COVID effect: UGC asks varsities to develop emotional intelligence skills among students Principal Correspondent : The impact of the COVID -19 global pandemic has compeled everybody to change the perception of education. The impact has been on both physical as well as emotional levels. The youth have been severely impacted - suffering fear anxiety and stress greatly affecting their mental well-being. Considering all these aspects University Grants Commission (UGC) felt the key to sail through this crisis is building emotional resilience amongst the youth. Accordingly the Apex body has asked universities colleges to start course that would help students develop emotional intelligence skills. According to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020; socio-emotional learning is a critical aspect of any students holistic development. The Policy also recommends that Higher Education lnstitutions (HEls) need to provide socio-emotional and academic support and mentoring through suitable counseling and mentoring programmes. To build emotional resilience among the youth UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi lnstitute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) which is a category-1 research in education institute integral to UNESCO working towards mainstreaming social and emotional learning in education systems through innovative pedagogies has in collaboration with Life University (USA) developed the Compassionate lntegrity Training Self-directed Learning (CIT-SDL) course as a totally unique on-line experience. The course is hosted on the UNESCO MGIEP Framerspace on-line learning platform (fully General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant for data prlvacy). This course trains the youth on 10 skills - skills in self-regulation self-compassion compassion for others and engagement with complex systems. CIT-SDL cultivates skills to calm body and mind brings focus to students and staff in their respective work dealings with peers seniors leaders stakeholders and their families. The course takes 30 hours to complete and MGIEP provides learner support through an online CIT Learner Community and monthly Master classes facilitated by qualified experienced trainers. Completed learners receive a globally recognised Certiflcate from UNESCO MGIEP and Life University. The course on 21st century emotional intelligence skills is science-based and will contribute in fulfilling the NEP-2020 goals for imparting social and emotional learning to create engaged global citizens. Looking at the objectives of this course UGC has urged the Vice Chancellors of all Universities and Principals of all colleges to make the details of the course available to their students as developing emotional intelligence skills is critical to leading more fulfllling and successful lives.

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