Andhra Pradesh

Gauging quality, technically

Dr. P. Narasimha Reddy

In technical education, quality institutions are expected to attain and stick to a prescribed level

Quality in technical education is the result of an intensive investment of Human Resources and their effectiveness, infrastructure and the vision and mission of the management. Any institution has to meet or exceed customer expectations and satisfy all stake holders -- students, parents, faculty and industry. A comparison between a quality institution and an ordinary institution is given here under.

Based on the above parameters one can understand how some institutions have become quality ones and why others have remained `ordinary'.

National Board of Accreditation

AICTE, the apex body for technical education in India has established National Board of Accreditation. This autonomous body examines engineering colleges with regard to the following criteria. Weightages are also given to each criteria, the total marks being 1,000.

Criteria and Weightages in Accreditation Process:

Sl. No.- Criteria-UG(Engg/Phm./HMCT)

I. Organization and Governance - 80

II. Financial Resources, Allocation and their utilization - 70

III. Physical Resources - 50

IV. Human Resources: Faculty & Staff - 200

V. Human Resources: Students -100

VI. Teaching-Learning Process - 350

VII. Supplementary Process - 50

VIII. Research & Development Initiatives and Interaction Efforts-100

Total - 1000

One can observe that human resources i.e. faculty and staff are given a weightage of 200 marks and the teaching-learning process 250 marks. Many other parameters such as supplementary processes (personality Development, initiatives etc.), R&D initiatives and interaction efforts which also depend upon human resources are given due importance. The financial and physical resources of the institution together are given only 120 marks. Thus it is not the brick and mortar that make an institution, but the human resources. Any institution will blossom mainly based on the quality of human resources and the extent of motivation they have and leadership qualities they posses.

Washington Accord

USA, U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and South America are signatories of Washington Accord. The important aspect of this accord is that degrees awarded by any institution accredited in one country will be automatically accredited by other member countries of Washington Accord. National Board of Accreditation of AICTE is given an observer status so far by Washington Accord and it is likely to become full member in a short time. Thus the equivalence of the degrees and the mobility of the graduates will improve if the institution in which they study and the branch they study are accredited.

Advantages

The graduates from accredited institutions will have a definite advantage over others because of all round inputs they receive from the institution. Today multinational companies are looking for communication skills, team building skills and ability to work in a team to achieve desired objectives, besides technical skills. An accredited institution is expected to give attention to development of the above skills in their students.

All students who are seeking admission to an institution and a branch are advised to look at the accreditation status of a branch in an institution. Accreditation is given branch-wise based on the excellence in quality of education offered by the faculty of the branch concerned.

Sub-parameters of accreditation

Organisation and Governance

Planning and Monitoring, Recruitment Procedure and Effectiveness, promotional Policies, Leadership, Motivation, Transparency, Decentralization and Delegation, Constitution Governing Council / management Committee.

Financial Resources, Allocation and Utilisation

Budget allocated to the Institution, Budget allocated to the Department (Recurring Budget & Non-Recurring Budget)

Physical Resources (Central Facilities)

Hostel (Boys & Girls), Power back up provision at Institution, Department and Hostels, Reprographic facilities, Bank Post Office, Counselling and Guidance, language lab, Medical Facility, Internet Facility, Canteen and Transport.

Human Resources (Faculty & Staff)

Numbers (AICTE norms, adequacy, quality & stability), Qualifications (AICTE norms and beyond, Participation of faculty in institutional development / departmental development / academic matters / students development), Implementation and impact of faculty development initiatives, analysis and follow-up of performance appraisal, service rules, pay package and incentives.

Human Resources (Support Staff (Tech /Admn.))

Numbers (in programme labs, computer centre, library, maintenance, main offices), qualifications / skills (lab, office computer centre, etc.) skill up gradation

Human Resources - students

Student admissions, academic results, performance in competitive exams and placement

Teaching - Learning Process

Delivery of syllabus, contents, any extra content taught to students, academic calendar, continuation evaluation procedures, utilisation of lab equipment, information of internet, student centered library and student feedback.

Supplementary processes

Extra & Co-curricular activities, student publications / award, professional society activities, entrepreneurship development, ethics, Alumni information and Personality Development.

R&D Initiatives and Interaction Effort

Budget for in house R&D activities and its utilisation, academic / sponsored / industrial research and development, publications and patents, Industry participation in dev.

And student related activities, continuing education (organising & attending), Consultancy & Testing and Student Project Work.

Good institution or branch?

There are cases where the institution has got high rating and the branch in which the student is interested is not rated high. On the other hand, there can be an institution which is not rated well but a particular branch in which the student is interested is highly rated.

Now the choice has to be made whether to give importance to the institution or to be the branch.

An institution is likely to make an impact on the overall development of the student. Preference may be given to the institution with a hope that the branch also will be improved over a period of time.

In these days of IT boom a student may chose any branch but at the same time learn applications of IT. Domain knowledge is likely to be helpful in software development.

What to look for

Accreditation status of Institution and branch concerned; Number of Professors in the institution and teachers in the branch concerned; campus placements; infrastructure facilities; lab facilities; library facilities; internet connectivity; results in the university exams; discipline and overall environment.

It is essential that the students and parents thoroughly study the status of an institution and the branch concerned before the choice is made.

However, one can choose an institution if is accredited. Other aspects such as discipline, faculty, infrastructure and camps placement status are to be given great importance.

( The writer is principa, Sreenidhi Institution of Science and Technology, Hyderabad)

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