“The education system must inculcate values of serving and helping others,” said Prof. MK
Sridhar, PhD, Former Professor and Dean of Management Studies, Bangalore University. He
was speaking at the virtual Webinar on Implementation of National Education Policy 2020,
held by ICFAI Foundation of Higher Education, Hyderabad on May 21, 2021.
Prof. Sridhar who was a member of Committee for draft National Education Policy, gave
insights into the evolution of the education policy in India, the new policy’s inputs for higher
education, approach followed and its aspirations. He said that the policy, an outcome of
more than five years of efforts, was a continuation of efforts put in by several individuals and
institutions for the last several decades and was formulated with an integrated and holistic
approach. The new policy took into account the context and tradition of the country and at
the same time was in tandem with the vision for future of ‘New’ India.
Prof Sridhar said that the comprehensive policy has addressed the education system from
primary schooling to research, and was aimed at inculcating lifelong learning. Addressing
the teachers in the gathering he said that the new policy lays lot of responsibility on the
shoulders of teachers whose role would change from just an agent of teaching to that of being
a friend, a philosopher, and a guide to the students. He said that the policy also comes with
several features like multidisciplinary education, Academic Bank of Credit, and choice to
pursue courses at different institutions at different points of time.
Addressing the staff, students, and guests who attended the webinar he said that the future
jobs require lot of different skills and multidisciplinary courses would bring in variety and
innovation that address the need of organizations. He reiterated that the New Education
Policy was not looking at giving the students their first job, but at providing them career and
lifelong learning.
In his opening remarks Prof. J. Mahender Reddy, Vice-Chancellor of ICFAI Foundation for
Higher Education said that for doubling the Gross Enrolment Ratio as envisaged by the
policy, universities, and colleges can look at introducing online programs using the
conferencing technologies. He said that while the policy is extremely important, its benefits
can be reaped only through proper implementation. He emphasized that the
multidisciplinary nature of higher educational institutions is the crux of the Policy. He also
mentioned that the need for submission of quality research proposals by the faculty
members and funding on merits and not on the public or private institutions is important.
He added multidisciplinary research should find solutions to the societal problems.
About ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (IFHE):
The ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (IFHE) is Deemed-to-be University under
section 3 of the UGC Act 1956. ICFAI Business School (IBS) is a constituent of IFHE.
About 5,800 students are pursuing various programs in the Faculty of Management (ICFAI
Business School), Faculty of Science & Technology (IcfaiTech), Faculty of Law (ICFAI Law
School) and ICFAI School of Architecture, NAAC, an autonomous institute of University
Grants Commission has also accredited The University with ‘A+’ Grade with an impressive
score (institutional CGPA) of 3.43 out of 4.
