NEP framework in Maharashtra’s remaining colleges by 2024-25 session: Minister

Chandrakant Patil, Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Maharashtra Government

Chandrakant Patil, Minister for Higher and Technical Education in the Government of Maharashtra, has reiterated that the state’s primary objective is to extend the National Education Policy (NEP) framework to all remaining colleges by academic year 2024-25. NEP has already been rolled out in some colleges in the state.

In an interview with Moneycontrol, the Minister said the Maharashtra Government is preparing students for the future by establishing strategic partnerships with industry leaders to meet the demands of the evolving job market.

Edited excerpts from the email interaction follow:

What is the current status of NEP implementation in Maharashtra? What milestones have you achieved so far?

In December 2022, we constituted a Steering Committee comprising esteemed scholars, academicians, and educational administrators from across the state. Under the leadership of Dr Nitin Karmalkar, Vice Chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University, we have spearheaded several initiatives to formulate and implement standardised education plans, offering on-ground support and advice to educational institutions.

Recognising the extensive network of higher education institutions in our state, we decided to use the NEP credit framework in autonomous colleges as a pilot project starting from academic year 2023-24. This included 87 autonomous Arts/Science/Commerce colleges and 55 autonomous engineering colleges, allowing for comprehensive testing and refinement of NEP strategies.

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Simultaneously, NEP frameworks were introduced in approximately 350 government and private polytechnic colleges during academic year 2023-24. Additionally, NEP implementation for postgraduate courses—MA, MCom, and MSc—was initiated in around 1,100 colleges across Maharashtra.

What initiatives are in place to advance the objectives outlined in the NEP? Are there any plans or strategies to enhance and expand implementation?

Over four phases, both the Directorate of Higher Education and the Directorate of Technical Education have successfully executed various NEP initiatives at scale. We have implemented several initiatives to advance the objectives of NEP, including the adoption of the National Curriculum Framework (NCrF), integration of Indian languages and value-based education, restructuring of courses, emphasising multidisciplinary learning, and promoting on-the-job learning initiatives.  These efforts have reshaped the higher education landscape, creating a more dynamic, inclusive, and future-ready learning environment for students.

Looking ahead, our primary objective is to extend the NEP framework to all remaining colleges by academic year 2024-25. Moreover, in alignment with NEP principles, we are developing digital learning platforms such as Maha-Swayam, which would allow students to get up to 40 credits for open distance learning or online courses. Additionally, we are encouraging renowned institutes in Maharashtra, such as the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute and Tata Institute of Social Sciences, to curate online or offline courses for students across all streams, providing alternatives to conventional courses.

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We have worked extensively on Academic Bank of Credits and DigiLocker. With 36 lakh students from Maharashtra registering on the Academic Bank of Credits, we are leading the nation in embracing this new paradigm.

[ABC is a digital repository, which allows them to seamlessly access their scores. It facilitates transition from a university or a college to other institutions. DigiLocker, an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, is a repository and platform for issuance, verification and storage of digital certificates and documents on the cloud.]

What initiatives have you undertaken or are planning to train youth for the jobs of the future, especially in elite colleges with a long heritage of staying ahead of the curve, like IIT Bombay, COEP Pune, VNIT Nagpur?

In Maharashtra, we are actively preparing students in our universities for the future job market, one that emphasises technological innovation and advancement.

To this end, we have established strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as Infosys and IT body Nasscom. Our partnership with Infosys helps students gain access to an extensive range of skill development courses and resources offered through the Infosys Springboard Portal. These courses are designed to enhance students’ employability by equipping them with industry-relevant skills and competencies.

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Additionally, through Nasscom’s Prime Portal, students in the state have access to a diverse set of skill development programmes and vocational courses. These initiatives are specifically designed to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving job market, ensuring that students possess the necessary skills and competencies to excel in their chosen careers.

How is the Maharashtra government working with incubators in the state’s elite colleges?

We are actively collaborating with incubators in various colleges across the state. At present, we are supporting nearly 17 incubators, with committed grants adding up to Rs 85 crore. These incubators are located in key cities such as Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Aurangabad, and Nashik.

These incubators operate out of esteemed universities such as the University of Mumbai, SNDT Women’s University, Research Innovation Incubation Design Laboratory Foundation in Mumbai, Savitribai Phule University in Pune, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute in Nagpur etc.

Tell us about the upcoming Centres of Excellence (CoE) of higher learning in Maharashtra? What is the focus and timeline?

In line with the implementation of NEP 2020, we have taken proactive steps towards setting up 10 Centres of Excellence (CoE) across the state, sanctioning Rs 53.66 crore in July 2023. With a focus on improving the technical skills of students, this grant will be effectively utilised by 10 Government/Non-Government aided engineering colleges, pharmacy colleges, and polytechnic colleges in Maharashtra. We’re looking at establishing these 10 Centres of Excellence within a span of four financial years, i.e. from 2023-24 to 2026-27.

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