Introduction
NEP-2020 refers to the New Education Policy of India that was announced on July 29, 2020. The policy aims to transform the Indian education system by introducing several changes at all levels of education, from primary to higher education.
The policy was formulated by a committee led by Dr. K. Kasturirangan, former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The committee submitted the draft policy to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) in 2019, which the ministry reviewed and revised before the Union Cabinet approved.
NEP-2020 replaces the previous National Policy on Education, which was introduced in 1986 and modified in 1992. The new policy aims to address the challenges faced by the Indian education system and align it with the changing needs of the 21st century.
The key features of NEP-2020 include a new 5+3+3+4 structure for school education, a focus on multi-disciplinary and vocational education, the introduction of a common entrance exam for universities, increased funding for education, the use of technology in education, and the promotion of Indian languages. (Development, 2020).
The policy has been widely discussed and debated in India, with many stakeholders expressing both support and concerns about its various provisions.1, 2
Vision
The NEP 2020 envisions an education system that empowers students with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. The policy aims to transform India into a vibrant knowledge society by equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary for the 21st century.
Materials and Methods
This article was created after reviewing recent literature that was published online and in other places. It uses relevant sources and is descriptive research. As per the New Education Policy in India, few comparable studies have been conducted on the scope and prospects of libraries. An effort is being made to comprehend and assess how libraries are vital to our educational system.
Objectives of the Study
The study of academic libraries in the context of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 can have several objectives, some of which are:
To examine the role: of academic libraries in supporting the goals and objectives of NEP 2020, such as promoting access to quality education, ensuring equity and inclusion, and fostering research and innovation.
To assess the current state: of academic libraries in India and identify areas that need improvement to align with the NEP 2020 objectives.
To identify best practices: and innovative models in academic libraries that can be adopted to support NEP 2020 goals.
To evaluate the effectiveness: of academic library services in promoting information literacy, digital literacy, and lifelong learning skills among students, faculty, and researchers.
To investigate the role: of academic libraries in fostering interdisciplinary research and collaboration across different disciplines.
To explore the potential: of academic libraries to support open-access publishing, data management, and other emerging trends in scholarly communication.
To examine the challenges: faced by academic libraries in adapting to the changing needs of students and faculty in the digital age.
To develop recommendations: for policymakers, library administrators, and other stakeholders on how to strengthen the role of academic libraries in supporting NEP 2020 goals.
Review of Literature
Abeyrathne and Ekanayake (2019) explore the role of academic libraries in enhancing self-directed learning in higher education. The authors argue that academic libraries can play a crucial role in promoting self-directed learning by providing access to resources, providing training and support, and creating an environment conducive to learning. The ACRL Research Planning and Review Committee (2014) presents the top trends in academic libraries, including topics such as evolving roles of librarians, digital scholarship, data management, and open access. The report highlights the need for libraries to adapt to changing technologies and user needs. Asif and Singh (2022) discuss the role of libraries in the context of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in India. The authors argue that the NEP emphasizes the importance of libraries and librarians in promoting literacy, lifelong learning, and research. Aslam (2022) discusses the changing behavior of academic libraries and the role of library professionals. The author argues that libraries must adapt to changing technologies and user needs and suggests that library professionals should focus on providing personalized and user-centric services. Bapte (2022) discusses the role of libraries in the context of the National Education Policy in India. The author argues that the NEP emphasizes the importance of libraries in promoting digital literacy, open access, and lifelong learning. Development (2020) provides an overview of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in India. The policy emphasizes the importance of libraries in promoting research, innovation, and lifelong learning. Ducas, Michaud-Oystryk, and Speare (2020) discuss the new and emerging roles of academic librarians in Canadian research-intensive universities. The authors argue that academic librarians must adapt to changing technologies and user needs and suggest that they should focus on providing research support and digital scholarship services. Gandhi (2022) discusses the significance of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 for adult education and lifelong learning programs. The author argues that the policy emphasizes the importance of libraries and librarians in promoting digital literacy, open access, and lifelong learning. Itsekor, Jegbefume, and Oyebola (2019) explore the role of librarians in implementing the National Policy of Education in Nigeria. The authors argue that librarians can play a crucial role in promoting education and literacy by providing access to resources, promoting research, and providing training and support.3, 4, 5
Sharma, Devi, Raj, and Kumar (2022) present a study on students' perceptions of blended learning in the context of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in India. The authors argue that blended learning can play a crucial role in promoting lifelong learning and that libraries can support this by providing access to digital resources and training. Sivankalai (2021) presents a case study on the role of academic libraries in supporting e-learning and lifelong learning. The author argues that libraries can play a crucial role in promoting lifelong learning by providing access to resources, providing training and support, and creating an environment conducive to learning. Tzanova (2020) discusses the changes in academic libraries in the era of open science. The author argues that academic libraries must adapt to changing technologies and user needs and suggests that they should focus on providing research support, data management, and digital scholarship services. Zhou (2022) discusses the role of libraries in distance learning during COVID-19. The author argues that libraries can play a crucial role in supporting distance learning by providing access to digital resources, facilitating communication and collaboration, and providing training and support. Zotoo and Liu's (2019) article explores the need for academic libraries in Ghana to develop a research data management (RDM) strategy to support national development goals.6, 7, 8, 9 The authors provide an overview of RDM practices in Ghana and discuss challenges faced by academic libraries in implementing RDM strategies. They also propose a framework for developing a national RDM strategy that includes partnerships with research institutions, capacity building for library staff, and advocacy for RDM among stakeholders. The article contributes to the literature on RDM in developing countries and provides insights into the challenges and opportunities for academic libraries in supporting research data management in Ghana.
