driving research & innovation in indian universities meet 19-20...driving research &...
TRANSCRIPT
DrivingResearch & Innovation in
Indian Universities
Dr. G SrinivasJoint Secretary
UGC South Eastern Regional Office Hyderabad & South Western Regional Office, Bengaluru
❑ Initiatives related to UGC Quality Mandate: An Overview
❑ Quick look on some schemes
❑ Faculty research promotion schemes
❑ Dr. D. S. Kothari postdoctoral fellowship scheme
❑ SPARC
❑ STRIDE
❑ CARE
❑ Evaluation reforms
❑ Towards a better R&D and innovation ecosystem
❑ Innovation as a daily reality
❑ Other research related initiatives of UGC
Outline of the presentation
Induction programme
Learning Outcomes based
Curriculum Framework
Tracking of student progress
Promoting research
quality and integrity
Evaluation
Reforms
Employability skills
Mentoring of non-
accredited institutions
Social-Industry connect
Teacher Induction training
ICT based-education process
Initiatives Related to UGC Quality Mandate: An Overview
UGC- FACULTY RESEARCH PROMOTION
SCHEMES
• Offer research support to the University Science Faculties
• 300+ universities
• National Coordinator, School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad
http://ugcfrps.ac.in/uohyd/
DR. D. S. KOTHARI
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP SCHEME
Details: http://ugcdskpdf.unipune.ac.in/
SCIENCES, MEDICAL & ENGINEERING SCIENCES
For young researchers below the age of 35
Applicable at the Science Departments of Indian Universities and UGC-funded IUCs
Not tenable in I.I.T.’s or CSIR/DRDO/DAE laboratories etc.
Objectives
STRIDE
Fund high impact research projects
in the identified thrust areas in humanities and human sciences
through multi institutional
network.
Component-2
Component-1
Provide research capacity building opportunities in
diverse disciplines by mentoring, nurturing and
supporting young talents
Enhancing the problem solving skills
using inclusive innovation and action research to innovate pragmatic solutions for local, regional,
national priorities to contribute to India’s developing economy
Component-3
Objective of CARETo promote academic integrity, publication ethics and to improve the quality of research in Indian universities
Why it is important?
According to Nature Index analysis 2014, Indian science has shown a marked growth in high-quality scientific publications.
However, the percentage of research articles published in predatory journals is high in the country.
Unethical practices in publishing results in an increased number of predatory journals.
over 8000 predatory journals are churning out more than 400,000 items each year.
(Sources: Shen, C. and Björk, B. C., BMC Med., 2015, 13(1), 230)Priyadarshini, S., Nature India, 2017; doi:10.1038/nindia.2017.115, published online 6 September 2017)
CARE UniversitiesProposals of new journals for
consideration of inclusion in the UGCCARE list can be submitted only through CARE members, or
any one of CARE universitiesJawaharlal Nehru UniversityTezpur UniversityMaharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda University of Hyderabad.
The UGC-CARE list is dynamic and will be updated every quarter. Updating CARE
The first edition of UGC-CARE Reference List of Quality Journals has been released accompanying a ‘Public Notice on Academic Integrity’.
CARE website has useful resources like audio-visual materials, videos, weblinks, FAQs, feedback and grievance system
EVALUATION REFORMSInnovativeEvaluationMethods
Nation-wide workshops conducted
A comprehensive report of the Committee Circulated
From To
One of the least focused areas As a core integrated area of
attention
Learning goals are ignored,
even if they exist.
Aligned with learning goals
Memorisation based Thinking & performance based
Based on past practice and
routine
Based on the science of
evaluation
Used only to assess and grade
individual students
Used to improve teaching and
changing curicula
Used only in Individual course
sections.
Evaluation is integrated and
collaborative.
Generically approached with
“examinations”
Approached with scientific
tools & technology.
Examination is only one
component.
Single method or limited
methods.
Multiple methods
• Researchers with established research-focused institutions will be at an advantage in most R&D and funding-intensive measurements.
• There is danger of systematically overlooking the advantage of well-placed researchers in top institutions.
• Reassess our understanding of innovation in higher education and search for alternative pathways by placing innovation in a broader frame which is inclusive of Research and Development, but not limited to.
• Alternative and frugal innovations in institutions in India can be one focus area of Universities while considering research and innovations
Towards a better R&D and Innovation Ecosystem
Alternative and frugal innovations
Towards a better R&D and Innovation Ecosystem
Space for failure and experimentation
“You can write the entire history of science in the last 50 years in terms of papers rejected by Science or Nature”.
- Paul C LauterburNoble Prize Laureate
By not providing enough space for rejection, experimentation and failure to multiple modes of innovation we are blocking many possible innovations.
