education
Vice-Chancellors from across the country recently reaffirmed their commitment to improving quality of teaching-learning process and achieving the UGC Quality Mandate in Universities and the affiliated institutions by 2020 and NAAC accreditation for all institutions by 2022.
In a 10-point resolution adopted unanimously on the concluding day of the 3-day Conference of Vice- Chancellors, chaired by the Minister of Human Resources Development, Prakash Javadekar, the Vice-Chancellors belonging to Centrally-funded Universities, State Universities, Deemed to be Universities and Private
Universities also committed themselves to transform the Universities into institutions engaged in cutting-edge research blended harmoniously with quality teaching for creating and disseminating new knowledge.
The Conference noted the necessity to improve the employability of the students by providing them market-related skills, apart from the subject related knowledge.
It also noted that improving opportunities to the students in backward areas can best be improved through digital learning platforms like SWAYAM.
The Vice-Chancellors also affirmed to create awareness about ethics in research and provisions for checking plagiarism and to weed out predatory journals.
The 3-day Conference on “Research and Innovation” for the Vice-Chancellors; Directors of Higher Educational Institutions was organised from July 26-28 and inaugurated by Prakash Javadekar, the Minister for Human Resource Development with Dr Satya Pal Singh, MoS for Human Resource Development as a Guest.
The Secretary (Higher Education), MHRD, the Chairman, UGC, Chairman, AICTE, officials of MHRD and the UGC and the Vice-Chancellors of Central Universities, State Public Universities, Deemed to be Universities, State Private Universities, Directors of Central Institutions such as IITs, IIMs, IISc, NITs, IIITs, IISERs and other central institutions participated in the conference.
More than 600 Vice-Chancellors and Directors attended the conference.
The significant feature of the conference was that it was plastic free and eco-friendly.
This was the first conference of its kind on ‘Research and Innovation’, where all universities and institutions such IITs, IIMs, IISc, NITs, IIITs, IISERs and other central institutions participated, under one roof.
The HRD Minister also released the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) report 2017-18, Higher Education Profile of All India and States for the year 2017-18 and Swachh Campus- A manual for Swachhta Ranking of Higher Education Institutions.
The Conference had six sessions on themes ‘promoting research and innovations’, ‘quality mandate and teachers training’, ‘digital initiatives’.
The conference had open forums where all delegates freely interacted with the HRD Minister on the issues of higher education and deliberated over the actions required to achieve the quality education.
The 65 universities/institutions made presentations on achievements and best practices related to the themes of the conference.
Prakash Javadekar said that all research projects of MHRD including IMPRINT will be opened to teachers and students of all Universities.
The selection will be strictly on merit, on the competitive basis. In order to check Plagiarism, Turnitin software will be made available at no cost basis to all Universities in the country.
The Minister also informed that e-ShodhSindhu mass bargain journals will now be available for all Universities at the affordable cost.
He further said that from now onwards apart from government-funded universities, private universities / deemed to be universities can also participate in GIAN initiative, however, the expenditure in case of non-government institutions will be borne by the respective institution.
Dr Satya Pal Singh, MoS for HRD in his speech said that research; innovation is the key factor in revolutionising the higher education scenario of the country.
He further said that in order to improve the quality of the education ‘Guru’ must be respected more than any staff in all the educational institutions.
He also pointed out that Indian higher educational institutions apply very less number of patent applications; it must be increased especially in Indian knowledge systems if we want to become a World leader (Vishwa Guru) in the field of education again.
R Subrahmanyam, Secretary (Higher Education), MHRD briefed the purpose of the conference, with emphasis on setting focus for the educational advancement of the country.
He mentioned that the Government’s prime focus is on promoting Research; Innovation, which will make significant gains in the higher education space and also promote excellence in our institutions.
The Ministry is making all possible efforts to transform these education hubs into a place where intellectuals are created.
Dr K.P. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology also briefed gathering on various initiatives in the skilled domain and science and technology domain at the interface of higher education for the benefit of higher educational institutions.
The Chairman, UGC, DP Singh presented UGC Quality Mandate and highlighted various initiatives to be undertaken by UGC and universities/institutions such as induction programme for students, training of teachers, learning outcome based curriculum framework, promoting quality research and ICT enabled teaching-learning, inculcation of values; ethics, alumni engagement etc.
The Chairman AICTE, Anil Sahasrabudhe also briefed the gathering on AICTE initiatives.
The Vice-Chancellors appreciated this initiative of MHRD and UGC for enhancing the quality of higher education and having the all-inclusive approach for planned and coordinated development of higher education in the country.
The 10-Point resolution adopted at the Conference is listed below:
We Resolve To:
Reaffirm our commitment for achieving the UGC Quality Mandate in our respective Universities and the affiliated institutions by 2020 and NAAC accreditation for all institutions by 2022;
Adopt and implement Learning Outcome-Based Curriculum Framework (LOCF) in HEIs by updating curriculum from the academic year 2019-20;
Adopt Learner Centric teaching-learning processes by suitable improvement in the pedagogy;
Participate in the Induction Training of newly recruited teachers and in annual Refresher Training of all the teachers using the SWAYAM and take measures for improving the motivation levels of teachers;
Enhance research productivity of our respective institutions by orienting teachers and students to participate in competition-based research funding schemes;
Create an innovation culture and eco-system, including administrative and financial support, academic freedom and flexibility for promoting innovation and encourage participation in the Smart India Hackathon;
Facilitate setting up start-ups by students;
Sensitize the students and encourage them for their active participation in the social/economic betterment of the community by adopting at least five villages under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyaan;
Give a big fillip to Vocationalisation of higher education by participating in the relevant schemes under National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) duly modified for the requirements of higher education students, and also achieve constructive links with the industry;
Encourage use of digital learning resources among students and teachers and approving SWAYAM courses for credit transfer, and use the resources like e ShodhSindhu, National Digital Library, and upload degrees on National Academic Depository;
Create awareness about ethics in research and provisions for checking plagiarism and to weed out predatory journals;
Strive for a smart and Swachh campus, and also mentor the schools around our institution and the affiliated colleges to motivate the students/teachers therein for striving for academic excellence.
