Guidelines For Environmental Education at the Undergraduate Level Are Released By UGC

Environmental education standards and a curricular structure are now available for undergraduate courses. At a celebration on World Environment Day, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for Education, revealed them. He also spoke with the concerned administrators, professors, and students at higher education institutions (HEIs) all around the nation.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) ordered all undergraduate programs at HEIs to include this subject via an official notice. Given that the environmental education course is interdisciplinary, HEIs may decide to use the team-teaching technique.

Higher education institutions may use the online resources (such video and e-content) provided by the SWAYAM platform to enhance the teaching-learning process.

Speaking on the occasion, Singh said that young people would be involved in spreading the Lifestyle for Environment (LIFE) message and educating others about it as part of the country’s celebration of World Environment Day. The rules, he said, are intended to be inclusive of students from all disciplinary backgrounds and to make them aware of our country’s commitment to attaining sustainable development objectives and addressing global environmental issues.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes the need of making environmental education an important element of the program, is in keeping with the learning outcome-based curriculum and standards. The training also promotes environmental sensitivity, awareness, and conservation in order to promote sustainable development.

The recommendations also include environmental issues including forest and animal protection, sanitary conditions, biological diversity conservation, pollution, waste management, and sustainable development.

According to the Commission, environmental issues are growing more urgent in today’s society and need prompt attention and coordinated action. UGC has developed these recommendations to include environmental education and sustainable practices into higher education curriculum throughout the nation in recognition of the crucial role that universities play in shaping the minds of tomorrow’s leaders and professionals.Together, let’s enable the future generation to take on the role of responsible stewards of our environment, the UGC said in a notification.