Introduction
The Indian education landscape has witnessed a major transformation with the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Amid a completely shifted focus from rote learning to skill-driven education, private colleges in Kolkata are playing a major role in terms of making education accessible. For instance, according to Nature Index 2024, Kolkata has ranked 84th globally in the spectrum of India’s science and research landscape. This signals that the top private colleges in Kolkata are embracing NEP 2020 through a more research-focused curriculum and intellectual diversity among students by making education globally accessible.
One of the major goals set by NEP 2020 is to achieve a gross enrollment ratio of 50% by 2035. Considering this goal, here we will break down how private colleges in Kolkata are supporting NEP 2020 through their multidisciplinary ecosystem, research-focused curriculum, and globally accessible education.
How NEP 2020 is changing the Educational Ecosystem of private colleges in Kolkata
The majority of the private institutes in Kolkata have embraced the changing educational landscape to meet the NEP 2020 goals through a four-year undergraduate programme structure, multidisciplinary and research-focused learning, followed by a skill-based curriculum. If we take a closer look at the NEP 2020 goals, such as:
- Increasing gross enrolment ratio (GER) to 50% by 2035
- To establish a National Mission to ensure every student achieves foundational literacy
- To shift from content-heavy curricula to experiential, inquiry-driven, and holistic learning
- Establishing multidisciplinary institutions and flexible curricula
- Inclusivity across socio-economic groups
In order to achieve these, active participation from both public and private institutions is necessary. In this context, India has already made notable progress in increasing GRE scores over the years and has improved student diversity across various categories, thanks to a keen focus on globally accessible education facilitated by the top private institutes in Kolkata, like Adamas University.
Why the top private colleges in Kolkata are the Key Drivers of This Transformation
The top private colleges in Kolkata, like Adamas University and other private institutes in the city, are rapidly adopting a multidisciplinary ecosystem, flexible four-year undergraduate programmes, and robust technical integration, which perfectly aligns with the NEP 2020 goals.
The agility of the private institutes of Kolkata is causing a major transformation from traditional learning to research, equipping students for job-oriented skill development. This agile learning environment forms the major contributors to NEP 2020’s success.
For instance, Adamas University in Kolkata has established itself to provide a solution to all educational needs under one roof, focused on a multidisciplinary learning system, which drives the success of NEP 2020 in the contemporary academic environment.
The rise of multi-disciplinary learning
The provisions of NEP 2020 encourage breaking rigid academic silos and facilitating multidisciplinary learning in order to make students industry-ready. As Kolkata is an emerging hub for research and innovation, the private colleges of the city are allowing students to explore multiple disciplines.
Some of the notable features of multidisciplinary learning include:
- Flexible subject combinations
- Integration of the three major disciplines, such as science, arts and commerce
- Focus on holistic development
- Cross-domain exposure
The emergence of multidisciplinary learning is driven by the need to solve complex and real-world problems and accelerate creative thinking and collaboration. For example, according to the 2025 report of the World Economic Forum, creative thinking and motivation rank fourth and fifth among the most in-demand soft skills, respectively. Considering the changing shifts in the most in-demand soft skills among contemporary employers, the majority of the private institutions are focusing on interdisciplinary learning to make students competent to meet the changing industry demands.
How Skill-based Education Prepares Students for the Future Job Market
As per the reports of the World Economic Forum 2025, technical literacy and strong interpersonal skills are among the top 10 core skills that employers are currently looking for. Considering this changing scenario, educational institutes are shifting from rote memorisation to practical learning that builds technical proficiency to bridge the industry gap. If we take a look at the report of the World Economic Forum, 67% of the companies operating in India are expected to tap into “diverse talent pools.” This signals the need for industry-ready professionals to navigate through the complexities of the current job market.
Hence, the core skill development programmes initiated by the private institutions include
- Industry partnerships
- Practical workshops
- Live projects
- Entrepreneurship training
In terms of employability, Adamas University hosts a university programme that gives individuals a degree and the training to crack the government examinations. Additionally, Adamas University has integrated the student credit card system of the West Bengal government to make education accessible for everyone.
Rise of inclusive and accessible higher education
The provisions of NEP 2020 encourage all educational institutions to make education equitable and accessible for all students. The private educational institutes are accepting this provision through inclusivity efforts such as:
- Scholarships and financial aid
- Gender diversity initiatives
- Support underrepresented groups
- Accessible learning environments
The inclusive initiatives encouraged by the institutions are accelerating the GER across India. The key drivers of inclusive education are associated with the need for bridging gaps for socio-economically disadvantaged groups (SEDGs) and the transformation of higher education from a rigid academic model into a flexible and practical learning approach.
How Adamas University Aligns With NEP 2020 Provisions
Here’s a quick snapshot of how Adamas University embraces the NEP 2020 provisions in its academic environment.
| Core Institutional Strengths | Description | NEP 2020 Alignment |
| Multi-disciplinary Academic Structure | As the first state private university to get NAAC A grade accreditation in West Bengal, Adamas University offers a wide range of programmes across multiple disciplines, such as management, engineering, law, and sciences, within a single academic ecosystem. | NEP 2020 encourages multidisciplinary learning to break rigid academic silos and enable students to build a diverse skill set to adapt to dynamic career paths. |
| Industry-oriented curriculum | The strategic plan for the university encourages its curriculum with active industry input, which integrates emerging technologies and skill-based courses that reflect the real-world demands. | NEP 2020 promotes skill-based and employability-focused education. This industry-aligned curriculum, encouraged by NEP 2020 provisions, ensures that students are job-ready in order to bridge the skill gap within the contemporary workforce. |
| Strong research ecosystem | The university encourages research through dedicated centres and innovation labs, encouraging students to engage in impactful research and innovation. | NEP 2020 goals are more focused on research and innovation and critical thinking as the core pillars, which encourage educational institutions to become knowledge hubs that contribute to national development |
| Student-centric learning environment | The academic environment of the university is focused on flexible learning pathways, continuous assessment, mentorship, and personalised academic support, which enhances student engagement and outcomes. | NEP 2020 encourages a transformation from teacher-centric learning to student-centric learning, ensuring holistic growth for the learners. |
| Real-world exposure | Adamas University encourages practical exposure through internships, live projects, and industry collaborations embedded in its industry curriculum. | NEP 2020 advocates for industry-ready graduates through experiential learning, bridging the gap between theory and practice. |
Final Thoughts
The introduction of NEP 2020 has played a major role in reshaping India’s higher education landscape. In this context, the private colleges in Kolkata are playing a major role in this academic transformation. Institutions like Adamas University are embracing this change through multidisciplinary learning, focusing on a research environment, skill-based education, and an inclusive academic environment. As India progresses towards the achievement of 50% GER target by 2035, private universities will be an integral part of a globally competitive education system. If you’re exploring universities that align with the future of education, Adamas University is worth considering, as here innovation meets opportunity and education goes beyond the classroom.
