Higher Education Institutions In India Research Articles

The growth and evolution of higher educational institutions In India pertaining 19th to science education in the second half of the century and the early two 20th decades of the century

The growth and evolution of higher educational institutions In India pertaining 19th to science education in the second half of the century and the early two 20th decades of the century

The growth and evolution of higher educational institutions In India pertaining 19th to science education in the second half of the century and the early two 20th decades of the century

The growth and evolution of higher educational institutions In India pertaining 19th to science education in the second half of the century and the early two 20th decades of the century

Happiness: A New Perspective Contributing Towards Learning for Post-Pandemic Higher Educational Institutions

Purpose. The word ‘pandemic’ reminds us of the disaster it has created in the world. The present paper aims to explore the gender-based difference in happiness levels among students of Indian higher education institutions (HEIs) during the pandemic. The study elaborates on the skill to remain happy by providing a happiness model useful in curriculum modification in HEIs for better learning of students. Design/ methodology. A self-constructed questionnaire was used to collect data from 642 respondents through purposive sampling. SPSS software was used for data analysis. Such statistical methods as independent t-test, multiple regression, and AMOS were employed for structural equation modelling. Findings. The statistical results showed no significant difference in the levels of happiness between the male and female students. Physical, psychological, social, and financial factors and semester stress were found to contribute to the happiness of students, and gender had a significant impact on physical, financial, and semester stress. Finally, a happiness model was developed. Originality. This research presents a model with five major contributing factors to happiness during the pandemic for students in Indian HEIs. The impact of gender on overall happiness and its contributing factors were also studied. Research limitation. The study should be expanded in terms of data collection, reaching more regions of India and outside to generalise the results. Practical implication. The outcomes that emerged from the study can be incorporated into the curriculum to prioritise happiness and improve students’ learning. Social Implication. A modified curriculum will help students to remain happy which automatically increases learning.

New Education Policy 2020 and Reforms in Higher Educational Institutions in India

New Education Policy 2020 and Reforms in Higher Educational Institutions in India

A STUDY OF SOCIAL SUCCESS FACTORS OF KM FOR CREATION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Dearing report by Higher Education Funding Council for England, 2006, suggested that in the times of intensified global competition, high- level skills and knowledge would become pertinent and indispensable for the country’s economic success. The SECI model of knowledge conversion given by Nonaka and his colleagues, is extensively used across industries and nations to explore the knowledge creation dimension of knowledge management. Areas of KM such as creation of novel knowledge and knowledge as intellectual capital require a lot of work and consideration from both theoretical as well as applied perspectives. With this in mind, the present study seeks to explore the social enablers or success factors contributing to knowledge creation in the higher education institutions in India. The findings suggest that the social success factors in the study significantly impact the process of knowledge creation. Moreover, different social enablers contribute significantly to different modes of the process of conversion and creation of new knowledge. The pragmatic implication of the present study could guide institutions to assess the prevalence of knowledge creation practices and success factors to be emphasized more to increase knowledge conversion and creation with respect to their organization.

On the Role of Social Media in Spanish Language Learning in Indian Context

Research on social media in the foreign language classroom has grown significantly in the last decade. The usage of social media has increased many times during the pandemic due to known reasons. The aim of the present study is to examine the perception of the use of social media in learning Spanish as a foreign language in a non-native context. The research was carried out in Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) where Spanish is taught as a foreign language at graduate and undergraduate levels. The objective was to explore the attitudes and perceptions of the students towards the use of social media platforms for learning Spanish as a foreign language and examine the differences in its use concerning gender, background and year of study. The research study was developed in the quantitative framework with the use of a comprehensive questionnaire as an instrument in this study. The results showed that the students tend to use social media for enhancing and reinforcing their communication skills and language learning capabilities including reading, writing, and learning new phrases and structures. Moreover, the study also found the benefits of collaborative learning embedded during the use of social media, which helped in improving the learning process sophistically.

