Eminent educationists emphasized the importance of integrating population and development issues into higher education curricula, aligning with the principles of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This view emerged during a roundtable on Integrating Population Dynamics in Higher Education, jointly organized by CYSD and UNFPA on 18th January 2025.

The roundtable brought together representatives from 11 academic institutions, including Vice Chancellors from three prominent universities, highlighting the urgency of embedding population and development discourse into academic frameworks to foster informed and responsible citizenship.

Key Takeaways:

Bridging Academia and Community

  • NEP 2020 fosters community-based participatory research, positioning communities as co-researchers rather than subjects.
  • Higher education institutions should develop diverse programs—short-term, mid-term, and long-term courses, refresher programs, faculty development initiatives, and community immersion programs—to enhance their understanding of population dynamics.
  • Knowledge products for policymakers, civil society, media, and local governance can drive informed decision-making and align local action plans with ICPD goals.

Challenges and Opportunities in NEP 2020 Implementation

  • Despite its multidisciplinary vision, so far NEP 2020 implementation largely focuses on infrastructure rather than core educational reforms.
  • Breaking disciplinary silos by integrating history, politics, geography, economics, and biology is essential for a comprehensive knowledge framework.
  • A stronger emphasis on critical thinking and future-oriented skilling is needed to prepare students for emerging societal challenges.
  • Education must cultivate social responsibility, ensuring students and faculty engage with societal issues rather than remaining isolated.

Evolving Population Trends and Policy Implications

  • The discussion traced population studies’ evolution, linking gender roles, reproductive rights, and global political shifts to contemporary policymaking.
  • Declining fertility rates, changing societal norms, and movements like South Korea’s “4B movement” highlight emerging global demographic transitions.
  • Universities play a crucial role in fostering critical perspectives and social responsibility among students and educators.

Way Forward:

Academic institutions in Odisha should lead efforts to integrate ICPD principles into curricula through Certificate and diploma programs, Undergraduate and postgraduate courses and Faculty development and immersion programs.

CYSD and UNFPA reaffirm their commitment to supporting these initiatives through government channels. The roundtable concluded with a call to action for academia to champion an interdisciplinary, socially responsible approach to education, aligning with evolving population dynamics and development challenges.