Telangana Higher Education Council Discusses Institutional Development
The Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE) Chairman, Prof. V. Balakista Reddy, spoke about global trends influencing modern higher education. He addressed an online workshop on Institutional Development Plans (IDP), which was attended by 1,500 representatives from nearly 1,000 institutions. Participants included Vice Chancellors, Deans, Senior Professors, and industry representatives.
Prof. Reddy emphasized that internationalization in higher education is a growing trend that cannot be reversed. He explained how higher education has evolved over the past 30 years and discussed the influence of global treaties like WTO/GATT on education systems. He urged institutions to focus on development plans, as India is emerging as a global knowledge hub that can contribute to security and peace.
Prof. Nirmaljeet Singh Kalsi, IAS (Retd.), the Chief Guest and Chairman of the committee for IDP guidelines, highlighted the importance of IDPs in shaping the future of institutions. He explained that IDPs serve as blueprints for long-term growth and development. He stressed the need for proper resource management, quality assurance, and strategic alignment with institutional goals, while also emphasizing the involvement of all stakeholders.
Another speaker, Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor of BITS Pilani, discussed the role of faculty in building world-class institutions. He encouraged faculty members to collaborate with the industry to gain practical knowledge and develop doctoral programs that support startup incubation.
Prof. S.S. Mantha, former Chairman of AICTE, spoke about addressing skill gaps and promoting AI-enabled universities. He emphasized the need for institutions to adapt to technological advancements to stay relevant.
Dr. Sandhya Chintala, Executive Director of the IT-ITeS Sector Skills Council and Vice President of NASSCOM, focused on outcome-based education. She suggested that universities collaborate with industries for innovation, research, and entrepreneurship. She also proposed organizing online faculty development programs through NASSCOM’s future skills initiatives.
Several other experts shared their insights on IDPs. Speakers included Abhishek Singh from BITS Pilani, Dr. K.N. Subramanya from RV College of Engineering, Dr. N. Ravichandran from IIM Indore, Prof. S. Venkataramanaiah from IIM Lucknow, Dr. Prashanth Vishwanath from JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, and Dr. Sabeen Govind from Rajagiri College of Social Sciences.
One of the sessions focused on IDP enablers, with experts discussing strategies for institutions to achieve their goals. Speakers included Prof. N.V. Ramana Rao from NIT Raipur, Prof. G. Simon Thattil from the University of Kerala, Dr. Mangala Sunder K from IIT Madras, Prof. Bhaskar Bhattacharya from Banaras Hindu University, Dr. Y.M. Jayaraj from Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, and Prof. Ajay M. Sidpara from IIT Kharagpur. They shared insights on how IDPs can help institutions improve their rankings and accreditation.
The final session explored the impact of IDPs on institutional rankings and accreditation, using real-life case studies. Speakers included Dr. B. Rushi Kumar from VIT Vellore, Prof. B. Raja Shekhar from the University of Hyderabad, K. Venkatesh from the Institute for Academic Excellence, and Dr. Nandhibatla Viswanadha Sastry, Director of Ranking and Accreditation at IAE.
Overall, the workshop provided valuable guidance on academic, administrative, and infrastructural improvements in higher education. It highlighted the role of faculty, students, and administrators in driving institutional excellence. Additionally, the discussions focused on improving governance, faculty training, curriculum design, and student support systems. Experts also emphasized the need for industry partnerships to enhance career opportunities and practical learning experiences.