A study on teachers' perception towards E-learning adoption in higher educational institutions in India during the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeThe present study examines the foremost determinants of teachers' perception, i.e. teachers' satisfaction, attitude and continuance intention towards adopting e-learning in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in India during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through online Google forms from 1,111 (1,060 considered useable) teachers of different HEIs in India using the purposive sampling technique and was analyzed by PLS-SEM (performing partial least squares-structural equation modeling).FindingsResults of this study show that perceived usefulness (PU) followed by institutional support, perceived ease of use (PEOU), and teacher-student interaction positively and significantly impact teachers' satisfaction. Results also revealed that perceived usefulness (PU), institutional support, and satisfaction significantly affect teachers' attitude. Finally and most notably, teachers' continuance intention towards using online teaching in HEIs is most significantly influenced by teachers' satisfaction than perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), and attitude.Originality/valueThe authors anticipate that this study brings a significant and valuable input to the existing literature by providing inclusive research in a more harmonizing understanding of the teachers' satisfaction, attitude, and continuance intention with online teaching-learning practices in diverse educational institutions.

Differential effect of age in academia: a three-way interaction effect of age, technological aids and knowledge sharing on research output

PurposeAmidst the concerns surrounding knowledge sharing, especially in academia, the study attempts to understand its impact on Research output. To deepen our understanding, the study considered the differing impact of age on knowledge sharing and research output through the lens of Continuity Theory and Socioemotional Selectivity Theory.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 385 faculties working in higher education institutions in India. The study uses Hierarchical regression analysis in SPSS 22.0 to test the hypotheses proposed.FindingsA three-way interaction analysis of 385 faculties confirmed our presumption that the effect of knowledge sharing on research output was different for the two-age groups. Surprisingly, the positive effect of knowledge sharing on research output was stronger in older faculties than younger ones. However, technology usage and its effect on research output, declined with age.Research limitations/implicationsFindings gave interesting insights which contradict our earlier notions of increasing age and suggest that instead of blaming increasing age alone for the reduced output, attention must be paid towards other hidden influencing factors.Originality/valueThe study is the first of its kind that investigates the effectiveness of knowledge sharing in academia and the impact of age on the underlying phenomenon. This study makes a novel attempt to deepen our understanding of the impact of age on research output.

Workplace Inclusion as a Mediator of the Relationship between Workforce Diversity and Intention to Quit: Results from Indian HEIs

Composition of modern workforce has been changing on account of newer developments and emerging trends in the global economy that transformed and reshaped the relationship between employee and employer. The article aims to study the association among workforce diversity and intention to quit with mediating effect of workplace inclusion. The attempt is made to identify the variance in perception among employees’ towards the workforce diversity with respect to their gender, age, and experience in the present institution. Data collection was made during March 2019 to September 2019 from 347 employees working in higher education institutions (HEIs) in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, India. Hierarchical multiple regression was administered to examine the relationship between the dependent, independent, and mediating variables. ANOVA and Z-test are used to examine the difference in perception of various dimensions of diversity. Data analysis reveals partial mediation effect of workplace inclusion on the association among workforce diversity and intention to quit. The practical implication of the present research work emphasizes the reorientation of management practices to nurture employee inclusion in the HEI through active support system that embraces the engrossment of top management in the all-inclusive process. The present study examined the cause and effect relationship of workplace diversity on intention to quit where workplace inclusion is used as mediating variable. The empirical evidence of the study reveals that employees’ perception towards their institution highly impact their intention to stay. Thus, the study recommends the HEIs to develop such human resource practices that enhance the contribution to every employee irrespective of their diverse characteristics.

