Institutional Preparedness for NEP-2020

The National Education Policy 2020 aims to provide quality education to develop human resources that are productive and contribute to an equitable, inclusive, and plural society. It aims at developing human beings capable of rational thought and action, having compassion and empathy, and having sound ethical moorings and values. The NEP 2020 aims at achieving these ends by creating curriculum and pedagogy with innovative ideas in teaching and learning. It focuses on measures that encourage logical decision-making, innovation, critical thinking and creativity.

Multidisciplinary / Interdisciplinary

Rajiv Gandhi Government College Chaura Maidan, Shimla-4, is affiliated with Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla-5. It has to follow the curriculum structure, roadmap, or guidelines issued by the university and the Himachal Pradesh government from time to time. The government of Himachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, are yet to introduce National Education Policy 2020 in the state of Himachal Pradesh. All the provisions, rules, and regulations established in the guiding document for the implementation of National Education Policy 2020 will be implemented in the institution.

At the institution level, to provide holistic growth among students, the inter-disciplinary curriculum as adopted by the Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, will be implemented with greater flexibility. The institution will focus on value-added courses, multidisciplinary courses, internship programmes, and skill enhancement courses in such a manner that students can maximise the advantages of these courses in their academic career. Students during their undergraduate studies will be encouraged to take up courses run by various departments of the institution and to join the MOOCs through SWAYAM, NPTEL, and other government portals to gain an additional advantage in their learning skills. On the whole, the institution will work proactively towards the implementation of NEP 2020 guidelines to maximise student learning of life skills.

Academic Bank of Credit (ABC)

To provide students with mobility and academic flexibility, freedom  to choose their own learning path, and recognise their learning achievements, National Education Policy 2020 came up with the concept of the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC). The Himachal Pradesh University and Government of Himachal Pradesh have also issued directions to all the institutions in the state to encourage students to create an account on DigiLocker and to get registered at the academic bank of credit portal, www.abc.gov.in at the earliest. The institution intends to create a page on the institution’s website that allows students to get registered in DigiLocker and also at the academic bank of credit portal, www.abc.gov.in. In this regard, a phased drive will be initiated in the academic session in which the NEP 2020 will be implemented in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Till the time NEP 2020 is implemented in the state, the students will be mandatorily required to register on DigiLocker. For the purpose of monitoring the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC), a proper technical support system will be developed at the institution level.

Skill Development

Rajiv Gandhi Government College Chaura Maidan, Shimla-4, is a college affiliated with Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla-5. The college has to follow and implement the curriculum and guidelines issued by the university. In the existing choice-based credit system (CBCS), the institution is offering various skill development courses under the curriculum structure adopted by the Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. The institution’s career counselling cell also assists students by arranging guest lectures and specialised workshops to assist their skill development.

Under National Education Policy 2020, the institution will work to maximise the skill development of students by encouraging them to undertake those skill development courses offered by the departments that strengthen their technical, vocational, soft skills, and other skills required by them in their careers. In this regard, the institution aims at establishing a skill development and training cell comprising faculties from specialised areas that will help students choose skill development courses that are required by the industry. During the course of their undergraduate degree, the students will be encouraged to take up skill development courses offered as MOOCs through SWAYAM and NPTEL and will also be encouraged to get certifications in various fields to enhance their employability. Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) will be signed with various government and corporate agencies to help our students get training on various life skills. 

 

Appropriate integration of Indian Knowledge system (teaching in Indian Language, culture, using online course):

The preservation and promotion of India’s cultural wealth to protect the nation's identity are given high priority in the National Education Policy 2020. This requires appropriate integration of the Indian Knowledge System, such as promoting local language, art, and culture. At Rajiv Gandhi Government College Chaura Maidan, Shimla-4 students from other states and also from all districts of the state are taking value-based education. Such diverse student backgrounds help them know and understand each other’s art and culture. The institution, through its clubs and societies such as NCC, NSS, R&R, etc., and through cultural events organised throughout the year, provides an opportunity for students to perform their own cultural activities and ensures students’s learning of the diverse art and cultures of India. All-important national and state days and festivals are celebrated by the institution in high spirits. The college magazine “Abhay Jyoti” also has a section exclusively dedicated to promoting the Pahari language.

To make students understand the subjects in a better way, teachers are encouraged to teach them in a language they understand easily. The students are also encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas in the language in which they feel most comfortable. The institution offers Hindi, Sanskrit, and English as core and elective subjects. To generate interest among the students towards our culture and ancient languages, the students are taken on exposure visits to nearby places of art and culture to make them understand their cultural heritage and traditional languages. Efforts will be made to encourage teachers and students to make use of modern-day technology tools such as artificial intelligence and online sources to protect and promote local language and culture.

Focus on Outcome Based Education (OBE)

Outcome-based education (OBE) is a continuous process of education wherein the curriculum, teaching and learning strategies, and assessment tools are continuously improved. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasises outcome-based education (OBE). It focuses on measuring student performance and outcomes at different levels. The curriculum of the choice-based credit system (CBCS) that is presently functional in the college also aims at achieving the objective of outcome-based education. The existing courseware for the majority of subjects clearly mentions the learning outcomes, evaluation methodology, list of textbooks, reference books, and resources. Programme outcomes (POs) and course outcomes (COs) are being provided on the institutional website to make students aware of the benefits of the course or programme. The IQAC also obtains feedback on the effectiveness of the curriculum from students and faculty members. The outcomes of the feedback are being discussed, and action is being taken on the shortcomings and suggestions given by the stakeholders.

However, with the implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, it is expected that Himachal Pradesh University will also restructure its curriculum to provide outcome-based education to students. Many of our faculty members are members of the board of studies and subject expert teams of the Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. By providing valuable feedback and suggestions, faculty members of our institution contribute to creating an outcome-based curriculum for the students.

At the institution level, every effort to implement the curriculum adopted by Himachal Pradesh University Shimla will be made by the institution. A mechanism will be developed to continuously assess the performance of the students. Faculty members will be encouraged to engage in the routine evaluation process, and their input and feedback will be incorporated into future courses of action. The effective implementation of NEP 2020 measures such as internships, value-added courses, project-based learning, fieldwork, etc. will be ensured to provide outcome-based education for students.

Distance Education / Online Education

The adoption of online modes of instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic made all faculty members adopt online teaching and learning tools for the purpose of imparting education to students living in far-flung areas of the state. During this phase, teachers made use of different online modes of teaching, such as Google Meet, WhatsApp, Telegram, Zoom, etc., for the conduct of classes and for imparting information to the students. This practice continues to be followed by almost all departments of the institution, and each department of the college has fully functional students’ groups where teachers and students communicate on a regular basis. This flexible blended mode of teaching and learning has helped make the teaching learning process more efficient by making it easy for faculty members to share learning content with students. Faculty members of the institution are also making use of the online mode to attend orientation, refresher programmes, FDPs, and conferences and seminars that have helped them gain academically.

Under National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, these measures will be strengthened, and students will be encouraged to make use of online modes to get additional certifications and quality education material available from various sources. With the help of faculty members, the IQAC will devise some mechanism to monitor the enrolment status and progress of our students in all such value-added and add-on courses. IQAC will work on developing an institutional learning management system and will encourage faculty members to develop and contribute to it by way of developing MOOCs.