GNDU VC to chair Working Group on Higher Education Reforms
In a first, the Government of Punjab has constituted a Working Group on Higher Education Reforms for an Entrepreneurial Punjab, to cultivate an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the state. The initiative followed a high-level meeting chaired by the Minister for Higher Education and Languages Harjot Bains recently and aligns closely with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The Working Group is chaired by Dr Karamjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, and 14 other members include senior IAS officers, vice-chancellors of leading universities and representatives from industry and innovation sectors. The member secretary of the group is Jatinder Pal Singh, Deputy Director, Department of Higher Education and Languages.
This committee is tasked with developing and implementing actionable strategies to embed entrepreneurial thinking and practice within Punjab’s higher education institutions. Key focus areas include, designing a state-wide roadmap for integrating entrepreneurial education, proposing a credit-based curriculum and its delivery mechanisms, recommending tech-enabled platforms (including AI tools) for mentoring and tracking student-led start-ups, establishing strong linkages with industry, diaspora networks, and financial institutions to ensure robust mentoring and funding support.
The group has been mandated to submit its initial report within 10 days, setting the pace for swift and meaningful reforms. Elaborating on the same, GNDU VC Dr Karamjeet Singh emphasised, “This is a unique opportunity to channel the risk-taking spirit and innovative drive of Punjab’s youth into productive, job-creating ventures. We must work collectively to turn our campuses into incubators of ideas and enterprise. This initiative is a significant step towards positioning Punjab as a leading state in innovation, entrepreneurship and employment generation.”
He said higher education institutions will be developed as start-up incubators, providing mentorship, workspace and networking opportunities to students.
