IARE - IQAC
Design and Review of Syllabus
ECET Best Practice
Best Practice – I
Title of the Practice
Transforming into a Digitally Empowered Institution – Use of effective online platform to address the limitations in Teaching – Learning mechanism
Objectives:
- Effective ICT enabled environment for enriching the teaching-learning and assessment practices
- Develop a separate learning platform for the students by creating a repository of lecture videos and course materials
- Cloud hosted LMS enabling anywhere and anytime access
- Effective assessment of learning outcomes complying outcome-based education
- Provide web based online access to all the learning resources for students and faculty
The Context
The pandemic has created an inequality in education and digital divide among learners. In such conditions, ECET has successfully delivered the lectures to the students without any hassle by adopting modern ICT tools. Online assessment was a big challenge for the institutions to avoid possible malpractice and plagiarism. Considering all the challenges, IARE had decided to develop online platforms to address teaching learning issues during COVID-19 pandemic by transforming into a digitally empowered institution. e-Governance in IARE incorporates the latest cloud based technology to bring an e-Governance system that are necessary to successfully handle all of the challenges of run an educational institution. Automating every unit of an academic institution, it provides real time information processing and knowledge management. It is an integrated solution that facilitates the processing and maintenance of large volumes of information to its stakeholder.
The Practice
The Digital ECET is designed to make the system user-friendly, time saving and cost saving also. Many of them are flexible enough to adapt to the changing educational environment efficiently and quickly. ECET has established a comprehensive online solution that would convert all such systems in place into common modules and integrate existing data and solutions with the new system in place. ECET is providing digital services to admin office, student, staff, library, examination cell and placement cell through various portals such as Samvidha, e-ExamDesk, ESLO, BuildIT and Akanksha. Latest cloud-based technology is employed to address all of the challenges of online education and assessment. Appropriate security measures are taken for maintaining confidentiality and integrity of data using Amazon Web Services (AWS). ECET has implemented all these initiatives on its own.
The brief descriptions of these portals are as below:
Samvidha, the Campus Management Portal (CMS) plays vital role in the administration of the organization. It creates proper channel between multiple departments in the organization. Samvidha manages and supervises the entire academic and administration process. All the stakeholders including faculty, researchers, staff, students and parents can utilize Samvidha in pursuance of information on their areas of the operation. It takes care of all the aspects related to employee’s information including recruitments, salaries, promotion, salary revisions, recognitions, performance appraisal, leaves, etc. Samvidha also has a mobile version which allows users to access information through their smart phones. Prime accessible elements of Samvidha include academic registration, program details, course details, student details, student attendance, certificates & document details, human resource management, examinations & grade details, subject mapping, timetable management, library management (through OPAC), transport management, Placement management and feedback management.
Institution adopts an end-to-end automated process for question paper generation, encoding/decoding, tabulation of marks and declaration of results by using in-house software – eExamDesk. e-ExamDesk is an online examination system, fully computerized, user friendly with advanced security features. Preparing question papers, conducting exams, evaluating answer scripts and result processing is done through the e-Exam desk. It also provides result processing reports branch wise, course wise, exam wise and student wise. It has the facility to generate question papers automatically. E-ExamDesk aims to conduct online exams accurately and genuinely. It provides updates of the Scheduling exam time tables, evaluation process, assessments, and result reports.
Evaluation of Student Learning Outcomes (ESLO) is a computing tool for calculating course attainments and programme attainments as per OBE. It is integrated with all necessary criteria required for the assessment of students learning outcomes. It is helpful in the process of mapping the course outcomes with the program outcomes automatically through the digital platform. It is made easier to get access to the authentic and accurate data of evaluation process of student learning outcomes. ESLO has a provision to enter details of CIE and SEE question to mapping of blooms taxonomy levels. Attainment of course outcomes, program outcomes and program specific outcomes are performed through this module easily. It also gives CO/PO/PSO attainment and OBE feedback report. This platform enables to assess student graduate attributes to the degree of specificity in a learning outcome statement and that is achieved by the assessment criteria.
BuildIT is a coding platform for campus recruiters which provides online learning, assessment and evaluation platform. It conducts online practical examinations. With the fast-paced growth in the software and hardware technology sector, companies and institutions will have to cope with the vast progress through providing its employees with the necessary technical training to improve their performance, and through adopting new practices to develop more competitive businesses. BuildIT provides training of technical skills through allowing students participation in various contests and practice problems related to their course. Students will have an account in BuildIT which gives them access to the coding platform. After they log in to the BuildIT with their credentials they will be able to participate in the contests or practice different types of problems. It focuses on helping students clear initial screening tests of campus recruiters in an automated way. Technical and aptitude skills training are tailored to the students through this platform.
