26-07-2023

The Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Mumbai is one among the first universities in the country to implement the National Education Policy 2020 almost fully, in letter and spirit. The NEP 2020, approved by the Government of India, has introduced several significant changes and reforms in the higher education sector. It emphasises multidisciplinary education and encourages universities to offer a wide range of subjects and promote flexibility in curriculum design. It aims to break down the traditional silos of disciplines and promote interdisciplinary research and learning.

NEP 2020 proposes the establishment of an Academic Bank of Credits, which allows students to accumulate credits for courses completed across multiple institutions. This credit transfer system enables students to pursue a personalised and flexible learning path while encouraging lifelong learning. The policy also makes multiple entry and exit points possible in higher education programmes, allowing students to exit with a certificate, diploma, or degree at different stages of their academic journey. This enables students to enter the workforce or pursue further education based on their qualifications. More than 95% of the students of the Somaiya Vidyavihar University have registered in ABC and the ABC registration number is incorporated in the degree certificates of the graduates.

The university emphasizes the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) framework and conducts workshops and webinars to sensitize faculty members to OBE principles. All the course are aligned with Course & Program outcomes. The present UG/PG syllabus is based on the CBCS/CBGS and the students will be offered electives, multidisciplinary courses and online
courses of their choices. The Department of Languages and Literature offers programs in both Indian and foreign languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Urdu, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. Somaiya Vidyavihar University has over 8 partnerships with International Universities across 5 countries in the world. SVU is actively engaged in community outreach and offers education in Pali, Buddhism, and Yoga at its outreach center near Shirdi, Ahmednagar. All the UG and PG programmes have Skill Development Course component as a part of their curriculum which comprises 30% of the curriculum. In order to be equipped to address the challenges of NEP 2020, SVU has established the Faculty & Staff Development Centre (FSDC) to coordinate and offer technical, behavioural and capacity-building programs to teaching faculty and other technical staff periodically. The Centre aims to train and up-skill the faculty and staff of all institutions under
Somaiya Vidyavihar.

The National Conference on "National Education Policy 2020 Implementation in Maharashtra: Opportunities and Challenges" held at Somaiya Vidyavihar University on March 30, 2022, was a significant event organized by the Preeminent Education and Research Association (PERA) in association with the university. The one-day conference witnessed the participation of more than 100 delegates from various universities, educationalists, policymakers, industrial experts, administrators, and students. Eminent speakers, including Padmashri Dr. G. D. Yadav and Prof. Dr. Mangesh Karad, addressed the attendees, emphasizing the need for implementing the NEP recommendations in the state. The conference featured panel discussions on topics such as liberal education, interdisciplinary approaches, the impact on professional education, and fulfilling 21st-century needs through vocational and skill education. The event concluded with inspiring reflections on the transformative potential of education and the opportunities that lie ahead for the growth and development of the education sector in Maharashtra.