Seminar on “Making Chandigarh Colleges Autonomous” at Punjab Raj Bhavan.
Advancing NEP 2020 Goals through Institutional Excellence.
Chandigarh, 22 May 2025: A seminar on higher education reform titled “Making Chandigarh Colleges Autonomous” was organized today at Punjab Raj Bhavan under the aegis of the Department of Higher Education, Chandigarh Administration. The event brought together key stakeholders from academia and government to deliberate on pathways for strengthening institutional frameworks in line with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Punjab and Administrator of UT Chandigarh, inaugurated the seminar and outlined a progressive vision for higher education reform. Emphasizing the transformative goals of NEP 2020, he underlined the importance of empowering colleges to achieve academic excellence, institutional flexibility, and responsiveness to the evolving demands of students and society.
“Institutions must be future-ready. NEP 2020 provides a clear roadmap for enhancing quality and access in higher education, and we must collectively work towards achieving those objectives,” Governor Kataria said in his keynote address.
The seminar featured a distinguished panel of experts. Dr. R. Manoj Kumar, Joint Secretary, UGC, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the Role of UGC in the Promotion of Autonomous Colleges. He elaborated on the UGC’s supportive policies, graded autonomy framework, and quality benchmarks aimed at improving institutional governance, curriculum innovation, and academic flexibility. He stressed that the NEP 2020 envisions higher education institutions as self-regulated and quality-driven, with autonomy being a key enabler.
Dr. Ravindra Singh Pardeshi, Former Principal of Fergusson College, Pune—a prominent empowered autonomous institution—shared practical insights on the institutional journey toward autonomy. He highlighted the tangible benefits observed in empowered colleges, including curriculum relevance, improved learning outcomes, enhanced employability, and institutional resilience. His talk served as a motivational guide for institutions in Chandigarh seeking to align with national reforms.
Prof. Renu Vig, Vice Chancellor, Panjab University, discussed the current education system structure and stressed the need for alignment with NEP goals. Dr. Dalip Kumar, Member of the State Higher Education Council, UT Chandigarh, also addressed the gathering, highlighting the need for institutional restructuring, resource enhancement, and innovation in teaching-learning practices. Dr. Kumar emphasized aligning institutional goals with NEP 2020 to improve access, equity, and quality in Chandigarh’s higher education system.
Principals and faculty members from all government and private colleges across the city participated enthusiastically, discussing critical themes such as academic reforms, infrastructure development, faculty capacity building, and quality assurance mechanisms.
The seminar marked a significant step forward in Chandigarh’s journey to implement NEP 2020 and strengthen its higher education institutions as hubs of innovation, excellence, and societal impact.
Sh. Vivek Pratap Singh, Principal Secretary to Governor; Ms. Prerna Puri, Secretary Education; Sh. Abhijit Vijay Chaudhari, Special Secretary to Administrator; Sh. Rubinderjit Singh Brar, Director Higher Education; Dr. Richa Rathi, Additional Director Higher Education
Prof. Jaspal Singh Sandhu and other senior officials of the Chandigarh Administration were present during the event.
