St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Ahmedabad has introduced National Education Policy-2020 from the academic year 2023-24. By integrating humanities and arts with STEM, college envisages to foster creativity, innovation, and critical thinking and various ethos of NEP-2020 in the curriculum. This interdisciplinary model makes learning more engaging and enjoyable, preparing students for complex global challenges with well-rounded, higher-order cognitive skills.
As per NEP, the undergraduate degree will be of either 3 or 4-year duration, with multiple exit options within this period, with appropriate certifications, e.g., a UG certificate after completing 1 year in a discipline or field including vocational and professional areas, or a UG diploma after 2 years of study, or a Bachelor’s degree after a 3-year programme. The 4-year multidisciplinary Bachelor’s honours programme, however, shall be the preferred option since it allows the opportunity to experience the full range of holistic and multidisciplinary education in addition to a focus on the chosen major and minors as per the choices of the student.
NEP highlights certain fundamental principles that would guide both the education system at large, as well as individual educational institutions. The principles that have a direct bearing on the curricula for different levels of higher education include:
NEP envisages several transformative initiatives in higher education. These include:
Courses from the discipline or subject of main focus and the degree will be awarded in that discipline. Students should secure the prescribed number of credits (a minimum of 50% of total credits) through core courses in the major discipline (e.g., Physics, Biotechnology, Statistics, Mathematics, Biochemistry, etc.).
These courses help students gain a broader understanding beyond their major discipline. Students are required to secure a minimum of 30 credits through minor stream courses.
Courses in which students are required to understand the core subject as viewed through two or more traditional disciplines. For example, a Physics major with a minor in Mathematics may choose either Electronics or Chemistry as a multidisciplinary course. With exposure to basic courses in an additional discipline, a student may decide to continue with the chosen major or change the major and minor areas of interest at the end of the second semester.
A course from a discipline outside the student’s chosen stream of study. These courses are intended to broaden the intellectual experience and form part of liberal arts, commerce, and science education. For example, a student pursuing graduation in the science stream may choose interdisciplinary courses offered by the college in the arts, commerce, or computer science streams. Similarly, a student pursuing graduation in arts, commerce, or computer applications will choose an interdisciplinary course from those offered within the science stream.
These courses aim to enable students to acquire and demonstrate English language skills, including critical reading, expository writing, and academic writing. They help students articulate their arguments and present their ideas clearly and coherently while recognizing the importance of language as a mediator of knowledge and identity. The courses also emphasize the development and enhancement of communication skills and the ability to participate in and conduct discussions and debates.
