CHANDIGARH, May 23: A seminar titled “Making Chandigarh Colleges Autonomous” was held at Punjab Raj Bhavan on Thursday, bringing together education stakeholders to chart a roadmap for reforming higher education institutions in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Organised by the UT department of higher education, the event featured deliberations on institutional restructuring, innovation, and the benefits of autonomy for academic institutions.
Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria underscored NEP 2020’s transformative vision, stating that empowering colleges is crucial to achieving academic excellence and responsiveness to societal needs. “Autonomy is not just a structural change but a pathway to build institutions that can thrive amid changing academic and global demands,” he said.
R Manoj Kumar, joint secretary of the University Grants Commission (UGC), mentioned UGC’s role in promoting autonomy. “NEP 2020 envisions a system that is self-regulated and driven by quality. Autonomy is the foundation on which that vision rests,” he noted during his presentation.
Sharing practical insights, Ravindra Singh Pardeshi, former principal of Fergusson College, Pune, cited real-world examples of improved outcomes in autonomous institutions. “Colleges that embrace autonomy witness sharper curriculum relevance, better student performance, and higher employability,” he said.
Panjab University vice-chancellor Renu Vig called for restructuring the existing education system to better align with NEP goals. Echoing the sentiment, UT State Higher Education Council member Dalip Kumar stressed the need for resource enhancement and innovation in pedagogy.
The seminar saw participation from principals and faculty members of all government and private colleges across the city, marking a significant step toward reshaping Chandigarh’s higher education landscape in line with national policy reforms.
