Introduction: NEP has transformed architectural education with students being able to finish their degree in just three years. It has also boosted the practicality of architectural learning. It combines 2D/ 3D designs that is the latest trend in the architectural field to make designs more realistic.
The National Policy On Education (NPE) was initially formed in 1986, since which, there have been no significant reforms in the policy. The NEP 2020 is the first policy that was introduced after 34 years. This policy stands for making education more open and increasing learning credibility. Its holistic learning approach can get linked to competition with global learning standards.
NEP allows students to broaden their learning palette, breaking the traditional norms of architectural students learning only science subjects. But how does this policy change the curriculum, and why is it essential for architectural students? Let’s find out.
What Is the Importance of NEP 2020?
- A Knowledge Hub
Nep 2020 design aims to lead a child’s overall development, which means that students aren’t restricted to studying in institutes filled with same stream students. This policy wants to make the single-stream institutions disappear and promote the formation of universities that teach many courses under one roof. This change will drastically impact architecture, and design students as all of the architecture and design institutes are single streams.
The policy, in short, wants to explore the American university syllabus, where students are not only restricted to choosing science or humanities-related subjects. But there is a massive downside to this policy; universities that offer such overall development exist in India and are more expensive than the economically weak can afford.
- Holistic Approach to School-Learning
This policy aims to make the boundaries between different streams disappear. You don’t have to choose a particular stream in 10+2 education; it allows you to select any subject you want to study. Moreover, there would be a push for vocational education rather than regular, systematic learning.
It can be a possibility for Indian institutes in the far future. However, a fine selection can get employed, like an architecture student would be able to choose psychology or sociology as a subject instead of chemistry.
- Practical Learning
It takes almost two years for professors to take the rote learning out of children’s minds and introduce them to practical understanding. This changes with the NEP 2020. It aims to teach practical knowledge from the sixth standard. It implies that architecture students’ courses would be shorter than they have now.
It is also an excellent option for students tired of learning from books and design students who didn’t get to see the actual instruments in school and half of college life. You can also get the highest paying design jobs through practical learning.
- The Ease of Choosing One’s Mother Tongue
With the implementation of this policy, compulsory execution of the mother tongue is mandatory, up to the 5th standard. It also provides an option of choosing the mother tongue as a mode of learning after 8th standard. NEP 2020 also promotes sign language all over the country for specially-abled students.
This policy further stops any children from being forced to learn any language. There would also be opportunities to engage in learning of foreign language.
- A Change in the Way of Assessment
The old rote learning concept gets eliminated with the change in how students are tested based on their knowledge. Board exams will get redesigned to test actual knowledge rather than quoting what’s in the course books. It also allows students to take exams two times in their given year.
A new progress report is also set to get designed, which will assess students on different criteria. This new policy changes the entrance test to various architectural and other institutions.
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How Will NEP Change the Design Curriculum?
- This new policy allows architectural students to complete their 5-year degree from top architecture firms in India in three years. The students can choose any subject of their own to learn more in a limited period. The council will also award proper degrees to these students.
- This policy aims to collaborate with veteran faculty to learn how other professors can impart learning in the student’s mother tongue. These retired professors will provide proper guidance and mentoring to college faculties.
- Nep 2020 introduces the Choice-Based Credit System in higher education. This system presents an approach that is centered on students. Additionally, it also offers students the freedom to choose from core, elective, and soft skills courses. These subjects would be evaluated based on grading.
- It also introduces design and culture in higher studies. The policy aims to hire architectural and design veterans as guest teachers to promote practical learning.
- The faculty of architecture can conduct private research. Design and architectural-based education rarely gets focused on research. Nep 2020 aims to go deep into design research that will help to shorten the gap between real education and literacy.
Conclusion
National Education Policy 2020 is one of the first education reforms to promote practical knowledge more than ever. It offers multiple exit and entry options that no longer restrict students to one classroom and encourages a holistic approach to learning by interacting with research and the country’s culture.