“Create a vision of research and culture of skills for Quality Sustenance and Enhancement in education”- Prof. Tomar 

IQAC cell of Nims University recently concluded a three-day workshop focused on the theme of “Quality Sustenance and Enhancement for Higher Education Institutions.” The workshop was particularly relevant in light of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes the importance of continually improving and sustaining the quality of higher education. It was attended by the country’s Academic leadership, Academic managers, academic faculties, staff members of Govt Regulatory Bodies, and press education members.

With the objective to enhance teaching and learning processes, develop curriculum, foster research ecosystems, integrate technology and governance, and ensure quality sustenance in higher education institutes.

The workshop comprised eight sessions covering various topics:

1. Governance Challenges

2. Research and Innovation Activities

3. Financial and Management Issues

4. Communication and IT

5. Teaching and Learning Strategies

6. Quality Concerns

7. Student Affairs and Challenges

8. Opportunities for Health Sciences Institutions

Founder and Chancellor, NIMS University Prof. (Dr.) Balvir Singh Tomar, while highlighting the importance of the IQAC workshop, said that NAAC accreditation is a mark of quality education in universities. It provides students with information about institutions where the best policies are implemented. 

He said that this will help in writing a new chapter for our campus. He also expressed deep concern while sharing his views on the important topic of “Future of NAAC” and said that there is no dearth of brilliant minds in our country, he pointed out the huge gap in quality education and skill development across the country and expressed sadness over the absence of any Indian institution or university in the global top 100. But we are confident that through these initiatives we will be able to work together as a collective of teachers, and administrators to chart a course towards continuous improvement in education and make India stand in international ranking, he added.

The entire focus of sessions was to implement the Noteworthy initiatives such as the “NEP 2020”, “Learning to Achieve Multi-disciplinary Perspectives (LAMP)” and “Technology and Society Learning (TASLe)” courses empower students to develop problem-solving abilities and address regional developmental challenges effectively.

Roadmap for India’s Higher Education System

The workshop was inaugurated by Prof. (Dr.) Sundeep Mishra, the esteemed Chairperson of the IQAC workshop and VC of Nims University embarked on unveiling the roadmap for India’s Higher Education System. He outlined our current standing, pinpointed areas of deficiency, and underscored the pivotal platforms demanding attention. Prof. Mishra highlighted the commendable presence of top-tier universities in technology and medicine, yet emphasized the imperative to elevate QS rankings across diverse disciplines.

He stressed research – the pathway through which India can assert its global significance, currently contributing a modest 4% to the global research landscape which should be higher.

As per the reports presented by Prof. Mishra, Rajasthan emerges as the second-largest Higher Education Hub in India, following Bangalore. This underscores the importance of collaborative efforts and the need to refine the specifics of the National Education Policy (NEP). However, a persistent concern remains: Why are Indian institutions struggling to achieve excellence in education on a global scale?

NAAC new accreditation approach

Prof. Pratap Singh Chauhan, VC of Shri Govind Guru University in Gujarat, highlighted the new binary accreditation approach adopted by NAAC, which aligns with global standards, consisting of a Binary System (accredited or not accredited) and a Maturity-Based Graded Accreditation (MBGA) (Level one to Level 5). This shift aims to enhance the quality and sustainability of education and research within institutions by replacing the previous seven-point system. Furthermore, Special attention will be given to rural and remote/Tribal institutions through mentoring and handholding with different criteria.

The Maturity-Based Graded Accreditation (Level 1 to 5) is designed to incentivize accredited institutions to continuously enhance their standards and aspire for global excellence. This tiered accreditation system is anticipated to drive substantial enhancements in the quality of Indian educational establishments. Level 1-3 which needs a path for Improvement and Level 4 is for national excellence and if you are on level 5 which means Global Excellence (QS).

Addressing the changing paradigms of higher education, the peer also discussed Green Audits, Academic Audits, and Energy Audits conducted during NAAC Peer Team Visits as these are the new points of NAAC accreditations. These things or audits are looked away by the institutions during the NAAC application process.

The National Education Policy 2020 underscores the dynamic nature of higher education, stressing the need for institutions to evolve continuously in their teaching and research methodologies to meet the changing needs of society. It advocates for an academic curriculum that embraces the evolving nature of education, empowering both students and scholars to create a learning process that is practical, effective, and impactful. 

During the session, Pro Vice Chancellors and Professors of Amity University, Jaipur shared insights on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their implementation in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). He stressed the urgent need to focus on carbon credits as well as SDGs. To create a sense of social responsibility within educational institutions, put forward their views on various issues like, carbon credit. Carbon credits involve a system in which educational establishments can earn credits for reducing their carbon footprint or adopting environmentally friendly practices on campus.

The three-day workshop brought together key education and Assessment luminaries including Professor Amrika Singh, former VC of Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Dr. S. Srinivas, Professor, of Tumkur University and former Deputy Director, of National Assessment and Accreditation Council Bengaluru, Dr. Rukmani Kandasamy- VC, Anna University and National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)- PTV, Prof. Pratap Singh Chauhan, Vice Chancellor- Godhra University, Gujarat, Pro. G.K. Aseri- Pro VC- Amity University, Jaipur, Dr. Rajeev Vashishtha- Central University of Haryana- Ministry of Higher Education, Government of India, Dr. Arvind Aggarwal- President, Arya Group of Colleges, Jaipur and Dr. Abhay Subhashrao Nirgude- Dean- Faculty of Medicine, Yenopaya Medical College, Mangalore were present.