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A section of educationists in Karnataka have opposed this draft fearing that the UGC is planning to close most of the government and aided degree colleges, which are the last resort of higher education for students in rural areas, or those who come from socially and economically backward sections of society.
| Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
Under the New Education Policy (NEP 2020), the University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to transform Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) into multi-disciplinary institutions, and has released the Prof. R.P. Tiwari-headed expert committee draft guidelines aimed at achieving this goal.
The committee has suggested multiple ways of turning HEIs into multi-disciplinary centres.
The guidelines state: “Academic collaboration between institutions, through HEI clusters, leading to multi-disciplinary education and research in different modes, merger of single stream institutions with other multi-disciplinary institutions under the same management or different managements, strengthening of institutions by adding departments in subjects such as languages, literature, music, philosophy, Indology, art, dance, theatre, education, mathematics, statistics, pure and applied sciences, sociology, economics, sports, translation and interpretation and other subjects are the major objectives of the transformation of HEIs into multi-disciplinary institutions. It will help students to shape their career options.”
“The quintessence of Higher Education Institution (HEI), as envisioned in the NEP 2020, is one which builds vibrant communities of scholars and peers, breaks down harmful silos between disciplines and enables students to become well-rounded individuals. However, a substantial number of HEIs in the country are either single stream institutions or multi-disciplinary institutions with rigid disciplinary boundaries. Therefore, transforming HEIs into multi-disciplinary institutions is highly needed,” states the report.
Report cites practices of Vedic period, record of ancient institutions
The Prof. Tiwari committee cites examples of “recognition of limitless learning in the Vedic period” and ancient institutions, such as Nalanda and Takshashila, as inspiration for the transformation. These higher learning centres of ancient India were known for teaching every branch of knowledge, such as singing, painting, chemistry, mathematics, vocational fields such as carpentry, cloth-making, professional fields such as medicine and engineering, and soft skills such as communication, discussion and debate, states to the report.
“India has domain-specific standalone colleges and universities. Internationally, the culture of establishing and sustaining a multi-disciplinary university is increasing fast, thereby maximising productivity with enhanced focus towards research and development, innovation and incubation. Large multi-disciplinary HEIs to be established in or near every district by 2030 is one of the most significant recommendations in the NEP 2020,” according to the report.
Focus on collaborations
The committee suggests academic collaboration between institutions leading to multi-disciplinary education and research, composition of the academic council, composition of the finance committee, merger of higher education institutions, adding new departments, and multi-disciplinary research in HEI clusters.
Prof. B. Thimmegowda, Vice Chairman for Karnataka State Higher Education Council, told The Hindu, “The NEP aims to develop intellectual, aesthetic, social, physical, emotional, ethical and moral facets of an individual in an integrated manner. It is very difficult to achieve this aim with our various single stream and standalone colleges and universities. Merging and transforming the HEIs into multi-disciplinary institutions is highly needed.”
Some are critical
However, some educationists in Karnataka have opposed this draft and stated that, citing multi-disciplinary institutions, the UGC is planning to close most of the government and aided degree colleges, which are the last resort of higher education for students in rural areas, or those who come from socially and economically backward sections of society.
Sripad Bhat, an educationist, said, “Through multi-disciplinary institutions, Prof. Tiwari-headed committee has concentrated only on career options of students. Also, the references to Vedas exposes the hidden agenda. They have not mentioned anything about our constitutional values. In the name of multi-disciplinary institutions, the UGC is planning to close most of the government and aided degree colleges.”
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