ACS Higher Education reviews upcoming admissions, NEP 2020

Srinagar, Apr 11: Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department, Shantmanu Friday reviewed the upcoming admissions and New Education Policy, 2020.

In a move aimed at bolstering the higher education landscape in Jammu and Kashmir, the Higher Education Department, Government of J&K, convened the high-level meeting on Friday at the civil secretariat in Srinagar.

The meeting was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department, Shantmanu and attended by Director Colleges, Higher Education Department, Deans of Academic Affairs and Registrars from the University of Kashmir, University of Jammu, Cluster University Jammu, Cluster University Srinagar, and Principals of autonomous colleges, Government College for Women, Parade Jammu, GDC Baramulla and Islamia College of Science and Commerce, Srinagar. The deliberations centred on critical issues about undergraduate admissions for the upcoming 2025-26 academic year and the crucial progression of students to the 4th year under the transformative National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and other NEP-related initiatives.

Crucial decisions were taken to smoothen the admission process for upcoming UG 2025-26 admissions, key decisions that were taken include that Universities across the Union Territory will formulate and implement statutory provisions by the end of the month, facilitating lateral entry for eligible polytechnic students into the 2nd year (3rd semester) of Four Year Undergraduate Program of Degree Colleges to benefit them.

It was decided that admissions would continue to be granted through both CUET and non-CUET modes, aligning with established practices. However, timelines will be thoroughly reviewed and optimized to ensure greater student convenience and accessibility. In order to optimize the process, Director Colleges will coordinate and oversee the admission process, working in close liaison with the universities to ensure strict adherence to stipulated timelines.

All universities are mandated to establish statutory mechanisms and guidelines as provisioned under NEP 2020 for multiple exit options at the end of the 1st and 2nd year, providing students with greater portability and by way of earning the award of a certificate or diploma. Towards the same universities shall come up with an implementation plan in terms of the requirement of additional credits for the award of a Certificate or Diploma.

Director Colleges, Higher Education Department, will undertake a reclassification of colleges based on admission grant criteria on CUET or Non-CUET, pre-informing students and institutions so that aspirants seek admissions without any ambiguity.

The chair desired that the admission process should be completed well within the time to ensure adherence to the academic calendar.

Shantamanu, understanding the intricacies of the present admission process, desired that the admissions should be centralised at the directorate level and instructed Director Colleges to start the process of developing a robust centralized admission system.

Decisions regarding the progression of students to 4th Year of NEP in Honours and Research Mode were taken, the universities are to finalise the statutory provisions for admission to  4th year under the Honours and Honours with Research programs as well as the guidelines for recognizing supervisors, evaluation mechanisms, curriculum alignment, and policy adjustments etc,  for subsequent admissions into 1-year PG and direct PhD programmes. The exercise is to be completed by month's end to ensure a smooth transition to  4th year for enrolled students.

It was decided that the transition to the 4th year would be implemented in a phased and calibrated manner. Students will be duly informed about the modalities of transfer from various degree colleges to facilitate their pursuit of quality research and Honors programs. It was clarified that 4th year programmes will be offered at select institutions, necessitating student mobility across institutions.

The Financial Commissioner instructed the universities to finalize statutory provisions without delay to facilitate the identification and offering of courses through the SWAYAM platform, thereby enhancing credit transferability and providing students with greater academic flexibility. An Action Taken Report in this regard will be submitted by the HEIs to the Higher Education Department by the month's end. The matter was to be granted top priority by the universities.

The Additional Chief Secretary affirmed the department's commitment to coordinating with the National Testing Agency (NTA) at the highest level, to ensure that the CUET examination is conducted with an increased number of centres within J&K and with enhanced facilities.