National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT) Scheme

National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT) Scheme

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has announced a new National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT) to use technology for better learning outcomes in Higher Education.

• The scheme aims to use Artificial Intelligence to make learning more personalized and customized as per the requirements of the learner.
• MHRD aims to recognize the development of technologies in Adaptive Learning and bring them under a common platform so that learners can access it easily.
• It proposes to create a National Alliance with such technology developing EdTech Companies through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
• MHRD would act as a facilitator to ensure that the Adaptive Learning Solutions are freely available to a large number of economically backward students.
• Under the scheme, a National NEAT platform would be created to provide one-stop access to Adaptive Learning Solutions.
• EdTech companies would be responsible for developing solutions and manage the registration of learners through the NEAT portal.
• NEAT is aimed at taking the concept of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS) platform a step ahead.
• All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) would be the implementing agency for the NEAT programme.
• It would help to certify maximum students with highly marketable skills and would also improve the employability of students.

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)

• It was set up in November 1945 as a national-level apex advisory body.
• Its purpose was to conduct a survey on the facilities available for technical education and to promote development in the country in a coordinated and integrated manner.
• According to the National Policy of Education (1986), AICTE is vested with:
  • Statutory authority for planning, formulation, and maintenance of norms & standards,
  • Quality assurance through accreditation,
  • Funding in priority areas, monitoring, and evaluation,
  • Maintaining parity of certification & awards,
  • The management of technical education in the country.