Objectives of the Practice:
Primary Objective:To bring out Quality Indexed Publications for Enhanced Visibility of the University on National & International Platforms.
Secondary Objectives:
The Context:
A review of the Research and Scholarly activities during the 1 st NAAC cycle revealed, on one side, a low magnitude of Research Grant for Internal and External projects, low magnitude of Indexed Publications/ Books/Chapters, and on the other side, no IPR, Startups and Clinical Trials.However, an exploration revealed the following plausible reasons:
1. Poor acceptance from Clinical Departments towards Research as an integral part of Academic Job Responsibilities.The Practice:
In the wake of the identified deficits, University has given more emphasis on the above points as a comprehensive approach. To enhance Research and Innovation, the Institution adopted a Hub & Spoke model with the Central Research Facility (CRF) as the core governing body in the year 2020. However, a slow response even after this was taken as a challenge and twelve peripheral teams, known as "Scope of Research" teams, were established in the year 2021 to develop Micro-Ecosystems for distinct areas such as Quality Publications, Collaborations & MOUs, Incubation & Entrepreneurship, IPR & Consultancy, External Grants, Clinical Trials, Awards &Fellowships, Ethical Conduct, Outreach & Extension,University Journal, and Student Research.
Various research schemes and policies were reviewed, amended and implemented to promote Research and Foster an ecosystem. The grant of JRF & SRF for enhancing the Research Culture was given to a total of 28 research scholars. Policy on Faculty Appreciation through Career Advancement Scheme / Salary Increment for exemplary Research Work Contribution was implemented and 20 Faculty Members were given promotions and 72 Faculty Members received Salary Increments. Other than Research Policy, the policies on IPR and Consultancy have also been introduced on 27.06.2020 after approval from board of management.
To achieve quality mandate of faculty research publications, an incentivizing mechanism was initiated by the University to reimbursed 100% publication expenses of such research articles published only in indexed journals included in Scopus / Web of Science / PubMed and UGC approved list of journals by the Faculty Members of the University.
The world class software I-Then dicate by Turnitin has been introduced to keep a check on plagiarism and maintain the ethical standards of publications and IPR.
Evidence of Success:
Notable achievements include schemes, processes, and milestones were as below:
1. Intramural research grant: INR 207 lakhs distributed as seed money grant with a clear utilization of budget.
2. Publication support grant: more than 50 lakhs dispersed to support publishing in reputed databases such as Scopus, PubMed, WoS or UGC Care.
3. Establishment of renovated, state-of-the-art CRF for research infrastructure enhancement.
4.Establishment of E- cell in the year 2019 and an IPR and innovation cell under central research facility to support ideas with technical, legal, monetary help for IPR ownership that resulted in 24 published patents including two design patents, 51 copyrights and 12 startups by internal and external incubates.
5. Financial Support to Ph.D. students: The provision for merit based stipendiary positions of 30 JRF/SRFs as well as Research Associates.
6. Capacity building: University held 125 workshops/seminars in past 5 years on IPR, Research Methodology, GCP, Grant Writing, and Industry-Academia Collaborations with government agencies like ICMR, AIIMS, NICPR, NIMS etc. and Industries like MAX, IAS, Wishbox. Reliance etc.
7. Stem Cell Research Unit has been established in 2022
8. Subscription to research and statistical databases including STATA, SCOPUS and EBSCO etc. that helped in publishing of published 1260 publications and 176 books/chapters, with an h-index of 24.
9. The university has attracted various national and international organizations with 87 functional MoUs, including 12 international ones to support academic and research activities. 298 research collaborations at national and international levels, including with Harvard and Hong Kong Universities, have been achieved in the past 5 years that facilitated a fund of more than INR 203.4 Lakhs and consultancy worth 263 Lakhs.
10. Five clinical trials in the department of medicine and dermatology have been completed and three are running successfully. A revenue of 2,505,087 INR is generated through these trials till date.
11. Santosh University Journal of Health Sciences is a peer-reviewed Journal has supported by Wolters Kluwer with ISSN - Print: 2773-1987 has been submitted for inclusion in UGC Care list in the year 2022.
