National Conference on “Indian Higher Education: Challenges of Quality & Brand Building”

Education Promotion Society for India (EPSI), a National body representing wide spectrum of education sector and education service providers has organised a National Conference on “Indian Higher Education: Challenges of Quality & Brand Building” on 24th November 2018: Taj MG Road, Bangalore. 200+ delegates of leading Government functionaries, Vice Chancellors, Academicians and Entrepreneurs are attended the National Conference.

Prof. Anil D Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, AICTE inaugurated the Conference. Shri M K Sridhar Member, Drafting Committee on National Education Policy, Shri S V Ranganth, IAS Retd., Former Chief Secretary, Govt. of Karnataka, and Prof. M K Surappa, Vice Chancellor, Anna University are the Guest of Honour.

Leading educationists deliberated upon the challenges and opportunities in the context of “Indian Higher Education: Challenges of Quality & Brand Building” in India at the National Conference of EPSI on 24.11.2018.

This one-day National Conference will have One Panel Discussion i.e. “Resolving Challenges of Quality & Brand Building”.

The Conference will deliberate various challenges and issues which are adversely affecting the healthy growth of higher education institutions particularly those which are run by private sector. The key issues which will be discussed at the Conference are as follows:

• How to provide quality higher education accessible for every stratum.
• Measures to improve quality of research and publication of research papers.
• Importance of privative education sector in developing higher education
• Creating interfaces and connectivity with the industry
• Role of Technology in creating global quality in Indian higher education
• Expanding Accreditation & Quality Assurance, Accreditation & NIRF.
• Government policies on reforms in higher education.
• How to reduce the cost of education?
• How to fulfill the dream of Make in India – Vision 2025?
• How regulatory bodies like UGC and AICTE should become nurturing and mentoring bodies?

Prof. Anil D Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, AICTE inaugurated the conference and delivered his inaugural address. He said that how the Government and private can work together. He has informed that Quality assurance is a vital one for the institutions and has to come on their own and need not to wait for the Government to regulate. All institutions should go for Accreditation and NIRF and this will lead to healthy competition. He insisted that self introspection is necessary. Simultaneously he informed that we cannot expect all from every institutions, however, each and every one are having their own strength, the same has to be strengthened well. Every institution is having their best practices, so each other should follow and understand their strength and weaknesses. Accordingly they have to correct themselves. If all follows the same, the quality will improve automatically. Also he has informed that NAAC & NBA are totally different and both are different entity, working independently. NIRF will help to the institutions to compete with the other premier institutions at globally. He has also informed about the technology development.

Further, he has delivered a Special address and interacts with the stakeholders, wherein he has informed about the roles of AICTE and the adapted mechanism. He has also elaborated the difficulties being faced by the institutions. Hence he has asked the institutions to maintain quality and insisted to go for accreditation, as they are going to announce it mandatory.

Dr. H Chaturvedi, Alternate President, EPSI & Director, BIMTECH, Greater Noida in his Presidential address informed the present scenario about education system in India. Also he has stressed that the Government should give autonomy to the stakeholders of private educational institution so the GER could be increased. The affiliation system is to be abolished and the autonomous status of the institutions be given on priority. Also he has requested that the regulators should act as facilitators. While addressing he has emphasised the liberalisation of industry. Similarly, the education system also should come out of clutches and should have more autonomy. He also quoted the recent interview of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. He stressed that all the educational institutions should maintain the quality and should ensure that the regulators should appreciate the institutions. . He has also informed the Challenges being faced by the institutions, technologies and the job opportunities.

Mr. P Palanivel, Executive Secretary, EPSI delivered vote of thanks.

Dr. M R Jayaram, Sr. Vice President, EPSI & President, COMEDK, Chairman, Ramaiah Group of Institutions., Bengaluru; Dr. M K Panduranga Setty, President, KUPECA & Rashtreeya Sikshana Samithi Trust, Bengaluru; Dr. H Chaturvedi, Alternate President, EPSI & Director, BIMTECH, Greater Noida; Smt. S. Malarvizhi, Vice President, SR & Chairperson & Managing Trustee; Sri Krishna Institutions, Coimbatore, Prof. M K Surappa, Vice Chancellor, Anna University, Chennai; Dr. R P Singh, Secretary General, Quality Council of India, New Delhi; Dr. Sandeep Sancheti, President, Association of Indian universities, Chennai; Prof. Subhash Chandra Parija, Vice Chancellor, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry; Dr. P N Razdan, Vice Chancellor; Dr. D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, Dr. Atish Chattopadhyay, Director General, IFIM Business School, Bengaluru; Shri M R Sreenivasa Murthy, (IAS Retd.), Chief Executive, Gokula Education Foundation (Medical), Bengaluru.