BEST PRACTICES

Best Practice I: Samshodhana Sagara

1. Title of the Practice:

Creation of a repository of quality-knowledge, through impetus for research culture, named as Samshodhana Sagara.

2. Objectives of the Practice

The objectives of Samshodhana Sagara are:
• To build an ecosystem that establishes and sustains quality scientific research culture
• To provide impetus to research carried out at the University that facilitates creation and dissemination of useful knowledge
The intended outcomes are the quality publications in the indexed journals and conference of repute, and patents.

3. The Context

The research performance of faculty members is prioritized during annual faculty appraisals in almost all HEIs. Every research funding agency, ranking framework of HEIs as well as accreditation agency, bestow prime importance for the research performance of an institution. Usually, the number of research publications of an individual or an HEI, and impact factors are considered as key research performance indicators. This has given rise to a rat-race amongst the faculty members and even amongst HEIs, to lay emphasis on number of research publications, often compromising the quality. This has resulted in low quality publications in predatory journals, often paid ones, and mushrooming number of conferences accepting such publications without peer-review process.

The primary purpose of research – a systematic and creative activity undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge of both individual and society, and the use of this knowledge to devise new applications, seem to have been generally undermined.

4. The Practice

DSU realizes that the efforts to quantify the quality of research is eventually bound to fail. Hence, it prefers giving importance to practicing quality-research carried out by the faculty members to the quantity, aiming to devise new applications and knowledge dissemination that ultimately adds to the stock of useful knowledge of society.

DSU opts PhD degree holders hailing from INIs, during the faculty-recruitment process. The existing faculty members without PhD qualification are encouraged to pursue PhD. It has created position of Research Professor, at university level, with a mandate to prioritise inter disciplinary research and oversee the quality.

DSU maintains high standards while selecting the candidates who would pursue PhD in the University. It conducts a stringent entrance test, followed by a rigorous interview by an expert panel, where the candidate should present a research proposal. Candidates are encouraged to carry out interdisciplinary research. Following UGC Guidelines, two courses on Research Methodology, and a course on Research Publication Ethics have been made mandatory for research scholars.

DSU has been advocating a policy by promoting publications in journals indexed by Scopus and Web of Science, and proceedings at reputed conferences held in INIs. During annual faculty appraisals, the recognition granted to below par conference proceedings, and publications in predatory journals is progressively withdrawn. The quality publications are showcased in the online research compendium for dissemination.

DSU has implemented a Seed Money Grant Scheme for teachers, with a ceiling of Rs. 5 lakhs per proposal, to stimulate quality research in strategic areas of national relevance and interdisciplinary areas. The internal calls inviting proposals are made every year, scrutinized, sanctioned, and projects are periodically reviewed for progress.

The faculty members are encouraged to take up externally funded research projects as well as consultancy work with revenue sharing. For the principal investigators of externally funded research projects, DSU offers an incentive of 7.5 % of the amount sanctioned for the purchase of permanent equipment. In the event the actual amount spent for the externally funded research project happen to exceed the grant amount, DSU will bear the additional cost to the tune of a few lakh rupees.

DSU practices safeguarding of the intellectual properties of research findings with potential business value, though and IP Cell, established in collaboration with the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology.

5. Evidence of Success

Currently, DSU has over 40% faculty members with PhD qualification. It has over 85 research supervisors who are permitted to supervise PhD research scholars subsequent to a stringent and pre-specified qualifications criteria. Two university level Research Professors have been appointed giving impetus to quality research.

Till date, 17 PhD scholars received their PhD degrees, with 8 such awards during the first batch.

As on date, DSU has over 950 publications indexed by Scopus, Web of Science and others, and over 25 published patents. The percentage of publications indexed by Scopus has been 45 %, 55 %, 63 %, 66 %, 68 % and 70 %, respectively during last five calendar years. The quality of publications has been improving on an yearly basis.

So far, there are 8 Seed Money Grants awarded, with a total sanctioned amount of Rs. 12.6 lakhs.

DSU, relatively a young university, has already carried out over 30 externally funded research projects from funding agencies like, DST, ISRO, DRDO, SERB, DBT, VGST-KFIST, Dassault, and non-governmental agencies. Many such projects have been for real-life industrial applications. The total amount received through external research funding and consultancy has crossed Rs. 4.6 crores.

6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required

The long distance from the city-centre to the Kudlu Gate campus where DSU is presently operating, was a constraint to faculty members to extend their stay beyond the working hours, for research activities. This was resolved by providing frequent and free bus transportation to the faculty members. Further, with a fault-free leased internet connection, remote access to the computers, and e-resources, such issues were addressed.

Faculty members tended to focus on the number game, compromising quality of research publications. During the annual faculty appraisals, the recognition given to non-indexed, publications in predatory journals were progressively withdrawn.

DSU found it challenging to procure externally funded research projects, being a newly established university. However, the seed money research grant scheme triggered initial research, facilitated to test novel ideas that culminate in developing in to research proposals worth to be considered by external funding agencies later.

