Union Education Minister Inaugurates National Workshop on Higher and Technical Education in New Delhi

New Delhi: Union Minister for Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated a two-day National Workshop on Higher and Technical Education, engaging Secretaries of States and Union Territories in New Delhi today. Minister of State for Education and Development of the North Eastern Region, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, was also present. The event brought together prominent officials, including K. Sanjay Murthy, Secretary of Higher Education; UGC Chairman Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar; and state education secretaries, academics, and ministry representatives.

In his address, Pradhan emphasized the workshop’s role as a platform for discussing how education can drive improvements in citizens’ quality of life, raise per capita income, and contribute to national priorities. He stressed the importance of evolving India’s education system to align with Industry 4.0, building infrastructure that surpasses global standards, and creating a more dynamic and innovative academic environment. According to Pradhan, education infrastructure must go beyond physical structures to encompass holistic academic development.

The Minister proposed five focus areas to strengthen India’s education sector: securing sustainable funding for public universities, aligning curriculum with industry needs, adopting multidisciplinary research approaches to solve global challenges, establishing academic leadership programs across states and UTs, and revitalizing campus life by promoting sports, arts, and other non-academic activities. He also highlighted the importance of teaching in Indian languages and fostering accountability to students to establish India’s leadership in global education.

Dr. Sukanta Majumdar praised the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 as a transformative blueprint for making India a global knowledge superpower. He highlighted NEP 2020’s foundational principles—access, equity, quality, affordability, and accountability—as essential for a modern, inclusive education system. Majumdar urged states and UTs to adopt NEP 2020 comprehensively, noting that its implementation can drive economic growth, build a skilled workforce, and spur innovation.

Secretary of Higher Education K. Sanjay Murthy provided context for the workshop, which features 14 technical sessions over two days, and outlined the guidelines developed to support NEP implementation. Murthy praised Pradhan’s leadership in advancing NEP 2020 and emphasized that the workshop would promote knowledge exchange and strengthen stakeholder collaboration to ensure smooth NEP integration across states.

The objective of the workshop is to disseminate implementation strategies for NEP 2020 and foster an inclusive, globally competitive education system. Participants will discuss approaches for overcoming challenges and leveraging opportunities presented by NEP 2020, aiming to position India’s higher education sector at the forefront of global standards.

As part of the two-day program, the workshop will cover a range of topics, including “Technology in Education,” “Collaboration in Education,” “Digital Governance,” and “Financing of Higher Education.” Eminent panellists will lead discussions on NEP’s role in preparing India’s higher education sector for future challenges while preserving the nation’s unique cultural values.