Stimulating CSR learning collaboration by the mentor universities with digital tools and technologies – an empirical study during the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeThe research aims to measure the effectiveness of collaborative learning exchanges transpired through digital tools and technologies (DT&Ts) employed by the mentor universities during the COVID-19 pandemic by conducting an empirical study on undergraduate students in Indian higher educational institutions (HEIs) under the mentorship program based on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. The pandemic scenario, its impact on the mentor university's social responsibility and the way DT&Ts can assist are investigated in this article.Design/methodology/approachThe interactions with experts and students were conducted to explore the DT&Ts for learning exchanges. Next, structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to validate the model and perform regression analysis. The quantitative data collection was made through questionnaires during the second deadly wave of COVID-19 that hit India.FindingsThe independent variables (IVs) such as the IT infrastructure support (IT_IS), virtual collaborative tools (VCTs) and future-oriented technologies (FOTs) have a significant impact on the CSR learning outcomes (CSR_LOs) of undergraduate students under the mentorship program. However, IV research instruments for innovation could not make a significant effect.Research limitations/implicationsThe IVs IT_IS, VCTs and FOTs influence the CSR_LOs, while RII does not have an influential impact.Practical implicationsAs the online learning environment is expected to stay at least in a blended form, adequate CSR funding in infrastructure is necessitated to harness the full potential of this important resource, technology. The results of this empirical investigation affirm that IT_IS, VOTs and FOTs significantly impact CSR_LOs during the crisis. The study findings would encourage the mendtor universities and their stakeholders, including the mentee universities, to evolve and create an ecosystem for effective management of these resources to attain positive outcomes. The study findings can guide the mentor universities in managing uncertainties like pandemics and effectively using the earlier-mentioned critical resources for social responsibility. This research also allows the development of future applications adnd models in mentor-mentee universities for social responsibility, post-pandemic transformation and resilience.Social implicationsThe DT&Ts came to the immediate rescue during the pandemic and positively affected collaborative CSR_LOs by the mentor universities, but they have not evolved to a level where offline learning can be replaced entirely. Hence, it can be inferred that a hybrid model is preferable. The study also improves the understanding of how DT&Ts are being harnessed to aid collaborative learning in fulfilling the mentors' CSR in fatal emergencies. The purpose is to equip the education system through mentorship so that universities can sustain, innovate and grow even in trying times. Also, it discusses the dynamics of various DT&Ts for creating a sustainable learning environment and utilizing them to make the teaching prolific and influential.Originality/valueThere is a scarcity of literature regarding the learning outcomes realized through CSR initiatives and collaboration between mentor-mentee institutions. There is a need to understand how these knowledge exchanges continued despite the physical restrictions during the pandemic. In this direction, this study helps to understand how the DT&Ts played a critical role in continuing learning and keeping abreast in a knowledge society from the perspective of resource-based view (RBV) in these precarious situations.

Analysis of Accreditation of Indian Universities Located in the Western Part of India Considering NAAC Quality Indicators

With the introduction of the National Education Policy 2020, the focus of higher education in India is shifting towards the holistic development of students through multidisciplinary education. It also envisages higher education institutions with motivated, skilled, and focused faculty members who are capable of providing quality teaching-learning process as well as engaged in visible and relevant research. Also, universities are mainly meant to cater to large masses, conduct research that is of societal importance, and reach out to society through extension activities. Looking into these aspects, the quality assessment of the universities is of utmost importance for their complete development. The overall progress of universities will depend upon the formulation and implementation of policies leading to a better teaching-learning environment, infrastructure for teaching and research, mobilization of funds, excellence in research, and extension activities. Uniformity in the evaluation of the quality of the universities requires taking all these factors into consideration. National Assessment and Accreditation Council, which evaluates the quality of higher education institutions in India, grades the universities based broadly on these criteria. In this paper, we attempt to analyze the accreditation of universities based on their grades obtained in various criteria set by NAAC. We have also tried to find the correlation of some of the criteria on other quality indicators.

Indian government initiatives on cyberbullying: A case study on cyberbullying in Indian higher education institutions.

In the digitally empowered society, increased internet utilization leads to potential harm to the youth through cyberbullying on various social networking platforms. The cyberbullying stats keep on rising each year, leading to detrimental consequences. In response to this online threat, the Indian Government launched different helplines, especially for the children and women who need assistance, various complaint boxes, cyber cells, and made strict legal provisions to curb online offenses. This research evaluates the relevant initiatives. Additionally, a survey is conducted to get insights into cyberbullying in higher education institutions, discussing multiple factors responsible for youth and adolescents being cyberbullied and a few measures to combat it in universities/colleges.

