NEP: A pathway to progress

since the introduction of the national education policy (nep) 2020, the university grants commission (ugc) has been diligently implementing transformative changes in higher education. one of the significant reforms is a flexible degree completion system, allowing gifted students to complete a traditional 4-year bachelor's degree in 3.5 years and a 3-year bachelor's degree in 2.5 years. conversely, students who require additional time can extend a 3-year program to 4 years, ensuring accessibility for diverse learning paces.empowering through competence recognitiona landmark reform under the nep is the introduction of the 'national credit framework' (ncf). this scheme bridges schooling, higher education, and vocational education, granting recognition to individuals who have acquired substantial skills and experience outside formal educational settings. such individuals can pursue higher education by earning credits based on their practical expertise, irrespective of their formal educational background.promoting education in mother tonguein a country rich in ancient languages like tamil, the nep encourages the use of mother tongues as mediums of instruction. as part of this initiative, 42,000 textbooks have been translated into indian languages for undergraduate and postgraduate courses. at the same time, proficiency in english remains a priority, enabling students to access global opportunities and further their prospects abroad.integrating skill developmentin line with the nep's focus on holistic education, skill development has been embedded within undergraduate courses like ba, b.sc., and b.com, without compromising academic content. this dual approach equips students with the skills necessary for self-employment, making them more adaptable in the job market.a vision for the futureacross the nation, workshops and seminars are being organized to help college principals and professors understand and navigate the nep reforms. these forums allow for the identification of challenges and the development of practical solutions for their implementation.instates like tamil nadu, flexibility in naming educational initiatives exists, but the core objective remains clear: the effective implementation of the nep. i firmly believe that, despite potential challenges, solutions will emerge, and the national education policy will soon reshape our educational landscape, ensuring our institutions gain recognition on the global stage.--prof. jagadish kumar, chairman, university grants commission, new delhi