Role of Academic Libraries in Achieving the Objectives of NEP-2020
The academic library plays a crucial role in achieving the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP-2020) objectives. Here are some of the ways academic libraries can support NEP-2020 objectives:
Facilitating access to quality educational resources: NEP-2020 emphasizes the importance of providing quality education to students. Academic libraries can support this objective by providing access to a wide range of educational resources, including books, journals, research papers, e-resources, etc.
Promoting research and innovation: NEP-2020 aims to promote research and innovation in education. Academic libraries can support this objective by providing resources and facilities to researchers and students. Libraries can also collaborate with other institutions and organizations to promote research and innovation.
Supporting multi-disciplinary education: NEP-2020 emphasizes the importance of multi-disciplinary education. Academic libraries can support this objective by providing resources related to different fields of study. Libraries can also organize interdisciplinary events and activities to promote collaboration between different departments and faculties.
Fostering digital literacy: NEP-2020 recognizes the importance of digital literacy in the modern world. Academic libraries can support this objective by providing access to digital resources and tools. Libraries can also provide training and support to students and faculty members to develop digital literacy skills.
Encouraging lifelong learning: NEP-2020 emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning. Academic libraries can support this objective by providing resources and facilities for continuing education and professional development. Libraries can also organize workshops and events to promote lifelong learning.(Abeyrathne & Ekanayake, 2019; Gandhi, 2022; Itsekor et al., 2019; Tzanova, 2020)
Table 1
Comparative study table of academic library and NEP-2020
Challenges of Academic Library in Achieving Goals of NEP-2020
The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP-2020) is a comprehensive policy that aims to transform the Indian education system. Academic libraries play an important role in achieving the goals of NEP-2020, but they face several challenges. Some of the challenges are:
Funding: Academic libraries require a significant amount of funding to purchase and maintain resources, upgrade technology, and provide services. However, libraries often struggle to secure sufficient funds from their institutions or government.
Digital Divide: The NEP-2020 emphasizes the importance of digital resources and online learning, but not all students have access to the internet and digital devices. This digital divide creates a challenge for academic libraries as they need to ensure equitable access to their resources and services.
Changing Needs of Users: The NEP-2020 focuses on developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills, which require a diverse range of resources and services. Academic libraries must adapt to the changing needs of their users and provide the resources and services that support the development of these skills.
Limited Physical Space: Academic libraries often have limited physical space to store their collections and provide study spaces. This limitation poses a challenge as they need to balance the physical space requirements with the demand for services.
Technology Integration: NEP-2020 envisions the integration of technology in all aspects of education. Academic libraries need to incorporate new technologies to support teaching, learning, and research. However, it requires significant investment and training of library staff.
Outreach and Engagement: Academic libraries need to reach out and engage with the student and faculty community to understand their needs and promote their resources and services. However, outreach and engagement require significant resources and efforts, which can be a challenge for libraries with limited staff and budgets. (ACRL Research Planning and Review Committee, 2014; Bapte, 2022; Ducas et al., 2020; Sharma et al., 2022; Sivankalai, 2021; Zhou, 2022).
Discussion points and Suggestions for the Success of NEP-2020 in view of the Academic Library
NEP-2020 encourages academic libraries to promote research, innovation, and lifelong learning. In this context, the following discussion points and suggestions can be helpful for academic libraries to achieve the goals of NEP-2020:
Strengthening digital infrastructure: NEP-2020 emphasizes the importance of digital technologies in education. Academic libraries should focus on building a robust digital infrastructure to support e-learning and remote access to library resources. They should provide access to digital resources such as e-books, e-journals, databases, and online archives and create platforms for digital collaboration and communication.
Promoting research and innovation: Academic libraries should facilitate research and innovation by providing access to the latest research tools and resources. They should also offer training and support for research methods, data analysis, and citation management. The libraries can collaborate with research institutions and organizations to create repositories of research data and promote open access to research findings.
Fostering lifelong learning: Academic libraries should create programs and initiatives to promote lifelong learning among students, faculty, and the community. They should provide access to a range of learning resources such as textbooks, reference materials, and multimedia resources. The libraries can also organize workshops, seminars, and conferences to enhance the skills and knowledge of library users.
Strengthening outreach and engagement: Academic libraries should engage with their users and communities through outreach programs and activities. They can organize book clubs, reading groups, and other cultural events to promote reading and literacy. The libraries can also partner with schools, colleges, and community organizations to expand their reach and impact.
Creating a culture of innovation and experimentation: NEP-2020 encourages experimentation and innovation in education. Academic libraries should embrace this culture by adopting new technologies, exploring new methods of service delivery, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders. The libraries can also create spaces for innovation and creativity, such as maker spaces, and encourage users to experiment with new ideas and concepts.
Conclusion
The NEP 2020 recognizes the need for academic libraries to provide access to digital resources, including e-books, journals, and databases, to support teaching, learning, and research. The policy emphasizes the importance of open access to research outputs and encourages academic libraries to promote open access publishing and to support the development of institutional repositories. Furthermore, the NEP 2020 highlights the importance of academic libraries in promoting interdisciplinary research and collaboration among faculty, students, and researchers.10, 11 The policy encourages academic libraries to create spaces and facilities that facilitate collaboration, experimentation, and innovation. In conclusion, the NEP 2020 recognizes the changing role of academic libraries in the digital age and emphasizes the need for academic libraries to adopt innovative practices to support teaching, learning, and research.12, 13, 14 The policy recognizes academic libraries as key players in promoting research and innovation and encourages them to collaborate with other institutions to promote interdisciplinary research and innovation.
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