NLU Meghalaya Shares Unique Approach for Inaugural Academic Year; Check Details Here

New Delhi: National Law University (NLU) Meghalaya had initiated its inaugural academic year in 2023. Indrajit Dube, the founding vice-chancellor, discussed how NLU Meghalaya distinguishes itself through a commitment to personalized learning, flexible courses, and research on indigenous cultures.

Speaking about NLU Meghalaya's focus, Dube mentioned that the law curriculum has been redefined in compliance with the Bar Council of India (BCI) guidelines, providing students with the option to pursue litigation or use their legal knowledge to support alternative careers.

He further explained that NLU Meghalaya has introduced programs such as BA in Policy Science and LLB (Hons), BBA in Fintech, and BS in Data Science and Law. In contrast to other institutions where the integrated five-year program covers the domain syllabus in two years before commencing the law syllabus, NLU Meghalaya follows a trimester system.

What does NLU Meghalaya Aim for?

Commenting the long-term vision for the institution, Dube mentioned that their aspiration is for the institution to achieve global recognition within 10 years, with a student body of 6,000 and a faculty of 300. Within five years, they aim to start making appearances in national rankings, expressing confidence in their ability to achieve this goal.

Dube highlighted that all necessary efforts and ambitions are in place, with substantial support from both the state government and the judiciary.

The university commenced its operations within seven months of the National Law University of Meghalaya Act, 2022, coming into existence. Impressively, within four months, they secured research funds, successfully competing with prestigious institutions like the IITs and other scientific establishments. This accomplishment is notable considering the state's location in one remote corner of the country.

NLU Meghalaya’s Pedagogy

During the first trimester, students explore around nine subjects, allowing them to identify their areas of interest. During the second trimester, all domains run concurrently with law education. This means that students will receive instruction in three subjects from their chosen domain and three subjects related to law, maintaining this structure until the final semester.

He disclosed another crucial aspect of personalized learning involves the non-core program, encompassing numerous advisory courses. If a student has a particular interest, such as journalism, they can continuously opt for these advisory courses, progressively developing expertise in the chosen field. In the fourth year's conclusion, students have the option to take a trimester off to engage in research, work for consultancies, the government, or the judiciary. Credits will be assigned based on their undertaken activities.

How is NLU Meghalaya Different from Other Universities?

In contrast to universities with rigid program structures, NLU Meghalaya specifically tailors its programs based on individual choices. Even within the same program, the skill sets may differ upon completion due to this flexibility.

At the postgraduate level, the institute currently offers LLM in Corporate Law and LLM in Criminal Law. Introducing a unique program, the institute is launching MSc in Policy Science Analytics, blending policy and data science into an analytical course.

The introduction of immersive learning is also underway, incorporating Artificial Intelligence-assisted analysis of students' aptitude. The setup process for this initiative is currently in progress.

Discussing the admission process and the response received, the founding vice-chancellor mentioned that they conduct an institute level admission test. MEG UAT for UG Courses and MEG PAT for PG courses. The objective is to attract students from various parts of the country, leading to advertising efforts in other states as well.

The university has not formally become part of CLAT because its courses involve a substantial amount of numerical content, which is not evaluated in the current CLAT format. While they might consider joining CLAT in the future, for the initial years, they will continue with the entrance exam.

Discussing the fee comparison with other NLUs, Dube mentioned that they implement a highly subsidized fee structure of INR 1.75 lakh. In contrast, when examining other NLUs or similar colleges, the annual fees often exceed INR 3 lakh. The university's clear objective is to ensure accessibility to education, leading to the establishment of a need-based financial support system.

NLU Meghalaya Fees Structure

They assess the financial backgrounds of qualifying students and offer waivers based on requirements. The university endeavors to enhance its resources through research projects, philanthropic funds, etc., aiming to build a substantial fund corpus. This strategic approach is intended to maintain affordability in the fees structure.

Speaking about the priority of enhancing the institute's visibility, Indrajit revealed that they are undertaking various initiatives. The ambition has expanded, particularly with the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The education system in the country was relatively rigid before the introduction of NEP.

Further, the policy provides an opportunity for transformation, and they are striving to go beyond its recommendations. The current emphasis is on elevating research, combining elements from the Western system, the IIT system, and the law school system, Dube added.

Dube mentioned that they are also focusing on establishing the first-of-its-kind School of Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge. They have initiated the documentation of Meghalaya's culture and indigenous laws, intending to extend this effort to cover all 325 traditional societies in the country.

NLU Meghalaya’s Approach for Placements

Dube, when discussing NLU Meghalaya placements, mentioned that they prefer to term it "career development" instead of placements. The Career Development Centre helps students identify their interests, acknowledging that not everyone will pursue a career in the industry or practice law.

Regarding internships, students choose the domain, and the university facilitates internship opportunities. Two internships are conducted annually – one lasting eight weeks in winter and another lasting four weeks in summer. These internships serve to align with the student's interests. In their final year, students are presented with options based on their preferences, whether it involves pursuing higher studies, entrepreneurship, or litigation, and the university provides support accordingly.

If a student feels uneasy with a specific placement, they have the option to return to the university. The university encourages incubation for those aspiring to be entrepreneurs, and if that path doesn't suit them, they can return for an alternative placement.

The policy permits students to revisit their placement choice if their initial selection, whether in litigation or entrepreneurship, does not bring satisfaction.

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