Awantipora, July 30: A Two-Day National Conference on “Innovative Pedagogies for Future-Ready Higher Education” begins at Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) on Thursday to strengthen the implementation of the Design your own Degree (DYoD) framework aligned with NEP 2020. The conference brings together educators, academic leaders, researchers and policymakers to deliberate on innovative pedagogical approaches aligned with NEP 2020.
The participants included Prof. Dinesh Singh, Vice Chairman, J&K Higher Education Council, Prof. Shakil A. Romshoo, Vice-Chancellor, IUST, Prof. Nilofer Khan, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Prof. Pragati Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, SMVDU, Prof. Jawaid Iqbal, Vice-Chancellor, BGSBU, Prof. Mohammad Mobin, Vice-Chancellor, Cluster University Srinagar, Prof. Shobha Bagai, University of Delhi, Dean Academic Affairs IUST Prof Sheikh Ajaz Bashir, Registrar IUST Prof Shamim Ahmad Shah and principals of various colleges from J&K.
During the inaugural ceremony, Prof. Dinesh Singh was the Chief Guest. While delivering the keynote address, he acknowledged the progressive nature of J&K’s educational landscape and said, “I believe India can discover a new path for higher education through Jammu and Kashmir. The spirit of innovation and academic experimentation I have witnessed here is rarely seen elsewhere in the country.”
“NEP 2020 is founded on the belief that learning is a lifelong journey. Every day is a day of learning, and the policy reflects a deeply considered vision shaped by years of educational experimentation and experience. I congratulate IUST for taking the lead in organising this conference. Such initiatives demonstrate the kind of academic leadership needed to carry the vision of NEP 2020 forward,” he further added.
Earlier, while delivering the welcome address, VC IUST Prof. Shakil A. Romshoo underlined the significance of this conference that brought together universities and colleges under one umbrella to discuss taking forward NEP 2020.
“The real challenge before us is how we build the capacity of our teachers and transform teaching in the spirit of NEP 2020. As we move into the second phase of its implementation, the colleges and universities of Jammu and Kashmir have the opportunity to demonstrate a model that can guide the rest of the country,” Prof. Romshoo said.
Reflecting on the significance of the conference, he remarked that the deliberations had “written a new chapter” in advancing innovative pedagogy and emphasised that while information is readily available everywhere, “the real privilege is to design one’s learning,” underscoring the transformative vision of the DYoD initiative.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Inayet Rasool, Coordinator, Design Your Degree (DYoD) Programme.
The first day of the conference witnessed two technical sessions. The first technical session deliberated on DYoD Implementation in J&K Institutions. The participants included vice chancellors of universities and heads of institutions, and the session was moderated by Prof. Dinesh Singh.
The speakers highlighted that the Design Your Degree (DYoD) initiative is transforming higher education by shifting from traditional examination-based systems to experiential, interdisciplinary, and student-centred learning aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
They emphasised the integration of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Python, and Digital Humanities into academic programmes, while encouraging innovation, undergraduate research, and socially relevant problem-solving. The discussion also underscored the significant institutional and pedagogical reforms required to implement DYoD, including retraining faculty, reshaping curricula, and fostering a mindset change among both teachers and students.
Stressing the importance of preserving academic leadership in the age of rapidly advancing technology, the speakers noted that educators must play a central role in guiding these transformations so that technological advancements strengthen, rather than dictate, the future of higher education.
The 2nd technical session deliberated on the theme “DYoD in J&K: Challenges, opportunities and the Way forward”. The participants were DYoD Coordinators from universities and institutions in J&K and was moderated by Prof. Bagai.
A documentary ‘DYoD Heritage Journey,’ was also screened during the event. The remaining two technical sessions, student project presentations and the valedictory session will be held on the second day of the conference.
