New Delhi, In a proactive step towards fostering continuous learning and development, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has officially launched its Annual Capacity Building Plan (ACBP). This initiative, designed to elevate the skills and competencies of UGC employees, is a collaborative effort with the Capacity Building Commission (CBC), established in 2021.
UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar emphasized the groundbreaking nature of this program, positioning UGC as the first autonomous organization to systematically plan the capacity building of its workforce. The official launch ceremony, held on Tuesday, saw active participation from Kumar and CBC member R Balasubramanium.
Speaking about the ACBP, Chairman Kumar stated, “The plan is derived from a robust capacity need assessment exercise that was done with UGC officials and staff over a period of 6 months starting from March 2023.” He highlighted the comprehensive nature of the plan, addressing individual officials’ competencies and the overall organizational capacity of UGC.
The overarching goal of the ACBP is to build, develop, and enhance the abilities, talents, competencies, efficiency, and qualifications of UGC employees. This, in turn, is expected to significantly augment their capacity to contribute to the higher education system in India.
Chairman Kumar provided insights into the initial stages of implementation, stating, “More than 600 UGC employees were onboarded on iGot Karmayogi platform by Sept 15, 2023.” The iGot Karmayogi platform, an online learning platform integrated into the Digital India stack, plays a pivotal role in upskilling government employees.
Highlighting the proactive engagement of UGC employees, Kumar shared, “UGC employees completed more than 4500 courses between October and December 2023, with each employee completing an average of 7 courses.”
The training under the ACBP will be structured around four key domains, namely behavioral, functional, domain-specific, and technological competencies. Kumar explained the significance of each domain, stating, “Behavioral competencies will help the UGC staff take up bigger roles than what they normally perform. Functional competencies help the UGC staff perform better in administration, procurement, and financial management. Enhancing domain competencies helps them perform better in specialized fields such as policy-making or project management. Training in newer technology competencies helps them to realize shorter turnaround time and improve efficiency, better digital record keeping, and utilize technology platforms to reach out to the stakeholders.”
The ACBP reflects UGC’s commitment to staying at the forefront of educational governance by investing in the continuous professional development of its workforce.
