A two-day conclave on the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP-2020) in UT Ladakh commenced on December 9  at the Taru campus of the University of Ladakh. 

Besides the senior faculty of the University of Ladakh, Principals and faculty from all the constituent colleges and Polytechnic Colleges, representatives from Institutes like GB Pant, DIHAR, SKUAST, etc, sat together to chalk out the action plan for implementation of the NEP from the next academic cycle of 2023-24.

Commissioner/Secretary, Higher Education Dept, Padma Angmo who is also the Mission Director of Ladakh Skill Development Mission stated that NEP heralds a revolution in education with greater emphasis on vocational education, employability skills, and multiple entries and multiple exit options which throws open a plethora of choices and flexibility for the students to pursue holistic education. She flagged the target of achieving a 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio by 2035 as given in the NEP 2020 and stressed the need to improve the status of higher education in Ladakh so that the students can have the option to get the same quality education here. She urged for an intensive and outcome-based workshop so that a clear road map is chalked out for release in the august presence of Lt Governor of Ladakh on 10th December 2022.  

In the inaugural address, Vice Chancellor, S K Mehta stated that while the NEP implementation has already started in the University of Ladakh for the PG courses from the current session, the Colleges will be ready for the roll-out of NEP from the next session. In a detailed presentation, he extensively discussed the main features of NEP, the integration of general education with vocational education and experiential learning, emphasis on research, need to highlight the regional languages and local culture and heritage. While flagging the various challenges faced by Higher Education Institutions, he also stated that the main challenge is to make education accessible for all so that Students with disabilities can have opportunities for equal participation across the educational system.

Prof. Deskyong Namgyal, Dean Academic/Controller of Examination presented the working paper on ‘Action Plan on New Education Policy which was discussed extensively by the participants and at the end of the session and a draft was finalized regarding the structure of courses under NEP for the various semesters, credits for each course, total credits and courses that can be offered per semester, assessments process and multiple entries and multiple exit options.

Dr. Sonam Joldan, Dean of Research, University of Ladakh, moderated the session on ‘Faculty Development Programme (FDP)’ under NEP, Prof. Tashi Ldawa (EJM), and Prof. Jigmet Stobdan (UoL) Leh moderated the session on ‘Employment & Employability’ and ‘Career Counselling’ and Dr. Tsewang Motup (Principal, GDC Nubra), moderated the session on Internship and Apprenticeship. All the participants deliberated upon each topic, possible challenges, and explored solutions.

There were presentations by AD-NSTI, Suryakant Mishra, Lecturer. Zahara, Prof Jigmet Stobdan; Prof Tashi Ldawa, Nasir Shabani (CC), and Dr Tsewang Motup.