Quality Assurance Benchmarking in Higher Education
- 1. QUALITY ASSURANCE BENCHMARKING IN HIGHER EDUCATION Dr.LathaSreedhar AssistantProfessor DepartmentofSanskrit SriSaradaCollegefor Women(Autonomous),Salem-16 24.06.2021 6/29/2021 1
- 2. Overview (I, II,III) Higher Education in India What is Quality in Higher Education? Quality Assurance in Higher Education Quality Assurance Practices in HEIs What is Benchmarking? Why Benchmarking? Benchmarking & Higher Education How to set up a Benchmarking Exercise? What Benchmarks can you setup for a HEI? Benefits of Benchmarking Conclusion 6/29/2021 2
- 3. Higher Education in India 1/1 Higher education is the backbone of any society. It is the quality of higher education that decides the quality of human resources in a country. Higher education, as we see today, is a complex system facilitating teaching, research and extension. The higher education system in India envisages : 1. National development 2. Global competitiveness 3. Ethical values 4. Promote use of technology and 5. Create an atmosphere towards quest for excellence. 6/29/2021 3
- 4. What is Quality in Higher Education?2/1 Quality is not an act, it is a habit - Aristotle It is important to raise the question at the beginning of any discussion about quality or quality assurance in higher education. At the first look, the answer might be that either we don’t really know what quality is or that it can be many different things. It is often the case that this fundamental question is omitted, especially in more technical discussions or rushed policy debates. The reason is to do with the fact that the answer is not entirely straightforward, and there is no unified definition or single measure for quality. 6/29/2021 4
- 5. Quality in Higher Education 3/1 6/29/2021 5
- 6. Quality Assurance in Higher Education 4/1 Development of a definition, or common understanding of quality for a specific national higher education context might be challenging at the beginning - but it will be crucial for it will influence the overall design and give a meaning to the whole quality assurance system. Along with autonomy, Quality and quality assurance are important elements of a higher education system. Quality Assurance has two distinct wings: (i) Internal Quality Assurance (ii) External Quality Assurance IQA usually covers the quality of teaching and learning. 6/29/2021 6
- 7. Quality Assurance practices in HEIs 5/1 6/29/2021 7 BENCHMARKING
- 8. What is Benchmarking? 1/2 Benchmarking is about bridging the gap between where we are and where we want to be” (Edward Sallis) “An example of good performance that serves as a standard for comparison of one’s performance. It is a technique in which an institution measures its performance against the best of others” (NAAC) A structured or systematic process for measuring and comparing for learning from the practice of others, who are leaders in the field or with whom legitimate comparisons can be made” 6/29/2021 8
- 9. What is Benchmarking? 2/2 A Zen-like management riddle asks: "How does a fish know it is wet?" The fish spends all its life in water and knows no other condition. The riddle probes how people, who grow accustomed to operating in certain ways, know there are other approaches -- perhaps better ways -- of performing the same task? So Benchmarking is a tool for achieving idea enrichment or quality enhancement in education. Each benchmarking trip is a learning safari. 6/29/2021 9
- 10. Why Benchmarking? 3/2 Internally: to know what is best in their own institutions so that other Schools / Departments can emulate them. Externally: to find out where an institution stands with reference to the best institutions in that category so that it can improve its performance and grading. Ultimately: it is for improving quality in terms of teaching-learning, research, infrastructure & student progression so that students and ultimately the society benefit from BM. 6/29/2021 10
- 11. Benchmarking & Higher Education 4/2 NAAC Assessment & Accreditation is based on Benchmarking & enumeration and articulation of Best practices. Benchmarking and comparison has to be within that category(IIT, Library) Benchmarkings’ real benefit “comes from understanding the practices that permit the performance and the reasoned transfer (of best practices) to the organization” (Camp 1995) Used in higher education to compare and evaluate curricular frameworks, learning outcomes,{subject specific and generic), learning environment, quality of research, infrastructure, student support & progression, governance, social consciousness etc., 6/29/2021 11
- 12. Benchmarking & Higher Education 5/2 Through Benchmarking, a HEI benefits from the experience of another HEI BM Creates an opportunity for HEIs and Professors to share their best practices and learn from the success of others Provides models of high performing as well as rapidly improving HEIs to others who may not possess access to such models in a local education system. Creates a national (or world) laboratory for new ideas & collaboration. 6/29/2021 12
- 13. How to setup a benchmarking exercise? 1/3 How good do we want to be? Are there standards available that we can benchmark ourselves against? Do we know who is doing it best? How do we compare with the best? What are they doing that makes them so good? Where are the gaps in our performance? How can we learn their lessons? How best can we bridge our gaps? How can we do better than the best? What do we need to do to become the best? 6/29/2021 13
- 14. What Benchmarks can you set up for a HEI ? 2/3 1. In the next cycle, a BETTER GRADE 2. In the next NIRF, a BETTER RANK 3. Before next NAAC visits the institution, at least a few teachers should have done post doctoral fellowship. 4. The Principal as well as the Senior faculty members could be members of national Agencies like UGC,CSIR,ICSSR etc., 5. International Fellowship like Full bright, Commonwealth, Indo-Shastri, Humboldt to be taken. 6. Every full-time teacher should have completed their PhD and few research projects. 6/29/2021 14
- 15. What Benchmarks can you set up for an institution ? 3/3 7. Every department should organize one International seminar and convert it into a Publication in a peer reviewed journal. 8. At least four to five students should have cleared the NET/SET exam . 9. Every department should have produced at least 3 Ph.D. 10. Launch new certificate/ diploma/ Advanced Diploma courses. 11. Two-three faculty members/students should have gone for an international seminar. 12. At least 25% of the students should be from other states 13. Organize student camps like Inspire, Camp of DST etc., 14. To get one of the top three ranks in the University Athletics & Sports/Cultural Competitions 6/29/2021 15
- 16. Benefits of Benchmarking in Higher Education 4/3 Benchmarking in higher education is a relatively new concept and can bring huge benefits in terms of continuous improvement of quality. As it is based on identification of the best practices, it inculcates constant comparison, competition and collaboration. By following the best model, other institutions can improve their own quality. If seeing is believing, then benchmarking is an effective process. Successful bench markers return to their organizations with valuable trophies – new ideas and approaches for accomplishing old tasks. 6/29/2021 16
- 17. Conclusion 5/3 Developing a formal national quality assurance system appears to be a priority for the country. Quality can be assured through following an example ( A++, NIRF ranking etc.,), or striving to meet a benchmark developed through rigorous process of Benchmarking. Benchmarking higher education system performance will contribute towards improvement across different higher education systems. Further BM is a process of continuous improvement, mark of excellence, and recognition of all the efforts of the academics by their peers. 6/29/2021 17
- 18. Conclusion 6/3 This will involve national regulations and mechanisms. The process of BM should start to build a culture of quality in higher education institutions. This may take time and could be done along the way, but it must not be neglected. “The farther you delegate benchmarking, the more likely you are to end up justifying the current state," says Olander. Thus, Higher education produces economic, social, cultural and environmental impact in the community, be it at the local, regional, national or global level. 6/29/2021 18