Formal inauguration of the International Conference on NEP - 2020 at MANUU

Hyderabad:

A two-day international academic conference on “NEP 2020: Future Pathways for Teacher Education” was formally inaugurated at the CDOE Auditorium, Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), Hyderabad. The conference is jointly organized by MANUU and the University of Hyderabad and is being conducted in hybrid mode. Around 450 educationists, academicians, administrators, policymakers, researchers, and teachers from India and abroad are participating in the conference.

The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Chandra Bhushan Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Vinoba Bhave University. He highlighted the academic, ethical, and social responsibilities of teachers in the context of NEP 2020 and emphasized that the policy views teachers not merely as instructors but as leaders of social transformation.

Presiding over the inaugural session, Prof. Syed Ainul Hasan, Vice Chancellor, MANUU, stated in his presidential address that meaningful dialogue, critical thinking, and academic dissent form the foundation of educational progress. He emphasized that strong teacher education is essential for building a strong nation and noted that teachers shape individuals, who in turn shape societies and nations.

Prof. Pankaj Arora, Chairperson, (NCTE), delivered the inaugural address in which he emphasized that teachers are the backbone of NEP 2020. He noted that the policy envisions a shift from traditional teaching roles towards intellectual exploration and professional autonomy, and highlighted the role of the Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) in ensuring quality and dignity in teacher preparation.

Prof. Prem Narayan Singh, Director, Inter University Centre for Teacher Education (IUCTE), Banaras Hindu University, emphasized that long-term national planning requires a focus on human development, which can be achieved only through capable and committed teachers. Prof. Shashikala Wanjari, Vice Chancellor, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), in her address as Guest of Honour, stated that education is essential for the holistic development of the human personality and that the vision of a developed India cannot be realized without strong teacher education systems.

Prof. Ishtiaque Ahmed, Registrar, MANUU, extended greetings as Guest of Honour and remarked that such conferences play a vital role in strengthening collaboration among academic institutions, regulatory bodies, and policymakers, and that their outcomes would contribute meaningfully to national educational reforms. Another Guest of Honour,

Prof. Vanaja M., Dean, School of Education and Training, MANUU, delivered the welcome address and highlighted the transformative vision of the National Education Policy 2020 in reshaping teacher education. While outlining the objectives of the conference, Prof. Shaheen Shaikh, Head, Department of Education and Training, MANUU, stated that the conference aims to bridge the gap between policy formulation and classroom practice and to strengthen the professional preparation of teachers in line with NEP 2020.

During the inaugural session, the Conference Souvenir, the Newsletter of the School of Education and Training, and the book titled “Artificial Intelligence for Education and Sustainability”, edited by Dr. Abdul Jabbar, Dr. Jarrar Ahamad, Mohd Gufran Barkati, and Mohammad Tabish, were formally released. The programme was jointly anchored by Dr. Ashraf Nawaz and Dr. Mohasina Anjum Ansari, who conducted the session with clarity and decorum. The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Prof. Akthar Parveen, followed by the National Anthem. The conference will continue with plenary and technical sessions on the second day, focusing on recommendations for the future of teacher education.