A press conference was convened at NIT Goa on 26th July, where representatives from various educational institutions converged to present the exemplary progress made in the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) in Goa. The panel included Prof. B.K Mishra, Director of IIT Goa, Dr. Neelakandan, NEP2020 Coordinator at IIT Goa, Prof. O. R. Jaiswal, Director of NIT Goa, Dr. Damodar Reddy, NEP2020 Coordinator at NIT Goa, C.S Murthy, Regional Director of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Maharashtra and Goa, Ravi Pratap Singh, Principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya – INS Mandovi, and Animesh Pal, Principal of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Canacona.
Prof. B.K. Mishra presented the pioneering initiatives undertaken by IIT Goa, which included the establishment of the School of Inter-Disciplinary Life Sciences (SILS). This unique academic unit focuses on critical domains like cancer biology, vaccine development, drug discovery, and pandemic modeling. The institute’s visionary approach also includes mechanical modeling of cells, harnessing biomimetic knowledge to revolutionise structural design elements.
The Internship Policy at IIT Goa has been instrumental in nurturing students’ industry-oriented problem-solving skills during their final year. The institute has also fostered international collaborations with foreign universities, enriching postgraduate students’ thesis work and encouraging cross-border research opportunities.
Noteworthy initiatives such as the “Learning to Achieve Multi-disciplinary Perspectives (LAMP)” and “Technology and Society Learning (TASLe)” courses empower students to develop problem-solving abilities and address regional developmental challenges effectively.
Prof. O.R. Jaiswal, Director of NIT Goa, emphasised the institute’s steadfast commitment to NEP 2020 implementation, beginning from the academic year 2023-24. The institute has introduced minor programs in specialised branches like Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and Computational Mathematics, which broaden students’ knowledge domain and enhance employability.
NIT Goa’s integration of the Indian Knowledge System was also higlighted, with courses like ‘Health and Happiness’, ‘Yoga’, ‘Vedic Mathematic’, ‘Science and Technology in Vedic Literature’ and ‘Professional Ethics and Human Values.’ The institute’s focus on flexible and inter-disciplinary learning offers students the freedom to choose electives and open courses, fostering holistic education.
Adhering to NEP 2020’s vision of multiple exit options, NIT Goa offers course completion certificates, ITI certificates, and diploma certificates after the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years, respectively. This approach also enables temporary exits for students to engage in industry work and return to complete their degrees within a prescribed time frame. Environmental education receives due prominence through the dedicated course “Environmental Studies” for undergraduate students.
