India's higher education system needs significant reforms to align with global standards. How does the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aim to address these challenges, and what lessons can India learn from international practices to enhance its higher education system? Discuss.

NEP 2020

① Regulation: The NEP advises to set up a Higher Education Institutions Commission as the central regulatory authority to create an enabling environment for HEIs

② Multidisciplinary Approach: is encouraged through the Glue grants scheme and Academic bank of credit (ABC). Herein a student can gain credits for different courses from different colleges to encourage holistic learning

③ Flexibility: through multiple exit and multiple entry options to decrease dropouts and allow continuous learning

④ Foreign Universities: NEP envisions setting up of foreign university campuses in India to reduce brain drain and improve quality of education.

⑤ Hybrid learning: through online + traditional learning modules for imersive learning experience.

Lessons from foreign Universities ① focus on R&D ecosystem. (4) In india only 12% colleges -> R&D and only 0.65% of budget -> R&D ② develop industry-academia linkages ③ develop world class infrastructure like labs, libraries, playing fields etc ④ innovative funding mechanisms (4) USA -> alumni are major donors for universities ⑤ creating pedagogy techniques (4) case studies, debates, role play, mock courts etc. ⑥ creating rich scholarship programmes for meritorious students ⑦ linkages with CSOs.