National Webinar on NEP 2020 -Vision for Institutional Autonomy

A national webinar on the agenda “NEP 2020: Vision for Institutional Autonomy” was held on 12th January 2022, jointly organized by G.L. Bajaj Institute of Technology and Management, Greater Noida in collaboration with National Institute of Technical Teacher’s Training and Research, Kolkata. The webinar was hosted by Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering in association with IEEE UP Section and Institution’s Innovation Council, GLBITM, Greater Noida.

The eminent speakers were Honorable Chief Guest Prof Sandeep Sancheti, Vice Chancellor, Marwadi University, Rajkot, Guest of Honor- Prof Debi Prasad Mishra, Director, NITTTR Kolkata, Expert Speakers: Prof B L Gupta, Professor, NITTTR Bhopal and Dr Chetan Singai, Special Officer, Karnataka State Higher Education Council, Govt of Karnataka.

The session witnessed huge participation of 200 participants which included a number of experts directly associated with various avenues of NEP 2020, academicians and industry professionals. The event started with the welcome address by Dr. Rajeev Agarwal, Director GLBITM, Greater Noida.

The first resource person Guest of Honour- Prof Debi Prasad Mishra, Director, NITTTR Kolkata expressed his genuine views by delivering a very inspiring speech. He provided a holistic overview on the challenges faced by the present education system. He emphasized on the fact that NEP envisions to overcome current crisis, where autonomy can solve the problem given there is an ecosystem where teachers are owners. He said that teachers are the leaders and foundation of education ecosystem. Some of the highlights of his talk was that there is need to empower teachers to empower the system, then the system will be self-sustained. Autonomy needs to be earned, not be obtained. Autonomy is a natural process; it should be evolved not thrusted. It is more of responsibility, good governance, team work, integrity and transparency.

Then, Honourable Chief Guest Prof Sandeep Sancheti, Vice Chancellor, Marwadi University, Rajkot shared his vivid experiences with the participants. He emphasized that Autonomy means empowerment and enablement, which comes with both responsibility and accountability. It should trickle down to all stakeholders, even to the lowest level. The students should become autonomous. He highlighted that Autonomy is meant for better overall functioning of the system, to create horses for courses and to involve all stakeholders. He discussed elaboratively on the four classifications of autonomy: Academic, Managerial, Administrative, Financial. Finally, he concluded with the statement that Autonomy call allow to Reform, Perform and Transform and shared the vision of having Autonomy index in the near future.

The first expert speaker Prof B L Gupta, Professor, NITTTR Bhopal delivered his keynote address on the given agenda. He discussed the 360-degree summary of NEP policy. He throwed light on the various dimensions of autonomy, black box model of autonomy, vision of autonomous institutions, and emphasized on the need of percolating autonomy at student level. He concluded his speech by emphasizing on the sustenance of autonomy in imparting quality education and discussed elaboratively the four innovative legends: governing ring, capacity building ring, functional ring and product and service ring.

Speaking at the national webinar, Dr Chetan Singai, Special Officer, Karnataka State Higher Education Council, Govt of Karnataka emphasized that autonomy should not be visualised as a negative term, rather should viewed as freedom with responsibility. He throwed light on the need of autonomy, discussing on the various critical factors impacting autonomy. He highlighted ten challenges in India higher education ecosystem and discussed about how NEP policy envisions to overcome these challenges. He emphasized on reinforcing accreditation, rating and ranking as a minimum benchmark for autonomy, needed for gradual shift towards institutional-centric governance. He concluded by saying that the NEP's comprehensive transformation will result in a paradigm shift in the country's education system.

The discussion was followed by a lively session of questions, which the knowledgeable speakers eagerly and enthusiastically responded. The session saw appreciation from participants, also international participants. Finally, the session ended with Vote of Thanks by Dr. Satyendra Sharma, Head, ECE. The Convenor of the event was Prof. Mahaveer Singh Naruka, Head Outreach, GLBITM and Master of Ceremony was Dr. Astha Sharma, Innovation Ambassador-IIC and Assistant Professor, ECE, GLBITM, Greater Noida.