National Education Policy 2020
Multidisciplinary and holistic learning is an ancient method used in Indian education system as well as the other parts of the world. This is the reason that such type of education system was advocated by scholars like Kautilya, Banabhatta, Plato, and Aristotle among many others. One can trace the evidence of such an education system in ancient Indian literature and practices. The students of Vedic times had to study Mathematics, Science and Geometry and lessons on morality, ethics, soft skills and value education, to develop their vocational skills along with professional skills. The introduction of Multidisciplinary Education is a welcome change in the NEP 2020
Pathak, (2020)
Yadav (2020)
Aithal and Aithal (2020) in a study on Analysis of the Indian National Education Policy 2020 towards Achieving its Objectives has the importance of a well-defined and futuristic education policy as it is education that leads to economic and social progress
Sundaram (2020)
To study the planning of educators and teachers to follow interactive and holistic approach for maximum learning.
To study the vision of the schools in organizing the multidisciplinary activities for promoting students’ learning.
To bring forth and map the recommendations of NEP 2020 that are already put into practice at Amity University Uttar Pradesh.
Online Focus Group Discussions (FGD) with Principals of reputed schools were conducted by Amity University Uttar Pradesh. The principals were drawn from different schools from all over India. Focus Group Discussion forums were organized to deliberate upon the recommendations of NEP 2020. It was a Dual –Moderator Online FGD. The steps involved in the FGD were to select the Principals, select the moderators and the field teams, develop format for recording responses, train the field teams, conduct the FDG and finally transcribe, analyze and interpret the consolidated responses. At Focus Group Discussions, the Panelists were asked about their opinions, perceptions, ideas and attitudes towards holistic and multidisciplinary education. The FGD offered an in depth and nuanced discussion on the topic. The future action plans of the Principals were deliberated and were analyzed qualitatively.
The Focus Group Discussions brought forth the nuanced ideas of the Principals on Holistic Approach and Multidisciplinary Education for Diverse Career needs. They shared the practices followed in their respective schools and also enlisted the advantages of the same. All the Principals were single throated in their opinion that the reforms in the NEP 2020 is a big leap towards bringing a better workforce who would be more empowered and industry ready. This is in sync with the views expressed by Pathak A (2020)
Some of the thoughts that emerged in the discussion are as follows: The methodology of bringing varied disciplines and integrating them in the curriculum provides for better appreciation of the diversity of the subjects, facilitating communication and leadership skills and involvement of all the stakeholders. In the present century there exists a requirement of graduates who have mastery in the subject of their choice along with the required skills of the 21st century to make themselves viable for the plethora of opportunities knocking at their doors. In order to serve the requirements of the futuristic world an amalgamation of humanities, technological and soft skills would stand in good stead and serve the requirements that arise. The multidisciplinary approach helps the students appreciate their roles and responsibilities paving way for a deep understanding of issues involved and meeting the trials and tribulations they encounter on their path
True to the suggestions put forth at the FGD, it is worth mentioning that Amity University Uttar Pradesh offers industry specific courses to make students industry ready falling in line with the recommendation of continuing with vocational education. The university brings forth more integration into the various courses offered under different streams to cater to the need and inclination of the students making learning purposeful, and joyful. Various programmes collaborate with industries in the vicinity to provide internships and apprenticeships to the students. The professionally qualified counsellors help the students to make appropriate selection of courses and vocation. Amity University being a research driven university falls under research intensive university and opportunities are given to the students to work in incubators to come up with research designs and start-ups. The curricular syllabi are revised to incorporate the latest know-how and to cater to the multiple entry exit and the four-year programmes. The university possesses state-of-the-art infrastructure to accommodate the needs of a holistic and multidisciplinary education. The continuous feedback from stakeholders like parents, academia, students, alumni and industry help to keep the courses offered up-to-date and futuristic. Continuous in-service training and opportunities are given to the faculty to develop their knowledge and the newest information in the chosen field. The shift from Teacher- centered to Student-centered education has helped the students to develop 21st century skills which are very pertinent in the current world scenario. While the Holistic Approach helps to cultivate psycho social and interpersonal skills, the Multidisciplinary education enables the learners to think critically, have pragmatic attitude and ideas to select subjects. This paves way for opening up to various career opportunities, transcending barriers.
The Principals were optimistic in bringing forth the changes as envisaged in NEP 2020 as there are ample opportunities catering to upskill the teachers as per the local needs. Principals in the discussions were appreciative of the Digital India Programme and the Skill India Mission, the flagship Programmes of Government of India, which would help in empowering the society. This also would directly be a boon in implementing NEP 2020 at all levels.
At Amity University, the digital infrastructure already in place even before the onslaught of the pandemic. Hence online or blended learning platforms were available to be explored by the students as well as teachers. The Principals in the discussions opined that the pandemic has helped them to take stock of the systemic changes they need to bring about in their institutions. It has also facilitated futuristic actions needed based on the experiences gained during the pandemic.
The study also helped to demystify the myths associated with holistic and multidisciplinary education. Its analysis is as stated below
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1 |
Multidisciplinary education will happen with the existing curriculum. |
No, curriculum has to be re-examined and reconsider what has to be accomplished. |
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Multidisciplinary education will give instant jobs. |
No, it is of no doubt that it makes the students more viable to career opportunities but for excelling and mastering in the field of interest, passion is important. |
3 |
The multidisciplinary education would lead to learning more subjects and hence a burden to the students. |
No, there would be blending of Subjects and resultant synergy. The brain has a capacity for learning that is virtually limitless, which makes every human a potential genius. |
4 |
Multidisciplinary education would become "Master of all trades, Jack of none", smattering knowledge, across disciplines. |
No, it would only help students acquire more skills of their choice and be industry ready opening up to diverse career avenues and also creating vistas of educational opportunities. |
5 |
Multidisciplinary education would lead to distractions. |
No, proper planning, execution and keeping a check on the progress of the learners would help the students wean away from distractions if any. |
6 |
Opting for multidiscipline will be difficult for students than the traditional core subjects. |
No, every child is endowed with multiple intelligence and can grasp multiple subjects according to the interest and the available opportunity that promotes understanding of a wide variety of subjects that support more of their intelligences and help them become successful. |
7 |
Students become indecisive when it comes to multidisciplinary education. |
No, the students learn to know what they want, get to know their strengths and weaknesses and would be able to take decisions independently thereby developing critical thinking and problem solving. Diversity of thought will be developed in the learners with the successful implementation of multidisciplinary education. |
Based on systematic analysis of the qualitative data taken from principals and correlating and mapping the deliberations with the system of education provided at Amity University, the current study offers a framework for surveying, understanding and discussing the Holistic education. Holistic and Multidisciplinary education is a disruptive ideology that gives more autonomy to the students