New education policy 2020: Job enlargement practices in higher education institutions in India

New education policy 2020: Job enlargement practices in higher education institutions in India

Work from home issues due to COVID-19 lockdown in Indian higher education sector and its impact on employee productivity

PurposeThis study focuses on work from home (WFH) issues faced by faculty members of higher education institutes in India during the coronavirus infection (COVID-19) pandemic. The study aims to understand the impact of these issues on faculty productivity. The study also analyzes the moderating effect of information technology (IT) training on the relationship between work- from-home issues and faculty productivity.Design/methodology/approachThis study is quantitative. Data were collected from 215 faculty members working in higher education institutes in India. Correlation and hierarchical regression analysis have been used to analyze the data.FindingsThe analysis revealed that online teaching, lack of technology acceptance, poor working environment and work–life conflict negatively impacts faculty productivity. Thus, IT training work as a moderator plays an important role in reducing the WFH issues mainly Online Teaching, Lack of Technology acceptance & Poor Working Enviornment by increasing faculty productivity. IT training work does not moderate the relationship between work–life conflict and faculty productivity.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is limited to the higher education sector; the research limits the generalization of the higher education sector's finding to other sectors.Practical implicationsThe findings would help policymakers and educational institutes to explore the use of digital technology to break boundaries of workplace and education institutes to disseminate knowledge to a global level. The findings also help to understand how the workplace is essential for the smooth functioning of tasks of the institute.Social implicationsThe study will also help management, institute, organization, society and individuals to change their mindset that education can be imparted through online mode in a better way with the help of digital technology.Originality/valueThere is a scarcity of research work examining WFH issues in conducting mandatory online classes due to COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19's relation to faculty productivity in the higher education sector. This study contributes to the knowledge regarding the impact of COVID-19 on faculty productivity in the education sector.

Supporting the emergence of Indian design through design and innovation centres – A methodological approach

In this article a set of strategic interventions developed through the Erasmus + KA2 project entitled ‘Design and Innovation Capacity Building in India/DESINNO’ which is under implementation within the action ‘Capacity Building in the field of Higher Education’ are presented. The approach developed brings together an historical overview of design in India, an overview of Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs) and industry in relation to design in the country, a literature review of relevant emerging field in contemporary design, an overview of relevant sectorial reports from India and the European Union and fieldwork comprising of surveys and focus groups in India. This triangulation of the interventions chosen allows to move forward to the deployment of the strategy developed in three Indian HEIs. The maker movement, social innovation and grassroots innovation form a unity that is tailor made for the Strengths and Opportunities present in contemporary India. Design hubs, community makers spaces in HEIs, are the central pillar in this strategy. Additionally, the knowledge transfer to Indian academics and professional designers by European HEIs in an open and collaborative fashion aims to provide the necessary competences to support said design hubs.

Knowledge management process, infrastructure, and system quality as resilient strategies to respond to COVID‐19 pandemic challenges: Evidence from higher educational institutions in India

The COVID‐19 global pandemic has adversely affected educational institutions worldwide, resulting in frequent mandatory lockdowns and social distancing rules. After waiting for a brief period, most organizations, including educational institutions, moved their operations from traditional in‐class to virtual, web‐based teaching‐learning. As a result of unprecedented change, faculty, students, and administrators faced several challenges. However, how the educational institutions were coping with this challenging situation remained an important question. To address this, we present Knowledge Management Process (KMP), Knowledge Management System Infrastructure (KMSINF), and Knowledge Management System Quality (KMSQU) as resilient strategies to convert the challenges into opportunities. Using the KM processes and practices, a complex model is constructed to positively influence employee commitment, performance, and job satisfaction. A survey instrument was used to collect data from 747 faculty members from 14 higher educational institutions in the southern part of India. After testing the measurement properties using the Lisrel package of structural equation modeling, the complex model was tested using Hayes PROCESS macros. The results indicate (i) KMP is positively related to performance and employee commitment, (ii) employee commitment mediates the relationship between KMP and performance, (iii) KMSINF moderates the relationship between KMP and employee commitment, (iv) KMSQU moderates the moderated relationship between KMP and KMSINF in influencing the employee commitment, and (v) performance is positively related to job satisfaction. The results suggest that KM processes, system infrastructure, and system quality are effective, resilient strategies to bring educational institutions to normal functioning during the present global pandemic. The implications for KM, employee commitment, and job satisfaction are discussed.

