Reshma Ravishanker

Higher educational institutions have been recommended to work towards a campus that is replete with Digital and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and a robust infrastructure supporting the same.

This is one of the recommendations of the UGC’s draft Guidelines for Institutional Development Plan for Higher Education Institutions which comes with a time-estimate.

They have been categorized as under physical, digital, innovative, research and intellectual property, supportive facilitative besides infrastructure required for networking and collaboration, having an effective governance structure and financial independence and stability requirements.

Varsities have been asked to provide robust ICT Infrastructure on all campuses to facilitate high speed, internet, communication, and access to online or digital information. Besides, they have been recommended to have a dedicated Campus area network, fiber-optic with at least two alternative internet connectivity sources and an Information and Communication Technology Centre.

With NEP allowing the flexibility of hybrid learning, a provision of an online teaching platform with tools for two-way video and two way-audio interface is deemed essential.

Among the other upgrades, electronic storage of certificates and credentials in National Repositories like National Academic Depository with DigiLocker and Academic Bank of Credits (ABC).

Emphasis is laid on having Digital Infrastructure replete with a paperless office system using an automatic learning management system which includes digital information processing of all teaching, learning, examination, and evaluation activities.

“To strengthen research and have it socially driven, industries should be suggested to contribute to the research activities so as to do the research on live projects and quantify the output, which becomes a win-win situation for both the academics in terms of resources and the industries in terms of live projects,” the guidelines read.

5-star facility

In the indicative list of physical infrastructure requirements, HEIs should not just have suitable guest houses for meeting university requirements but also have “Star hotel type guest hostels” with accommodation, food, and recreation facilities. 

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