The University Grants Commission (UGC) is launching a new initiative called “NEP SAARTHI” to involve students in implementing the National Education Policy-2020. The UGC believes that students can play a vital role in transforming India’s education system by actively participating in the reforms outlined in the policy.
NEP SAARTHI aims to create an environment where students can engage meaningfully and bring students together as active participants to make effective use of provisions of NEP. The UGC will request Vice-Chancellors, Directors, and Principals of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to nominate three outstanding students from their institutions for consideration to be NEP SAARTHIs. Students pursuing certificate, diploma and undergraduate and postgraduate degrees can become NEP SAARATHIs.
The nominees will work as ambassadors to promote NEP, create awareness regarding NEP, disseminate information regarding NEP, promote NEP initiatives on social media, collect feedback from students to improve the implementation of NEP, and provide guidance to students and other stakeholders regarding NEP initiatives and how they can benefit from them.
The UGC will select 300 NEP SAARTHIs from the nominees and orient and guide them to carry out their roles effectively in a hybrid mode. The nominees will be invited in May 2023, and the last date to receive nominations is June 2023. The list of NEP SAARTHIs will be announced, and orientation will be held in July 2023. A certificate of recognition from UGC, mention in UGC official media handles, invitations to online UGC events and opportunity to public articles in the UGC newsletter will be provided to the NEP SAARTHIs.
NEP SAARTHIs will organise awareness drives regarding the latest NEP initiatives, connect with student groups, establish meaningful dialogue among students, faculty members, administrators, and the UGC, prepare brief notes on each NEP initiative for display on campus, plan events, debates, discussions, competitions, quizzes, Nukkads, and Chaupals, initiate social media activities or campaigns, and set up NEP help desks at college fests.
