Puducherry: Pondicherry University(PU) hosted a symposium to mark five years of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, with top academicians and education leaders highlighting progress and challenges in implementing the reforms.

The event was attended by Prof. P. Prakash Babu, Vice-Chancellor of Pondicherry University, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras (online), Prof. Makarand Ghangrekar, Director of NIT Puducherry, and Shri Guntha Laxman, Joint Organizing Secretary of Akhil Bhartiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh (ABRSM).

Prof. Kamakoti underlined NEP 2020's transformative goals of creating a multidisciplinary, equitable education framework and raising higher education enrolment to 50% by 2035. He cited IIT Madras initiatives such as flexible programmes with multiple entry and exit options and interdisciplinary dual degrees.

Prof. Ghangrekar highlighted NIT Puducherry's implementation of teacher education reforms, curriculum updates, and interdisciplinary focus, while stressing transparency in key reforms like the academic bank of credits.

In his keynote, Shri Guntha Laxman emphasised India's heritage, including temple architecture, Tamil literature, and freedom fighters' sacrifices, linking them to present-day economic and global strength.

Delivering the presidential address, Prof. Prakash Babu detailed Pondicherry University's leadership in implementing NEP 2020. He noted efforts to introduce flexible learning pathways, collaborations with central universities, and partnerships with international institutions for multiple entry-exit frameworks.

He also spoke about capacity building, highlighting that the UGC has designated Pondicherry University as the nodal centre for South India under the Karmayogi faculty empowerment initiative. This programme covers training of academic and administrative staff across five states.

Acknowledging infrastructural constraints, the Vice-Chancellor stressed the need to initiate programmes with available resources while seeking government and institutional support for scaling up.

Prof. P. Natarajan, Dean of the School of Management, summarised the symposium, while Prof. V.V. Sarma and Prof. Y. Venkata Rao of ABRSM-PU welcomed the delegates. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Krishna Kumar Jaiswal, followed by a cultural programme by the Department of Performing Arts.

The symposium marked a milestone in advancing NEP 2020's vision, reinforcing Pondicherry University's commitment to educational transformation and national development.