One-Day National Workshop on NEP 2020: Implementation for Commerce Studies

Report on  One-Day National Workshop on NEP 2020: Implementation for Commerce Studies

 

On December 18, 2024, the Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the NEP Cell at the University of Kashmir, organized a one-day national workshop on the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Held at the Ibn Khaldun Auditorium, the event was attended by various dignitaries including the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, and Deans of the various schools as well as faculty members from various colleges across Kashmir Valley. The two experts from Kurukshetra and Delhi University were also present on the occasion.

The workshop began with an inaugural session led by Prof. Mohiddin Sangmi, who introduced the topic and also discussed the contribution of the Department of Commerce and the global reach of its graduates. He emphasized the importance of skill development and entrepreneurship under NEP 2020 and noted that the university had already implemented NEP 2020 at the undergraduate level. Prof. Neelofer Khan, Vice-Chancellor, and Dr. Naseer Iqbal, Registrar, highlighted the need for curricula that equip students with employable skills, enabling them to create job opportunities. Prof. Shariefuddin Pirzada, Dean of Academic Affairs, assured the commitment to implementing NEP 2020 at the postgraduate level within a year and emphasized the policy’s focus on skill development and entrepreneurship. The session was concluded by Dr. Sabiya Mufti, who delivered a vote of thanks. Dr. Pervaz Ahamd Shah acted as the stage secretary at the event.

In the technical session-I, Prof. Anita Rani Dua from Kurukshetra University provided a detailed analysis of the current education system’s shortcomings, stressing the need for practical skills and curricula innovations. She aligned her vision with NEP 2020, which aims to transform India into a global knowledge powerhouse by focusing on academic resources, skill cultivation, industrial training, and integration of technology. Prof. Mushtaq Siddiqui, the coordinator of the NEP Cell at Kashmir University, presented three frameworks for implementing NEP 2020 in postgraduate programs: Coursework plus Coursework (CW+CW), Coursework plus Research (CW+R), and Research plus Research (R+R). He recommended the CW+R model as the most effective. He also discussed the credit system for students based on their undergraduate program duration and introduced a balanced student assessment model with 30% internal and 70% external evaluation. The workshop concluded with Prof. Khursheed Ahmad Butt as chairman and Prof. Nazir Ahmad Nazir as co-chairman.

The Technical Session-II was held in the Committee Roomof the department of commerce. The session was chaired by Prof. Mushtaq Darzi, Dean of the School of Business Studies, with Prof. Mohiddin Sangmi, Head of the Department of Commerce as Co-Chairman. The resource person for the session was Prof. Kavita Sharma, a distinguished academician of the University of Delhi who emphasized the critical role of curriculum in shaping the image of an institution and stressed the importance of uniformity across departments to align with the multidisciplinary approach of NEP 2020. She highlighted the need for creating a rich basket of courses that cater to diverse fields while ensuring they meet local needs. Prof. Sharma also discussed the importance of designing courses that complement, rather than compete with, each other, addressing knowledge gaps effectively. She further suggested that the PG curriculum should be closely integrated with the UG curriculum, ensuring a seamless academic progression for students. Dr. Pervaiz Ahmad Shah concluded the session with a vote of thanks. The session provided valuable insights into the alignment of academic curricula with NEP 2020, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and coherence in course design for holistic student development.

The workshop successfully provided valuable insights into the practical aspects of NEP 2020’s implementation in commerce education, highlighting the importance of innovation, skill development, and entrepreneurship in shaping the future of higher education.