Behavioural Intention of Students to Enrol for Integrated and Honours Programmes as per NEP 2020

Abstract

National Education Policy 2020 perceives an education system grounded in Indian ethos that significantly contributes to transforming India, or Bharat, sustainably into an inclusive and dynamic knowledge community by offering high-quality education for all, thereby attempting to make India a global knowledge superpower. The development of India into a democratic, just, socially conscious, cultured, and compassionate country preserving liberty, equality, fraternity, and justice for all envisioned in its Constitution depends greatly on higher education. In addition to developing well-rounded individuals with critical 21st-century skills in the arts, humanities, languages, sciences, social sciences, professional, technical, and vocational fields, such education will also foster an ethic of social engagement, soft skills as well as a rigorous specialisation in a particular field or fields. NEP 2020 will open a new horizon to young graduates by focusing on better teaching-learning methods and revolutionising the higher education sector. Since these calls for a major change in the traditional undergraduate programmes, it is essential to understand students’ perceptions towards this move and how they respond to such a change. This study aims to understand the behavioural intention of students to opt for integrated and honours programmes as envisaged by the NEP. The study adopted an exploratory as well as a descriptive research design. Sample respondents selected for the current study are the students pursuing their Plus-two course or those who completed it, waiting for their higher education in Kerala. The study results revealed that the behavioural intention of students to enrol for integrated and honours programmes is influenced by many factors: their perceived enjoyment, innovation anxiety, self-efficacy, performance expectancy, ease of learning, and usefulness.