In today’s dynamic and fast-paced world, education is rapidly evolving, mainly how it is imparted. Considering that textbooks have become the traditional way of imparting education, even the government is now looking at novel ways to help students and professionals understand the latest industry insights and trends and gain practical knowledge.
As part of this move, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has immensely contributed towards reforms in the recruitment norms of central universities across the nation. There is now a huge consideration towards appointing industry experts and professionals as ‘professors and associate professors of practice’.
Industry professionals and experts tend to have a more spirited understanding of the professional world’s inner workings. In addition to in-depth knowledge, their acumen provides students with the best of both worlds – of academia and the industry itself.
Welcome Move – Reforms related to the National Education Policy 2020
- To set the wheel in motion, the government plans to bring changes through India’s National Education Policy(NEP) 2020. The move aims to bring about diversity within the education system at a university level.
- University Grants Commission (UGC) is looking to revise the current regulations to ensure inclusivity and collaboration with the industry.
- From various fields, some experts are willing to offer their knowledge and experience and mentor students. Industry experts such as entrepreneurs, bankers, diplomats, and other professionals have a wide pool of experience and industry-relevant knowledge that can bring about much diversity in imparting education and making students future-ready – be it in Engineering MBA or finance.
- The UGC is now considering providing a provision in the regulations to bring in industry experts as visiting faculty members and the existing faculty of teachers and professors, once a committee is in place. It aims to provide an integrated portal where candidates can reach out for recruitment.
Advantages of Real-World Experts in Indian Colleges
- Industry experts can offer students a real-life bird’s view of what the industry is actually like. Students are more eager to learn how companies run, an opportunity for industry professionals to bring unparalleled value to the classroom.
- They harbor a broad sense of how the professional world functions, including a fair idea of the market, processes, and systems. This can truly help transform a student into a capable graduate.
- In addition, experts are likely to have contacts in the industry to help students network and boost their career prospects.
Industry Inclusion – The Way Forward
- upGrad Campus provides Universities industry-relevant courses through its short-term (Job Ready Certification Program, i.e., JRCP) and long-term(Joint Degree, i.e., JD) programs that help students prepare for the future. Through our platform, students get access to the content created by industry experts and professionals, which allows them a more holistic learning experience.
- They get to network not just with their peers but also industry experts, which offers them a more realistic view, and helps them prepare for their careers better.
- Industry inclusion will be the best alternative in the future. Offering industry-relevant courses and the inclusiveness of the industry leaders in the higher education sector will assist students and move institutions towards a better tomorrow.
- That’s why we say “upGrad Campus: For the next-gen Institutions."
(Article Image Source: UGC Website)
