The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has recently adopted the Higher Education Quality Improvement Programme Mandate. This mandate, developed by the University Grants Commission (UGC), focuses on enhancing the quality of higher education in India. It includes five specific documents that deal with five varied aspects pertaining to the mandate’s core focus.
Understanding the Five Verticals of the Quality Mandate
The Quality Mandate encompasses five key verticals that are essential for fostering a robust and dynamic higher education system. These areas are:
1. Evaluation reforms
2. Eco-friendly and sustainable university campuses
3. Human values & professional ethics
4. Faculty induction
5. Academic research integrity
Each of these verticals plays a significant role in equipping India’s succeeding generations with crucial skills, knowledge, and ethical foundations for a rewarding life.
Delving into the Evaluation Reforms
The document titled ‘Evaluation Reforms in Higher Educational Institutions in India’ elucidates the roadmap to make students’ evaluation procedure more effective and meaningful. It also ensures the assessments are aligned with ‘Learning Outcomes.’ The idea is to improve the quality of Higher Education in India, where student evaluation plays a pivotal role.
Focus on Eco-friendly and Sustainable University Campuses
Under the Quality Mandate, the SATAT – Framework for Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Campus development is proposed. Under this initiative, universities are motivated to adopt sustainable and green methods for future projects. The intent is to enhance the environmental quality of the educational institutions.
Importance of Human Values & Professional Ethics
‘MulyaPravah – Guidelines for Inculcation of Human Values and Professional Ethics in Higher Educational Institutions’ presents a policy framework to infuse the culture of human values and ethics in educational institutions. The guidelines urge students to maintain good health, exhibit modest behavior, and uphold social harmony.
Faculty Induction and its Role
With the guidelines for Guru-Dakshta – A guide to Faculty Induction Programme (FIP), the Quality Mandate aims to sensitise and motivate the faculty to adopt learner-centered approaches and new pedagogic methods. The integral role of ICT-integrated learning and assessment tools in higher education is emphasized.
| Verticals of Quality Mandate | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Evaluation reforms | Enhance the quality of student assessments |
| Eco-friendly and Sustainable University Campuses | Encourage sustainable development and environmental preservation |
| Human Values & Professional Ethics | Foster ethical principles and human values among students |
| Faculty Induction | Promote learner-centered approaches and ICT-integrated learning |
| Academic Research Integrity | Safeguard academic integrity and promote ethical publishing |
Nurturing Academic Research Integrity
The UGC aims to establish a Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics (UGC-CARE) to monitor and identify quality journals across varied disciplines. The consortium will aid in cultivating increased awareness and endorse academic integrity along with ethical publishing.
About University Grants Commission
Established on 28th December 1953, the University Grants Commission is a statutory organization under the Government of India. It became official through an Act of Parliament in 1956 with the primary objective to coordinate, determine, and maintain standards of teaching, examination, and research in university education. Its head office is located in New Delhi.