What is the NEP Means for the MPhil programme?

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is aimed to transform the educational infrastructure of India. With the idea of internationalization and massification of higher ­education, the policy includes several significant aspects of under-graduation, post-graduation, and doctoral progra­mmes. NEP aims at a ‘ qualitative and inclusive higher education system.’

The policy is having a student-centric approach as it provides them with more exit and entry options and a transferable credit system across the universities. It comes up with many prominent changes especially a lot has changed for M.Phil degree courses. Read the article below to learn more about it

MPhil programme

M.Phil stands for Master of Philosophy. This two-year program is an advanced postgraduate research degree. The MPhil programme is typically designed to provide students with advanced research training and skills, and to prepare them for further academic study or a career in research. The MPhil programme is generally considered to be a stepping stone towards a PhD programme, which is a more advanced research degree. However, it can also be a valuable qualification for individuals who wish to pursue a career in research, academia, or related fields.

What does NEP mean for the M.Phil programme?

With the introduction of The National Education Policy (NEP), an effort has been made to make the education system in India more efficient. The NEP aims to encourage students to pursue research in a more integrated and interdisciplinary manner. There comes many changes in respect of higher education and research. Following are the major highlights that this new National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 means for M.Phil degree courses:

• Discontinuation of the M.Phil programme: 

The NEP aims to streamline the education system in India and make it more efficient, and the discontinuation of the M.Phil programme is a part of this effort. The M.Phil programme is seen as an intermediate step between post-graduation and a PhD degree, and it adds an extra year or two to the time and cost involved in obtaining a PhD degree. By removing the M.Phil programme, the NEP aims to reduce the time and cost involved in obtaining a PhD degree and make the education system more flexible and student-friendly.

• Direct enrolment in PhD: 

With the introduction of The National Education Policy (NEP), the two-year M.Phil programme will be discontinued in India, and students will be allowed to directly pursue a PhD degree after completing their postgraduation or a four-year undergraduate degree with research. This will provide more flexibility for students to choose their research topic and specialization, and it will reduce the overall time and cost involved in obtaining a PhD degree.

• Provide a broader perspective of Research: 

The M.Phil programme is often seen as a narrow specialization programme, and the NEP aims to encourage students to pursue research in a more integrated and interdisciplinary manner. By removing the M.Phil programme, students will have more flexibility to choose their research topic and specialization, which will allow them to pursue research in a more holistic and comprehensive manner.

• Reduction in dropout rate:

The NEP means for the M.Phil programme will also lead to a reduction in the dropout rate of research students. The M.Phil programme has a high dropout rate, and many students who start the programme do not complete it. By allowing students to directly pursue a PhD degree after their postgraduation or a four-year undergraduate degree with research, the NEP aims to reduce the dropout rate of research students. This will ensure that more students complete their research degrees and contribute to the research output of universities.

Drawbacks of Stopping the MPhil Programme

However, there are some potential drawbacks to the removal of the M.Phil programme.

• Removal of the M.Phil programme may lead to a reduction in the quality of research output.
• The M.Phil programme provides an opportunity for students to develop research skills and conduct research in a structured and supervised environment. Without the M.Phil programme, students may not have the necessary research skills and experience to conduct high-quality research.
• In some industries, having an MPhil degree can be an advantage in terms of job prospects and career advancement. As NEP will stop their MPhil programme, candidates may miss out on these opportunities.
• Stopping an MPhil programme can limit future academic opportunities. For example, students may not be able to pursue a PhD or other advanced degrees in their field without an MPhil.

Overall, the NEP means for the M.Phil program will help students by reducing the time and cost involved in obtaining a PhD degree, providing more flexibility for students to choose their research topic and specialization, promoting multidisciplinary research and integration of different fields of study, reducing the dropout rate of research students, and promoting research culture in undergraduate courses. While the removal of the M.Phil program may have some potential drawbacks, the benefits of the NEP means for the M.Phil program for students cannot be ignored.

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