PARAMETERS TO ANALYZE AN EDUCATION INSTITUTION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR in indiA

1. PARAMETERS TO ANALYZE AN EDUCATION INSTITUTION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR in indiA

2. The purpose of Education is redefined over the years. The means and methods of educating next generation also evolved along with the times. Good and bad aspects of privatization affected the Educational systems in India. The result of this analyses is subject to the demand of your Personal and Professional gratification through Career.

3. The Management The institution is the manifestation of the Vision of the promoters and its growth is the evidence of their dedication and effectiveness. If the management is good, the institution is good! Mission To act as the Nurturing Ground for young professionals who seek to make their mark and to create a talent pool for various industries so that there may be synergistic growth for both

4. The Infrastructure • Buildings Sports and Games facility Hostels • Canteen • Training facilities • Labs and equipments • Library • Transportation facilities Physical and academic infrastructure is essential for nurturing the student. The challenges of the teenagers must be considered while designing the campus. This includes their physical strength, intellectual empowerment, emotional stability, modest life, etc. Apart from the Campus please verify other physical aspects of:-

5. Affiliations and Approvals Government Order University Affiliations Approvals of the Apex Bodies

6. The place where the institution is located is very crucial as the industry exposure and faculty availability varies from place to place. Some places are more challenging than others with respect to proper academic time utility. • This could be classified in different sects. For example • Village Institutions & Metro Institutions • Every category got its own merits and defects. Your choice must match • your career goal. • Location of the Institution • There are local variations in the same place regarding the student life. Have a study before you choose the place. Where you study, there you live during the course period. The place The Place affects the Institution by means of:- Staff availability, Guest lecture availability , Student development Industry interactions, Placement advantages

7. The Courses • Imparting knowledge to a student is sacred and it must be from a veteran source. Department and experienced faculty is derived from the sacred source of sages and gurus. The institution today can opt for any branch of study if they wish, provided they should have the facility. But the knowledge maturity and scholarship make the fruitful department. Keep the important question in mind – “Is this institution good for this particular course?” • There is change in the trends of the job market. • Many new Courses with great job prospect are optional today. • Strong graduation foundation is the essence of Indian education system.

8. Additional professional trainings apart from the University curriculum

9. The fee decided by the institution need not be their own decision as the government and judiciary are involved in the process for the professional higher education. But the institutional variations in the fee structure and the delivery of the course should be matched with the fee they collect. Consider the following:- • Financial commitment and value for money • Payment options and instalments payment facilities • Loan availability The fee

10. The Faculty: their qualification and experience As the pay package increases in direct proportion with the experience and expertise of the faculty, fresher became faculty as a compromised solution. The information impartation system and the serious atmosphere of education generally comes along with the team of experienced faculty. Please get yourself convinced of the previous and current department and their qualification and experience. HOD / Program Director Teachers Student faculty ratio

11. The University The certificate one carries is respected if the University from which it was awarded is recognized. The certificate must be globally accepted as the job destination may be anywhere in the world. Indian Universities under different categories can be viewed form the official websites and if you are not sure about the current status of general universities, deemed universities, private universities, seek the opinion of an expert.

12. 10. Alumni The present career status of the students who passed out from an institution talks louder about the Institution than big advertisements. Their association, joint programmes with the Institution and forums etc are clear indications of a selectable institution

13. 11. Entrance / Selection Criteria How to get admission in an Institution is one way to analyze the Institution. If the admission procedure is difficult, it indicate what type of student they are looking for and the demand from the students to get admitted there. If the admission is so easy and the institution is after you, please make sure that you will get what you require; it may end up with what they can afford to give you which may not be sufficient to meet the requirements of the job sector.

14. 12. Hostel Accommodation within the Campus is the most ideal for students, especially for female students. The strict watch over the students and keeping the timings in the check ins helps them to be under control. Parents should have access to know about the attendance of their ward and timely reporting from the hostel to the parents is most coveted. Food care and health care are essential. Internet facility, gymnasium are desirable for modern life style. Multi cultural student community living together away from home teach the students a lot of life lessons. Good associations and friends they acquire wil be with them throughout their life

15. 13. Food Parents are more worried about this issue, especially mothers. The quality of hostel food may not be as good as at home. It may not be consistent too as many cooks jump from college to college for better salary. Healthy food is another challenge as youngsters are prone to many metabolic sicknesses at a much earlier age now than before. Please check it by yourself and have a taste of the mess or canteen

16. 14. Library Available of required books CD Library Online Library Access to bigger library

17. Growth of the Institution • Verify the academic and infrastructural growth of the institution over the years and their future plans of growth. Find out where will the institution be positioned when you finish your course from there.

