Madras ) has launched five free online courses on artificial intelligence through the Swayam Plus platform, aiming to make AI education accessible across disciplines. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The courses, lasting between 25 and 45 hours, are open to undergraduate and postgraduate students, faculty, and working professionals from engineering, science, commerce, arts, and interdisciplinary backgrounds. No prior AI or coding experience is required, with only basic digital literacy needed. The five courses are: AI in physics, AI in chemistry, AI in accounting, cricket analytics with AI, and AI/ML using Python. They offer hands-on activities, real-world datasets, and case study-based learning. Registration is open until May 12, 2025, on Swayam Plus. Highlighting the initiative, professor R Sarathi, dean (planning) and Swayam Plus Coordinator at IIT Madras, said these courses are aligned with National Credit Framework (NCrF) and can be adopted by universities as credit-earning skill development programmes for the upcoming academic year. A certification option is available for a nominal fee. Universities can integrate the courses into their curricula to enhance students' employability skills. For further information, candidates can contact pmu-sp@
Economic Times
05-05-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
IIT-Madras launches 5 courses in AI through SWAYAM Plus
Indian Institute of Technology-Madras has launched five courses in artificial intelligence through its SWAYAM Plus programme, which seeks to promote employability-focused skilling courses. ADVERTISEMENT These 25- to 45-hour online courses are offered free of cost and are targeted at students, faculty and working professionals. "The key focus of these courses is to make AI available for everyone as no prior AI knowledge is required to apply for these courses," the institute said in a news release. The five courses are: AI in Physics which will look at the use of AI tools such as machine learning and neural networks in solving real-world physics problems; AI in Chemistry; AI in Accounting; Cricket Analytics with AI and AI/ML using Python. 'These courses, which are aligned to the National Credit Framework (NCrF), can be taken by higher education institutions as a credit programme for the upcoming academic calendar as well,' said R Sarathi, dean (planning) and SWAYAM Plus coordinator at IIT-Madras. The courses are open to undergraduate and postgraduate students from all academic backgrounds (engineering, science, commerce, arts, interdisciplinary), according to the news release. "No prior experience in AI or coding is required as basic digital literacy and enthusiasm to learn should be sufficient," it said. ADVERTISEMENT The courses are developed by experts at IIT-Madras. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
IIT-Madras launches 5 courses in AI through SWAYAM Plus
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Indian Institute of Technology-Madras has launched five courses in artificial intelligence through its SWAYAM Plus programme, which seeks to promote employability-focused skilling 25- to 45-hour online courses are offered free of cost and are targeted at students, faculty and working professionals."The key focus of these courses is to make AI available for everyone as no prior AI knowledge is required to apply for these courses," the institute said in a news five courses are: AI in Physics which will look at the use of AI tools such as machine learning and neural networks in solving real-world physics problems; AI in Chemistry; AI in Accounting; Cricket Analytics with AI and AI/ML using Python 'These courses, which are aligned to the National Credit Framework (NCrF), can be taken by higher education institutions as a credit programme for the upcoming academic calendar as well,' said R Sarathi, dean (planning) and SWAYAM Plus coordinator at IIT-Madras The courses are open to undergraduate and postgraduate students from all academic backgrounds (engineering, science, commerce, arts, interdisciplinary), according to the news release. "No prior experience in AI or coding is required as basic digital literacy and enthusiasm to learn should be sufficient," it courses are developed by experts at IIT-Madras.