Akanksha, a Learning management system (LMS) creates a positive and interactive environment for the faculty and the students. It is a gate way to enthusiastic teaching learning process. It also coordinates and helps examination department with the processes related to issuing of hall tickets, grade Sheets, convocation, transcripts, etc. Akanksha an e-learning platform is designed to provide a pool of different academic resources like interactive medium of videos, self-learning material of various courses, programme guides, previous year question papers etc. in a very interactive way. IARE have a dedicated studio room to develop the LMS Content. LMS provides course stack which includes instructional material like course descriptors, course content, lecture notes, concept videos, tech talk topics, open ended experiments / problems / project ideas, tutorial question bank, definition and terminology, model question papers. During pandemic Akanksha has made the student learning process much easier. It made online learning accessible to students around the clock and catered the needs of the students.
Evidence of Success
During the pandemic, all the classes were conducted in virtual mode. The ICT infrastructure created at the Institute has enabled an easy transition for teachers and students to move from traditional system to a digitally empowered system. All stakeholders of the institution have been trained in use of ICT application especially for preparation of Lecture videos and e-content. Since, then there is an increased use of ICT by the teachers in classroom teaching, evaluation and assessments. The huge data collected in this process is also being analysed periodically. As a process a huge repository of lecture videos and course materials for majority of core courses in major disciplines are available for students for anytime access. As a result, all the teachers are currently using the Samvidha portal to handle day to day activities. Akanksha has made it possible to implement flipped classroom effectively at the Institute. It is evident from the web log that almost all the faculty and students are using our software portals. All financial transactions and tendering processes are carried out through these portals. All official communications including placement notices are communicated via these portals, hence the institute has implemented paperless office. Due to these initiatives especially BuildIT portal, the placements are increased from 55% to 75% in last two years.
Problems Encountered and Resources Required
- Financial burden on the management for augmenting ICT infrastructure
- Training of faculty for effective use of ICT facilities and e-content creation
- Availability of suitable gadgets with required specifications and bandwidth among end-users
- Review and audit of e-contents
- Limitations of Cloud hosting including security issues
An integrated picture of all-inclusive modules as a step towards building Online Digital Learning (ODL) platform to offer various online programs.
Samvidha |
e-ExamDesk |
ESLO |
BuildIT |
Akanksha |
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Best Practice – II
Title of the Practice
Skill development initiatives for Overall development of students and enhance start-up culture to promote entrepreneurship
Objectives of the Practice
- transformational education experience to meet skill requirements of the industry
- provide multifaceted eco system to inculcate product development skills among students
- develop rational thinking and research culture among the students and faculty
- attract resources including funding opportunities for entrepreneurial experiments
- develop an innovation culture with societal obligations
The Context
The advent of globalization has opened up Indian economy to the outside world. The competition among industries has become stiff; therefore, it is urgently needed to prepare engineering students for jobs in multinational companies, by exposing them to newer technologies and engineering methodologies. Institute is working on Industry-Institute Interaction and preparing manpower of world class in the field of science and technology by inculcating various skills required by the industry. Though availability of manpower is abundant in India, well equipped manpower with employability skills is the real need of the hour. There is a need to create avenues for close academia and industry interaction through all the phases of technology development, starting from conceptualizing to commercialization.
Further, in spirit of “Make in India”, IARE provides best eco system for the students to pursue their dreams. IARE strongly believes and motivate students to be Job givers and not Job Seekers. Since, India is developing nation there are lot of opportunities available for the students to become entrepreneurs and at the same time government also encouraging the institutions to provide entrepreneur skills to the students. IARE wants to tap the resources provided by the Govt. and non-Govt. agencies for skill development initiatives and to attract venture capitals for product development.
The Practice
The Careers and Employability Skills Training (CEST) is a unique and dedicated program under “Careers Development Center” creating a healthy environment by engaging Industry and Academia resources combined in skill building programs (SkillUP and SkillBridge). A gap between training and placements is usually observed in academics and to combat this gap, skill building programs are designed with industries. This approach has ensured better interaction between industry and academia, enhancing relevant skills and also innovative thinking amongst the students.
SkillUP Program: Only 5% students get placed in high impact salary jobs and this program ensures student to be in that 5%. This program will help the students be able to easily solve problems asked in coding interviews of these companies. This program is designed for two years and three levels to meet the company requirement. The students will be eligible to the next level only if they satisfy current program requirements.
