UGC introduces Life Skills 2.0 in colleges to transform students into socially responsible youths

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has introduced the new Life Skills 2.0 (Jeevan Kaushal) curriculum and guidelines for undergraduate students. This curriculum emphasizes the importance of critical life skills for students' overall development, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

New modules such as Digital Literacy and Social Media, Digital Ethics and Cyber Security, Verbal and Non-verbal Communication, Cognitive and Non-cognitive Skills, Managing Personal Finance, and Constitutional Values, Justice, and Human Rights have been introduced by UGC.

The updated curriculum is meant to be versatile. It provides an overview of the goals, activities, and learning outcomes. The curriculum's practical approach incorporates methodologies such as case studies, e-learning links, individual and group exercises, audio-video creation, role-playing, and demonstrations. These abilities, which are strengthened by universal human and constitutional values, justice, and human rights, are crucial for success in one's personal, social, and professional spheres.

Each course carries 2 credits, totaling 8 credits for the entire range of courses. These courses are available in several disciplines and are equivalent to "foundational courses." Whether taking courses individually for two credits in a semester or in groups of two, students are required to meet the credit requirements for each subject. These courses' credit loads cannot be more than 4 in a single semester (i.e., two courses at a time).

Faculty members of these courses ought to be qualified professionals who have an aptitude for conveying the subject matter. Faculty hiring needs to be arranged by Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). Just 20% of the component would be theoretical; the other 80% would be focused on practical.

“The introduction of teaching modules such as Digital Literacy and Social Media, and Digital Ethics and Cyber Security, aligns well with NEP 2020 and is transformative for today's digital age. These modules equip students with essential skills to navigate technology responsibly and effectively, crucial for their growth,” Dr. Bishnu Pal, Dean of the School of Engineering and Academics at Mahindra University, told Education Post.

“Emphasizing digital ethics and cyber security fosters accountability and awareness of technology's ethical implications and data security. This holistic approach ensures that students become proficient, conscientious, and responsible digital citizens. At Mahindra University's School of Engineering, we are committed to nurturing well-rounded individuals ready to meet future challenges and contribute meaningfully to the society,” he said.

Pal’s colleague Balakista Reddy, Dean of the university’s School of Law, agreed. “The inclusion of Constitutional Values, Justice, and Human Rights in the life skills curriculum is a significant step toward fostering a well-rounded, socially responsible citizenry. This initiative instills a deep understanding of our constitutional framework, justice principles, and fundamental human rights. Educating students on these aspects empowers them to uphold and advocate for democracy, equity, and justice.

"This knowledge is crucial for their personal development and their ability to contribute to society. At Mahindra University's School of Law, our diverse curriculum equips students with critical skills and insights, ensuring they become ethically grounded professionals committed to upholding the rule of law and human dignity,” he said.

Speaking to Education Post, Frank Krishner, Ex-HOD, Mass Communication Department of St. Xavier’s College of Management & Technology in Patna said that this policy should have come a couple of years earlier because, as far as education is concerned, especially technical education, “we can’t deal with a syllabus that gets stale because things keep on changing as technology moves ahead. Therefore, the new modules that are being introduced are timely. And I am quite sure that a wide range of colleges and institutions will be developing materials on that.”

 “In my opinion, these digital courses should have actually been incorporated from the 11th grade onwards. This country is full of young and competitive people. With the introduction of AI and other technologies, the nature of jobs is also going to change, so the students need to be equipped with higher levels of knowledge and understanding,” he added.

Four courses comprised under the 2019 life skills curriculum are Universal Human Values, Professional Skills, Leadership and Management Skills, and Communication Skills.

The NEP 2020, while focusing on a more holistic and multidisciplinary system of education, recommended the flexible and innovative credit-based curricula and projects of all HEIs in the following areas:

• Community engagement and service: citizenship values, lessons in seva (service), participation in community-service programs, and life skills.
• Value-based education: Value-based education will include the development of humanistic, ethical, constitutional, and universal human values of truth (satya), righteous conduct (dharma), peace (shanti), love (prem), nonviolence (ahimsa), and scientific temper.

According to the official curriculum, the UGC needs to take the initiative to offer life skills to undergraduate students enrolled in higher education institutions. Life skills are crucial in helping students feel more confident about themselves and more employable. These could include interpersonal and communication skills, time management, adaptability, teamwork, problem-solving, professional skills, decision-making abilities, leadership qualities, and universal values, among others.

This current life skills program, such as self-awareness, empathy, high-performance teams, leadership potential, communication and presentation skills, problem-solving techniques, decision-making, nurturing creativity, innovation for personal and professional excellence, stress management, time management, and conflict resolution, as well as a foundation of human values, aims to develop personal and professional skills in students at the undergraduate level.

The objective of this program is to assist students in realizing their full potential and developing into socially responsible adults.