Problems and Challenges Encountered and Resources Required:
The long-term goal of the institution in terms of research output is to achieve self-sustenance and global visibility and need for:
The ultimate Aim of any Education System is to Groom Students with Good Employability options and Career Readiness. The rote learning process offers limited Professional Development Opportunities. The University believes in Developing the Social, Emotional, Physical, Mental and Intellectual Growth of Students. With career progression of students in focus, holistic development, and overall wellbeing and not just their academic advancements are addressed. Here students are oriented to become responsible global citizens and assume leadership roles in healthcare.
The Context
The University believes that the Epicenter of any Educational Institution are the learners and best results can be ensured with their active involvement and participation in learning process and organizational activities. The vast student diversity promotes the social and emotional connect of the students amongst themselves as well as relate to the society at large.
The University supports the student progression in 2 broad ways.
The Practice
The University follows a learner-centered approach aiming at 360-degree development of their aptitude and skills, simultaneously boosting up their conviction to face challenges. It strives to prepare the students with necessary skills for future, such as self-confidence and communication through a range of activities like group discussions, debates, projects and presentations. Role plays and experiential learning are routinely used as learning strategies to apprise students of professional ethics, empathy and real ground challenges.
The University believes in community-based learning through outreach and extension activities. Students regularly participate and contribute positively to the community by organizing health talk, preventive health checkups, educational street plays, all contributing to a rich extra academic learning experience. Regular Field and industrial visits also expedite and compliment the knowledge. They are also an instrument to inculcate National values and apprise them of global challenges and demands.
The University has initiated Santosh Startups Forum and Institute Innovation Council, facilities which offer a unique platform for students to show case their Entrepreneurial Skills and Prowess, aptly guided and fine-tuned by the field experts. The tech savvy environment in the University and the ICT tools facilitate such activities. It also has a separate Student research cell which motivates, facilitates, and guides the students for conducting research.
The face of any Educational Institution are their Alumni, and the University takes pride in the achievements and contributions of our Alumni. For the benefit of its students, Alumni connect programs are regular organized where the Alumni, through their rich experiences guide the students for carrier counselling and their progression, acknowledging their contributions during Founders Day
Access to Student centric learning gadgets like Learning Management System, Skills Lab for Hands on Training and simulation software through variety of value-added courses, help our students to have a scholastic edge in society. The University promotes participation of students in Intra collegiate academic and extracurricular events like sports and cultural events. It also follows a strong Mentorship program for student support which strengthen the learning process.
To Instill and Augment Leadership Skills amongst students, the University has empowered the Students Council to plan, execute and follow an array of academic and extracurricular activities through the various sub committees dedicated for sports, cultural, literary, academic and research events. This ensures active participation of students and inculcates organizational skills and promotes harmony, dignity, and respect. Students have taken responsibility to organize large University events like SANCON, National Health Skills Conclave, Arogyam which are Annual Skill and Research-Based events and AURA, MILAP, Beat D Heat which are Intra and Intercollegiate. Extra-Curricular Regional Events. This has largely helped to create a feeling of responsibility in learners, provide encouragement and helps groom youngsters to assume leadership qualities. The student representatives contribute to policy making of the institution by virtue being members of Academic council, IQAC, Internal complaints committee etc.
Evidence of Success
The success of the practice is reflected in student performance, career progression, Industry ready to accept challenges of administrative and leadership roles. Majority of the Alumni of the University are well placed Internationally and Nationally in well reputed Institutes and Hospitals where they have contributed not only in the field of patient care but also as policy makers in administrative roles. They have received numerous awards and brought laurels in various events. Students with extraordinary talent of culture and sports are sponsored by the University to excel in the field. Our students have been granted ICMR STS projects in the field of Research along with Startups. Our Alumni Placement in field of Research (ICMR etc.) are a testimony to the thrust.
The University, with a strong student support system has focused on Holistic Development of the Students by providing equal opportunities to all, Good Communication and Interaction Skills that help students build local and intercultural relationships as well as their own identities .The Institutional Ethos and Heritage stimulate the students to excel in every field and evolve into successful, responsible, empathetic caregivers and empowered graduates, thus establishing evidence of success for the best practice of the University.
Problems Encountered and Resources Required
Time constraints in a tightly scheduled curriculum to incorporate additional extracurricular activities poses the biggest challenge. Constant upgradation of teaching and learning modalities needs massive fund allocation, diligent manpower training which possess a challenge. Empowering students could be a double-edged sword for smooth execution of events driven by students as faculty also have to devote extra time and resources to continuously monitor and scrutinize the students.