18. Insecure teenagers are exposed to freedom for the first time in life when they join for higher education after Higher Secondary. The mind to explore new things in life coupled with their high spirit and vibrancy had led many into fatal emotional life situations. Worried parents and concerned institutional heads take this as the most challenging responsibility. Scrutiny on this regard is essential for both boys and girls. The temptation they are facing cannot be compared with that of any previous generation. Direct verifications and references may give you a picture of the safety levels of an institution. 16. Safety and security

19. Sick students are the dear children of the parents. Institutions deal with sympathy and care are appreciated by the parents. Health Insurances help the institutions to deal professionally with the sick students as the hospitals take care of the treatment under the insurance coverage. The arrangements for medical support for the sick students, regular check ups if required, special attention to the regular /chronic sick students, sanctions for leave and support for the absent lessons are different from institution to institution. 17. Healthcare and Insurance

20. Ranks The university ranks and the percentage of passing out students with high marks in the previous years is a clear indictor of the performance of an institution. Academic performance plays a major role in the choosing of the institution Special prizes / awards Recognition for the performance in the education field is given to teachers, departments, services and institutions. The institution which keeps a high record on such outstanding performance would like to continue the same and can be a sure choice for your selection. 18. Academic History of Institution

21. 19. Guest Faculty Regular faculty can be supported very effectively with right guest lecturers for effective teaching. The exposure will be more and the change of the staff will avoid repetition. Many industry related topics, that too with recent application will be taught better by an experienced guest lecture. The availability of such a facility and the readiness of the management to promote such classes enriches the students to face all career challenges.

22. 20. Students from your neighborhood This is for the easy life support and comfort of the parents. But generally many parents prefer to send their children along with already known friends.

23. 21. Articles on the Institution The media plays a major role in our life today. Good things are noticed and talked about. Please go through available articles on the particular institution you would like to join. Verify about the department as they might have presented papers in the journals or magazines. College Magazine is a good reference to know more closely about the activities of the students.

24. 22. Transportation Institutional transportation is safer and cheaper. There must be convenient transportation for female students. Convenience for practical and other academic related programs should be in the Institutional vehicles. Many institutions have the airport pick up facility for foreign and NRI students. Few others are arranging to and fro transportation up to Railway Station or Bus stand.

25. 23. College Canteen College Canteen has a long tale to tell. Timely refreshments, affordable price, verity, etc are the attraction of a canteen. As many Campuses are accommodating international students and students from many parts of India, the Canteen need to cater them too. Many NRI students depends on Canteen more than the hostel mess. Few colleges collaborated with Food Chain groups to meet the demand of the student for this purpose and thus keep the students occupied within the Campus always.

26. 24. Climates and Environment Extreme climates are not educational destinies. Moderate climate helps for productive study hours. Even many foreign students now prefer many Indian places for higher studies because of the moderate climate and internationally recognized education system with affordable expense. The local environment of the Institution is also important. Dangerous industrial and geographical areas must be avoided. Proximity to the city centre affects the culture of the institution.

27. 25. Website Declarations in the official websites are legal and please study the website in detail. Most of the academic apex bodies insisting on many details to be included in the website like faculty, their qualifications etc. Courses, intake, events, photos, affiliations, etc. are available in the websites commonly.

28. 26. Government Policies State and Central Government policies regarding education affect the admission procedure. Please study the prevailing law and education policies to compare the differences with that of other states. Uncertainty on policy making also affects the admission procedure. Rare incidents witnessed even the cancellation of admission even after many months of the admission.

29. 27. Sports and Games Talented youth in sports and games get ample recognitions now. Many thrilling examples of such success stories motivate the younger generations. The institutions should not have constraints in the development of such physical activities in the campus. Stadiums, Games facilities, Sports academy, Gymnasiums, Coaching facilities and Athletic Sponsoring facilities make this department strong.

30. 28. Cultural Programs Extra curricular activities makes the campus life lively and colorful. Institutions with Multicultural student community makes a vibrant campus atmosphere with lot of programs throughout the year. This enables student to participate in such programs and develop their talents. The support of the institutional management is essential in this regard.

31. 29. Additional Academic programs Seminars Workshops Paper Presentations Symposiums Quiz Competitions

32. 30. Student Community Students makes the Campus. The senior students influence the juniors. The friends motivate the colleagues. They share dreams, classrooms, memories, friends, …… life. The deep and passive influence of students on each other directly affects their results, motivation levels, life outlooks, morality, habits, etc. This parameter is very difficult to analyze without the help of the inmates.