Best Practice II: Kaushalyodyama Sagara

1. Title of the Practice:

Kaushalyodyama Sagara - Skilling of students and entrepreneurship development

2. Objectives of the Practice

In line with the vision of the University, in order to be a centre for excellence in training, innovation, and entrepreneurship, the objectives of Kaushalyodyama Sagara are:
• To build an ecosystem of multi-disciplinary problem-solving culture at the University, provide skills, and real-life oriented practical intensive training
• To develop an entrepreneurship culture at the University where innovative ideas can flourish, and fostered with a world-class innovation-incubation model
The intended outcomes are the multi-skilled and industry-ready graduates; and/or professional graduates walking out of DSU with a degree in one hand and an incubated start-up company on the other.

3. The Context

With the advent of machine learning and artificial intelligence field of studies, many unskilled jobs worldwide are likely to be taken over by the machines. Whereas, the need for a skilled workforce, with multidisciplinary abilities across the sciences, social sciences and humanities, and involving mathematics, computer science, and data science will increasingly be in greater demand. However, with the compartmentalization of disciplines in the form of specializations, laying over-emphasis on engineering education in the society, lack of hands-on experience, and exposure to real-life problem-solving modes, the employability of graduates, of late, has been debatable in the country.

Further, traditionally only the students who have a family business, have been venturing towards entrepreneurship. Owing to the lack of awareness about the copious opportunities, absence of nurturing of innovative ideas, and lack of support system, a majority of graduates are inclined to be job seekers rather than becoming a job giver.

4. The Practice

DSU has been offering skill-intensive B.Voc. degree programs following the UGC guidelines, under National Skills Qualification Framework. Currently five B.Voc. programs are running: B.Voc. in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technology in collaboration with M/s Strides Pharma Science Limited; B.Voc. in Mechatronics in collaboration with NTTF; B.Voc. in Tool Engineering in collaboration with NTTF; B.Voc. IT - Computer Science & Engineering (Data Analytics); and B.Voc. IT - Computer Science & Engineering (Computer Engineering and IT Infrastructure). Further, these programs have the options of multiple intermediate exits, like Diploma and Advanced Diploma. These programs consist of integrated theory and practice sessions, and also the on-job training at the industry. Industry specific task competencies are built-in in these programs.

Leading corporate such as Autodesk, Bosch-Rexroth, Analog Devices, Nvidia, VMWare, ETAS, and GE Healthcare have set up world-class innovation laboratories at DSU for practicing multi-disciplinary approach of problem-solving at the University, and provide real-life oriented, practical training though live projects, involving modelling and simulation, and prototyping.

Atal Innovation Centre-DSU Innovation Foundation (AIC-DSU) provides incubation and supports start-up companies through the provision of a range of services such as infrastructure, training, mentoring, funding and a vast network of value-added services. It attracts innovators and inventors, and help the innovators achieve success as an enterprise by enhancing their efficiency of operations and to clarify the innovator's vision for all aspects of entrepreneurship such as innovation adequacy, commercial feasibility, growth strategies and so on. Good and promising ideas are taken up for nurturing and are examined for its business potential. The focus areas are Healthcare, Mobility / Transport and Waste Management. AIC-DSU provides incubation space with laboratories to support research and solution development. It offers infrastructure support, has start-up friendly policies, provides best of mentor network, seed support and access to its early-stage investor network. Access to support services like financial, legal, IPR filing, language training, translation services are also provided as value added services.

5. Evidence of Success

All the B. Voc. degree programs in collaboration with industries are running successfully. The increase in demand for the number of seats is the best evidence for its success.

The present UG students have been carrying out internships and live-projects in the industry sponsored laboratories. These laboratories also extend training of external members.

The AIC-DSU incubation centre, with 27,000 sq ft of area, has the average occupancy rate of around 70% at any point of time, which often comes close to around 85 %. It has successfully incubated 25 start ups in the last few years, of which 40 % companies had a growth rate of 200 %. It has incubated four women led companies and has partnered with WECONNECT for the biggest Women conference – THINK BIG which attracted over 1000 women entrepreneurs. It has conducted over 100 events and workshops / discussions to encourage networking amongst the entrepreneurs, with more than 45 mentors.

6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required

Conduction of on the job training in the industry for B.Voc. students has been an issue since the beginning of pandemic. This is being addressed by optimizing the number of days of industry visit and the number of days of offline classes in the campus.

Selection of quality startups in the Healthcare, Waste Management, Mobility verticals is an issue, and is addressed by conducting innovation challenges. Funding of the incubatees is a challenge, and hence AIC-DSU has been applying for seed fund support through various schemes of Government. Getting quality mentors to spare their time with the incubatees is a big challenge. This is addressed by organizing group sessions so that mentors’ time is optimally utilized.

Representative evidences for implementation:

Best Practice I

1. Recruitment page mentioning preference for PhD holders and INIs
2. University level Research Professor position created and filled Position 1, and Position 2
3. PhD admission page mentioning preference for interdisciplinary research, entrance test, interview wherein candidate has to present a research proposal
4. Coursework notification, mentioning two courses on Research Methodology and a course on Research Publication Ethics
5. Institutional Research Compendium , showcasing authors, patents and indexing information
6. Scheme for grant of Seed Money for research activities
7. Revenue sharing scheme for consultancy work

Best Practice II

1. Representative B.Voc. Programs with industrial collaborations, link 1, link 2, link 3.
2. Establishment of innovation laboratories
3. Atal Innovation Centre – DSU Innovation Foundation (AIC-DSU) incubation centre, established with funding from NITI Ayog, GoI