SkillBridge Program: In today’s world survival of the fittest is in trend, organizations are not only looking for individuals with a prescribed Technical skills set but more importantly individuals with a propensity to demonstrate ‘Hard skills’ efficiently. Technical training in this program will be tailored to the set of skills required at the company or organization.
Skill Refresher Program: is a one month summer refresher program for VI semester Students. Aptitude, Technical Training, Communication Skills and Mock Interviews are the integral part of the selection procedure in almost all the MNC Companies. CEST Conducts Program for Students in a workshop mode, which helps students to revise, revives and re-construct their preparation in synchronize with industries demand.
Institute has an MoU with TASK – Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge for enhancing skilling synergy among institutions of Government, Industry & Academia. TASK granting access to the students, the modules for enhancing their technology, personal and organization skills at highly subsidized rates. TASK programmes help corporates gain access to a pool of trained graduates for suitable roles. Students are trained extensively in latest technology to help companies find the right candidate.
ECET has established Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre, Science and Technology Start-Up Park, ASPIRE- TBI, Makers Space, and Community Innovation Center to build a vibrant start-up ecosystem, by establishing a network between alumni, students, faculty, and industry. As an attempt towards commercializing the ideas by converting them to product / solutions, IARE has provided several facilities to improve the entrepreneurship and product development activities at the institute premises.
Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre (TIC) has been started with an ample closet space of 10000 sft in institute premises. The TIIC centre enables the infrastructural support to students and faculty to convert their ideas into final products. This centre is recognized as business incubator by ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) through which any student, faculty and innovators can apply for seed fund and capital fund support. TIIC will ensure that incubates to have access to technological assistance which will be generated through mentors with multidisciplinary expertise.
Under ECET TBI | MSME PROGRAM a Technology Business Incubator (TBI) centre with the support of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) under “A Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industry & Entrepreneurship” is created. The main objective of the centre is to encourage graduates to share their thoughts on the selected issues to review, refine, and process their ideas. Incubation centre emphasizes on providing an environment for the establishment of the proposed ideas and redesigning them to a level of business esteem.
The present incubating facilities are shared with the Department of Agriculture, National Small Scale Industrial Consultancy (NSIC) in collaboration with various local agricultural departments, local farmers in the region. ECET-TBI center initiates to organize various large-scale seminars, workshops, Technology Entrepreneurship Development Programs (TEDP), and Entrepreneurship Sensitization Development Program (ESDP) of Telangana.
Science and Technology Start-Up Enclave of ECET is a pioneer in the region for supporting the entrepreneurs to establish successful business with a special focus on Smart Manufacturing and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
Maker Space of ECET is furnished with equipment ranging from small 3D printers to large industrial machining centres, such as, precision measurement and laser cutting machines, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining, industry-standard lathes, milling machines and metal sheet cutters, rapid prototyping technology – multilateral 3D printers, laser cutters and vacuum casting systems are available for the students for prototype development.
Evidence of Success
- Around 38 workshops and training programs are organized on skill development
- Increased placements from 55% to 75% with an increase in median salary package from 3.5 lacs to 5.5 lacs per annum
- Provided the platform to many UG and PG students for skill development and entrepreneurship
- Received funding of Rs.1,60,10,115 from DST-TSP on Techno Intervention for Tribal Empowerment
- Received funding of Rs. 92,24,000 from MSME on A Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industries and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE) – Technology Business Incubator
- Around 39 products developed across various disciplines of engineering
- ECET has produced 223 Utility patents, 74 Design patents, and 25 copyrights
- 10 Technology Transfers with various industries
- Five MoU’s signed with industries to enhance skill development and incubation programs
- Achievement of continuous rankings in ARIIA (Band Excellent) and IIC (4/5 Star)
Problems Encountered and Resources Required
- Balancing academics with co-curricular activities
- Attracting seed funding/venture capital for the startups
- Maintenance and utilization of high-end research infrastructure
- Limited funding support for innovation and entrepreneurship activities
- Financial burden on the management for augmenting incubation and startup infrastructure
Notes:
Better interaction between technical institutions and industry is the need of the hour. This will have great bearing on the Engineering Curriculum, exposure of industrial atmosphere to engineering students and subsequent placement of young graduating engineers in industries across the country. The industry-Institute Partnership Centre (IIPC) of the institute is a dedicated to promote the close interaction of industry and various departments of the institute. The IIPC facilitates consultancy, sponsored R & D projects and industrial and academic trainings those are not prescribed in the syllabus in addition to conducting industrial exhibitions and interaction meets. IIPC prepares engineering students for jobs in multinational companies, by exposing them to newer technologies and engineering methodologies. This bridges the gap between industry and the academic institute.