UGC to Organise Training Programme for Local Language Teaching in Higher Education

In a significant move aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s emphasis on teaching and learning in local languages, the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti (BBS) have jointly launched a two-day training programme on content creation and teaching through Bharatiya languages.

The training initiative, set to be conducted in a face-to-face mode across different zones during February and March 2024, aims to equip senior faculty members with the skills necessary to promote teaching and learning in local languages within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

The UGC has urged university vice-chancellors to nominate two senior faculty members from their respective institutions to undergo the training and become certified Master Trainers. The nominated faculty members should preferably hold positions at the professor or associate professor level, with expertise in the local language of their university location. One nominee should be from the Science discipline, and the other from Commerce/Social Science.

To facilitate the nomination process, the UGC has provided a Google form on its official website. Vice-chancellors are required to fill out the form and submit a duly filled and signed nomination letter by the Competent Authority along with the scanned copy, as it will be required for upload in the Google form. The last date to submit is January 31, 2024.

The UGC notice highlights the significance of the NEP 2020’s focus on teaching academic programs in HEIs through mother tongue/local languages as a medium of instruction. This approach aims to enhance access, and Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER), and promote the strength, usage, and vibrancy of all Bharatiya languages.

“The promotion of teaching-learning through local languages in higher education is a crucial area of focus in the National Education Policy 2020. The policy emphasizes offering academic programs in HEIs through mother tongue/local languages as a medium of instruction, in order to increase access and GER and also to promote the strength, usage, and vibrancy of all Bharatiya languages,” reads the UGC notice.

After completing the training, the certified Master Trainers will play a pivotal role in further orienting other faculty members at their parent institutions on content creation and effective teaching through Bharatiya languages. NEP 2020 also underscores the importance of making high-quality study materials/books available in local languages for courses under various disciplines.