33. 31. International affiliations and Student Exchange Programs Globalization brought everyone closer. Academic proximity is realized through affiliations, credit transfer systems and student exchange programs. The cultural exposure, knowledge sharing and personal interactions with foreigners helps the students to adapt to any life situation globally.

34. 32. Banking Facilities Money matters. A banking support within the campus is a great help to students by means of liquidity and time. Parents too can make a system in putting the money in the account to control the spending nature of the students. Many banks have branches or ATM counter in campuses now.

35. 33. Religion and Worship facilities Many parents prefer to send their children to an institution which have direct or indirect worship facility. It may not be within the campus, but proximity to spiritual things is a concern of many Indian parents. Three to six years of life in the campus may influence them more materially than spiritually. Parents should make sure of such facilities before admitting the student in an institution.

36. 34. Grievance Cell This enables to mitigate the complaints in an Institution. Such facility can strategically act as a tool in the policy making process. Facility to complaint is the indication of the management tio improve and assist

37. 35. Industry Interactions Professional education is backed by the industry. Without the exposure to the particular industry, the qualification won’t be accepted. Different levels of Industry interactions are happening with academic sector. Right from placement assistance to incubation centers are evolved due to the heavy requirement of quality manpower now. Internship, tie up programs, live project exposure, official training partnership, etc are some of the combinations of the industry involvements in the campuses.

38. 36. The establishment of the Institution The age of the institution matters. Veteran teaching methods which withstood the test of time attracts natural demand. Comparatively younger and newer institutions may suffer many problems in this age of heavy competition.

39. 36. Standard of Education The overall performance of the institution gives the feel of its standard. Standard of education shows the ‘through put’ process of the student. Some professional colleges are like professional parallel colleges. A system is made to process the course program with minimum facilities is one way of doing it. Such approaches spoils the career and many fruitful years of the student. Educational standard is not the building; it is not the faculty even; it is not the campus; it is not the library; it is not the result; nor the placement. It is a culture. It comes from a dedication with continual performance to mould young minds into professionals using the system of all the above.

40. 37. Testimonies Please give a serious consideration to testimonies. Minimum three testimonies are required for an unbiased picture. Testimonies of the faculty Testimonies of the Parents Testimonies of the Students

41. 38. Rating Institutional rating helps students to find the position of a particular institution in comparison with other institutions. Magazines and special agencies do the rating. Please go through the parameters and panels who decided the ratings. It may not be the last word; but give you an indication to the right direction.

42. 39. Placements Student procurement was the challenge for many institutions. But placement is the challenge for better institutions. The recognition of the right kind of teaching comes by the industry acceptance of the students. May the training include any curriculum, the industry is the final word of acceptance. Placement Cell, Special training programmes, Augmentation Programmes, Finishing School, Competence enhancement programmes etc all aims at the high placement ration of the institution. The number of companies participated, number students recruited, number of offers came to students, number of offers declined, etc reflects the professional output of the institution. The nature of the Campus recruitment, the levels of salary offered and the analysis of the failure are dealt in the placement department.

43. 40. Discipline The system adopted by the Institution can be seen in every aspect of the academic system which reflects the discipline. The admission procedure, Student entry system, classroom management, staff coordination, reporting system, fee collection, fines, freedom at the hostels, internal assessments, etc are indicaters of the institutional discipline. Social evils like ragging, usage of drugs, sexual harassments, etc have campus oriented influences. Parents and students must take these aspects into serious consideration before finalizing the institutional option.

44. 41. Single Point of Contact Many institutions are keeping a mentor system where few students are under his responsibility all the time. Parents or guardian can contact them to know the well beings of their ward. The Point of Contact is a great help to the students and especially to the parents. Worried mothers and concerned NRI parents get relief from unwanted worried through this service. If there is no mentoring system, make sure that you have a person in charge to get the right information about your ward as and when you wish.

45. 42. Campus and Campus life The higher education period is the most colourful age of a person and the life of teenagers in the campus is attractive to everybody involved. The life in the campus will never come back and the memories will be green throughout the life. Choose a Campus with full Campus life that your fond memories will always be colourful and vibrant. The Campus means the property and the infrastructure and the Campus life is the atmosphere for the positive growth of the student in all respects to become a successful gentleman / gentle women.

46. Thank you! Wish you all Success!!