Merely large number of ideas is not sufficient for innovation. Yet, every great idea was rejected at least once before its execution and acceptance
As individuals we are unprepared to face refutations even if we claim innovation is a priority. Re-orienting institutional structures to accommodate failure gracefully and honestly cannot be easily addressed by policy enactments but is largely a matter of institutional culture.
Academic freedom, autonomy, internal democracy and research integrity as an integral part of the
institutional DNA will naturally pave the way for freedom to experiment.
• There is a danger of pigeonholing the policy attempts at institutional level
• How to unify the schemes? Leadership challenge at the institutional level.
Towards a better R&D and Innovation Ecosystem
Unifying the initiatives at the institutional level
There are multiple initiatives
UGC-STRIDE, UGC-SPARC, MHRD innovation cell in the form of India Innovation Initiative (i3), Industry-Institute Partnership Cell of AICTE, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) to promote the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, Atal Innovation Centres (AIC) in institutions of Higher Education and Atal Tinkering Labs in schools etc.
Robust innovation ambience in a University is a function of shared mindset and culture of innovation which cannot be done by policy enacting alone.
Solution to pigeonholing policy during
implementation
Prepare a matrix for different schemes relevant for the institution specifying the respective unique targets, outcomes, linkages with other schemes and bodies, boundaries, resource sharing plan at the institutional level and capitalisation of expertise.
Towards a better R&D and Innovation Ecosystem Research and innovation as a habit of academic mind and discipline
The innovation literature in the last decade suggests that the innovation process can be ignited and managed properly in educational settings.
A vast majority of the faculty members and students are unexposed to innovation as a scientific and holistic process and misreads it with creativity.
After six years of research, the authors of The Innovator’s DNA, one of the most cited works on innovation, point out that innovation is about 30
percent nature and 70 percent nurture. Still, research and innovation is sometimes seen as a random process and
believed that it is not meant for everyone.
The reason for this misunderstanding is that innovation has not evolved into a discipline in our institutions.
Innovation is not taught in any of the undergraduate or graduate programmes of 99% of the institutions in India. Research methods are yet to find any place in the undergraduate curriculum, except in some new generation institutions.
Innovation can be a daily reality
It may be hard to teach innovationYet it can be learnt through a set of
the process
Making these aspects as a part of our curriculum can harness existing natural curiosity of students and faculty members towards making innovation a habit of academic life.
❑ Thinking tools
❑ Thinking fallacies
❑ Creative research methods
❑ Discovery skills
❑ Experimentation skills
❑Design thinking
TOOLS to be included in the
curriculum
• In India, R&D is mostly supported by the Central Government through extramural funding via UGC, ICSSR, ICMR, DST, DBT and similar organisations.
• But, against the requirements of our institutions the share of most state governments is negligible.
• In most colleges and Universities, low level of funding is one of the reasons that make the research mode individualistic and centering it only on career progression, instead of addressing serious problems confronting the nation.
• It also limits the possibility for interdisciplinary research which is a pre-requisite for breakthrough innovations.
Towards a better R&D and Innovation Ecosystem
More and alternative funding models
❑ Funding from Pvt. foundations
❑ Corporate bodies
❑ International organisations
❑ Crowd-sourcing
❑ New financing models
❑More funding from Govt.
Towards a better R&D and Innovation Ecosystem
Extensive collaboration and facilities sharing
While global international collaboration has increased, India witnessed a decline in international collaborations
since 1996, reports US National Science Board.
Some Universities abroad are creating positions for chief
innovation officers as a dedicated leadership post to make innovation an organisation-wide phenomenon, not limited to R&D based research
and extramural funding.
Collaboration and sharing of resources at all levels can be
done beyond the call of regulatory and accreditation
bodies.
Identifying the core capabilities of a University, flexing and sharing resources through wide-spread collaboration and innovating on
those capabilities shall be a leadership agenda with daily
implications across the University.
Other Initiatives of UGC which can be linked to Research related activities at institutional level -1
A game changing plan for rural empowerment linking with education
Relevant for researches in the areas of economics, social work and developmental studieshttp://unnatbharatabhiyan.gov.in/
Other Initiatives of UGC which can be linked to Research related activities at institutional level -2
Accreditation Initiative from UGC
National Academic Depository
The largest work of credential digitisation in
India.
Other Initiatives
A shared measurement system for innovation in the Indian context
Engaging with more collaborators
Search for alternative innovation pathways and strategy-driven leadership at the institutional level
Look for innovation capability that goes beyond R&D and more funding sources
Re-engineering institutional culture for innovationbased on passion, not compliance
Connecting the links for the future
India’s’ capability to innovate now is much higher than in the
past because of the technological facility to share information and
insights.
Our institutional leaders and professors with the support of
policy makers WILL make it happen