NEP-2020 Conclave: Dharmendra Pradhan Urges Universities to Drive Innovation and Social Change
Tulmulla, Ganderbal – Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, on Saturday, called on Indian universities to go beyond traditional academics and become engines of innovation, social transformation, and civilizational rejuvenation.
Speaking at the National Workshop on “NEP-2020 Implementation: Strategy, Synergy, and Sustainable Action,” held at the Tulmulla campus of Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir), Pradhan said, “Universities are not just collections of buildings, but cultures, traditions, and sentiments rooted in India’s historical and philosophical ethos.”
The event witnessed the presence of Vice-Chancellors, senior bureaucrats, academicians, researchers, and students from J&K and Ladakh. Notable attendees included Shri Sunil Kumar Barnwal (Additional Secretary, MoE), Shantmanu (Financial Commissioner, J&K Higher Education), and Vice-Chancellors of leading universities across the region.
Calling Kashmir a “seat of civilizational wisdom,” Pradhan highlighted the region’s contributions to ancient knowledge systems, Sufism, Buddhism, and Islamic culture. He also cited the example of a local schoolboy who developed a carbon monoxide sensor for Kangri users, asking, “If a schoolboy can innovate, why can’t a university professor?”
Encouraging region-specific research and innovation, he urged academic institutions to share best practices, collaborate across disciplines, and work toward impactful societal outcomes.
During the event, Shri Pradhan unveiled the new logo of CUK and reviewed the university's functioning. He also interacted with students and faculty, praising their student-centric initiatives and urging them to actively contribute to Viksit Bharat @2047.
Earlier, Shri Shantmanu shared data on J&K’s progress in higher education. The UT has nine universities, over 150 colleges, and institutions like IIT and IIM Jammu, serving over 3 lakh students. He noted that J&K has already implemented NEP-2020 from the 2022 batch and highlighted initiatives like the Gyanodaya Express and Design Your Degree programs.
Shri Sunil Kumar Barnwal emphasized that NEP-2020 is a dynamic, long-term vision aiming for a “Developed India by 2047,” and called for a learner-centric, flexible, and outcome-oriented approach to education.
In his address, CUKashmir Vice-Chancellor Prof. A. Ravinder Nath presented a blueprint for higher education reform based on institutional, ecosystem, and functional enablers. He stressed the need for internship-based curricula, the National Credit Framework, multiple entry-exit options, and Academic Bank of Credits.
Dean Academic Affairs Prof. Shahid Rasool described NEP-2020 as a sacred roadmap toward transforming India's education system and achieving Viksit Bharat @2047.
Vice-Chancellors also shared institutional best practices and signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding to enhance collaboration in academics and research between universities in J&K and Ladakh.