Discussion: Harmonising Multi-Level Governance for Flexible Learning Pathways
The institutional implementation of the Academic Bank of Credits represents a transformative shift toward student-centred higher education, yet it necessitates robust governance coordination across state jurisdictions. As established under national policy mandates, the Academic Bank of Credits operates as a virtual repository responsible for opening, closing, and verifying digital academic accounts, thereby providing scholars with expanded autonomy to combine disciplines across traditional and online learning formats (National Education Policy 2020 and the Academic Bank of Credits System in the Context of Educational Development in India, 2023). This structural architecture facilitates genuine institutional portability by establishing clear parameters for credit retention across a multi-year horizon. Furthermore, the operational mechanism functions analogously to financial banking transactions, wherein curricular units undergo systematic accumulation, transfer, redemption, and formal recognition across varied learning environments (An Assessment on Academic Bank of Credits with Reference to the New Education Policy in India – 2020, 2025). This operational capability reinforces the multiple entry and exit framework, allowing learners to traverse institutional boundaries without forfeiting earned academic progress. Nonetheless, translating these digital mechanisms into seamless cross-state mobility demands comprehensive administrative interoperability between regional universities and central regulatory authorities. Regional divergence in curriculum articulation and credit valuation continues to pose administrative friction for migrating students. Overcoming these coordination bottlenecks requires higher education institutions to standardise credit conversion benchmarks and align local assessment conventions. Consequently, sustaining frictionless cross-state mobility relies on harmonised digital infrastructure, transparent inter-university articulation agreements, and continuous institutional commitment to modular degree pathways across state boundaries.