IIT-Kgp to play key role in task force on NEP: Edu min

Kharagpur: IIT Kharagpur will play a key role in the task force being set up by the state higher education department to implement the National Education Policy 2020, higher education minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay said at the institute’s 72nd convocation on Saturday.

The event coincided with the institute’s platinum jubilee year.“A NEP implementation task force is being formed, and IIT Kharagpur will have an important role in it. There will be vice chancellors of state universities, officials and experts from the state and outside, where they implemented the NEP 2020 successfully,” Chattopadhyay told reporters.Describing the country’s first IIT as a major hub of multidisciplinary education, the minister said the institute should serve as an institutional resource to strengthen universities, engineering colleges and emerging higher education institutions across Bengal.“That is the collaborative model of academic development which I wish to see across our state. It can help mentor institutions by sharing best practices in governance, curriculum design, faculty development, innovation ecosystems, research management, internationalisation and quality assurance,” he added.Chattopadhyay noted that the institute could deepen its impact on technical education and skilling by prioritising internships, apprenticeships and industry-linked curricula.

He also highlighted its role in upgrading teaching standards in state polytechnics through the AICTE-designed ATAL Faculty Development Programme.The institute conferred 3,936 degrees across undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral and professional programmes. Signalling a boost in diversity, the number of graduating women rose 12%, from 821 to 919. The convocation also marked the graduation of the first cohort under the Joint Dual Award PhD programme with the University of Manchester.

Three scholars received dual doctoral degrees from the University of Melbourne and one from Curtin University.Director Suman Chakraborty said, “IIT Kharagpur will be very happy to work together with the state govt. I already submitted a report to the minister which covers globalisation, innovation, entrepreneurship and skill development in the curriculum. A blueprint is being prepared for a holistic, convergent education model.”The convocation was attended by Union minister of state Sukanta Majumdar as chief guest, while Professor Nicholas B Dirks, president and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences, was the plenary speaker. State ministers Dilip Ghosh and Sharadwat Mukherjee were also present.