HRDM announces NEAT Scheme to facilitate AI based learning in Higher Education

New Delhi, September 20: Human Resource Development Ministry (HRDM) has announced a new Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Scheme, National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT). The PPP scheme aims to harness technology for better learning outcomes in higher education. The objective of this scheme is to use Artificial Intelligence to make learning more customised and personalised as per the learner’s requirements.

Educating the youth is a National effort and MHRD proposes to create a National Alliance with such technology developing EdTech companies through a PPP model. EdTech companies would be responsible for developing solutions and manage the registration of learners through the NEAT portal.

Salient features of NEAT AI Scheme

• MHRD would act as a facilitator to ensure that the solutions are freely available to a large number of economically backward students.
• MHRD would create and maintain a National NEAT platform that would provide one-stop access to these technological solutions.
• EdTech companies would have to offer 25% free coupons for students from socially/economically backward classes.
• The NEAT scheme will be administered by an apex committee constituted by the Ministry, with independent expert panels being set up to evaluate and select the best EdTech solutions.

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) will be the government’s implementing agency for the programme. The National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT) is expected to begin operations by early November 2019.