Special Lecture Session on National Credit Framework (NCrF) at Kargil Campus, University of Ladakh

Kargil, September 30, 2024 – The Kargil Campus, University of Ladakh successfully organized a special lecture session on the National Credit Framework (NCrF) today. The session, aimed at familiarizing the faculty members with the importance of NCrF in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, was met with great enthusiasm and participation. At the outset, Dr. Mehboob Ali, Incharge Administration, extended a warm welcome to all faculty members. In his opening remarks, Dr. Mehboob emphasized the significance of NCrF at both undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) levels, referring to the NEP 2020 as a guiding framework for the future of education in the country. He highlighted that the NCrF serves as an essential tool in promoting flexibility, inclusivity, and mobility in higher education. Dr. Mehboob further mentioned that the University of Ladakh is committed to revising its course curriculums in line with the provisions of the NCrF, with the objective of enhancing academic rigor and fostering a more skill-based and holistic education system. The special lecture was enriched by the insights of the two resource persons: Dr. Gulam Murtaza, Assistant Professor, Political Science, and Dr. Hadi Ali, Assistant Professor, Chemistry. In his lecture titled "The National Credit Framework as a Framework for Well-Rounded Education," Dr. Murtaza elaborated on the foundational principles of NCrF, emphasizing its role in shifting Indian education away from a colonial mindset toward a more flexible, skill-based, and inclusive approach. According to Dr. Murtaza, the NCrF allows students to accumulate credits not only from traditional classroom learning but also from a variety of practical and co-curricular activities such as laboratory work, vocational training, research projects, sports, yoga, and social service. Dr. Murtaza further stressed the importance of aligning higher education institutions (HEIs) with the evolving demands of the job market. He noted that institutions must continuously adapt and revise their curricula in line with the NCrF to remain competitive and relevant. This adaptability, according to him, is crucial for bridging the skills gap and enhancing the employability of students. He also highlighted the NCrF’s emphasis on democratizing education and promoting social equity, stating that the framework provides greater access to a wide array of learning opportunities, thus fostering social mobility. Dr. Murtaza pointed out that by integrating vocational and skill training within the higher education system, the NCrF ensures that students are not only academically competent but also prepared to meet the demands of the modern workforce. Proceeding further, Dr. Hadi Ali, provided an Enlightening Lecture on Postgraduate Curriculum Framework and National Credit Framework (NCrF). Dr. Ali elaborated on the postgraduate (PG) framework, explaining how it aligns with the NCrF to facilitate the creditization, accumulation, storage, transfer, and redemption of learning experiences. The flexibility offered by Media and Publicity cell Kargil caMPus university of ladaKh the new framework allows students to tailor their learning journeys, whether they pursue course work, research, or a combination of both. He provided a detailed explanation of the new program structures:  For students completing a 3-year Bachelor’s program: a 2-year PG program, with the second year dedicated entirely to research.  For students completing a 4-year Bachelor’s program: a 1-year PG program.  The introduction of a 5-year integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s program. Dr. Ali also addressed the flexibility within the PG curriculum, enabling students to switch disciplines, choose courses of interest, and even adopt alternative learning modes, including online, distance, and hybrid learning. This adaptability is essential for equipping students with advanced problem-solving skills, analytical abilities, and real-world experiences that are increasingly in demand. In line with the NEP 2020’s focus on continuous and formative assessment, Dr. Ali outlined the assessment strategy that correlates with learning outcomes, promoting a holistic evaluation system over the traditional summative methods. He further discussed how the UGC’s Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) facilitates student mobility and flexibility across institutions, enhancing the student’s ability to craft personalized educational paths. Following the lectures, a robust discussion and deliberation took place among the faculty members, focusing on the practical implications and challenges of implementing the NCrF at the university level. The exchange of ideas and perspectives from various disciplines enriched the understanding of how the framework can be adapted to meet the diverse needs of the students and the institution. After the discussions, Dr. Mehboob Ali, Incharge Administration, concluded the session by extending heartfelt thanks to all the faculty members present for their active participation and thoughtful contributions to the conversation. He expressed optimism about the future adoption of the NCrF at the University of Ladakh and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to advancing academic excellence.