Uttar Pradesh academics’ occupational stress, organisational work environment and work-life balance: A quantitative study

Orientation: In today’s fast-paced workplace, the notion of work-life balance is becoming increasingly relevant. Work-life balance has emerged as a critical area of human resource management, attracting the attention of government, researchers, and professionals in search of innovative ways to boost employee morale, retain employees, and provide employers with tools to help them achieve a better work-life balance. Employees’ emotional and physical health’s are both affected by an unhealthy work environment. Stress was viewed as a sign of weakness in many businesses.Research purpose: This study investigates the mediating effect of occupational stress on the relationship between work-life balance (WLB) and organisational work environment among academics, as well as the moderating effect of demographic variables such as gender, job levels, and marital status of this relationship.Research approach/design and method: Using a survey method, primary data was collected from academics working in India. A structured questionnaire was drafted and introduced as a method for data collection. Respondents were chosen using a judgemental sampling method. To test the hypothesis, the mediating effect and moderating effect were used, and the statistical regression analysis was done with the help of Professor Andrew’s process macro and partial least squares smart (PLS).Main findings: The organisational work environment had a significant impact on the WLB of academics employed at higher education institutes in India. When comparing male and female academics, the effect of the organisational work environment on occupational stress was found to be higher for female academics. For academics at various job levels, the impact of the organisational work environment on occupational stress was found to be significant. Marital status had no significant moderating association effect on academics between WLB, occupational stress, and organisational work environment.Implications: Institutions are encouraged to provide family-friendly policies and create a good work environment for academics that helps decrease the stress level, improve the WLB and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of academics.Contribution: An investigation into relationships between work-life balance, occupational stress and working environment holds a number of implications in the management of educational set-up. This research might be very useful to school administrators in terms of improving work-life balance and reducing occupational stress among academics, in order to create a work environment that everyone is glad to be a part of. As a result, academic institutions’ organisational efficiency and effectiveness will improve.

Organizational resilience and employee performance: the mediation of perceived organizational support in the Indian HEIs

PurposeWith the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the human race is compelled to fight an unseen microscopic enemy. Coronavirus has had a significant impact on the lives of people working in higher educational institutes (HEIs). The purpose of this research is to examine the effects of organizational resilience (ORes) and perceived organizational support (POS) on employee performance (EP), as well as the mediating effect of POS on the relationship between ORes and EP, in the time of a crisis of such massive scale.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey questionnaire was used to collect data (N = 390) from teaching and non-teaching professionals in HEIs across India. Further, regression analysis, factor analysis, structured equation modeling, reliability and validity analysis, mediation analysis and model-fit indices analysis were employed to analyze the data collected from target population.FindingsThe study results confirm the full mediation effect of POS on the relationship between ORes and EP. According to the results of the study, ORes and POS have a part to play in enhancing the performance levels of employees working in HEIs.Practical implicationsThis study is especially crucial for the employees and the organizational leadership as the study can help improve the resilience capabilities in the HEIs. As indicated in the study, ORes and the POS are both instrumental in enhancing the performance of the employees.Originality/valueWith reference to India's HEIs, the current study investigates the mediating effect of POS on ORes and EP relationship during the time of crisis.

Transformational Leadership and Organizational Commitment: A Higher Educational Institutions Perspective

Higher educational institutions (HEIs) in India are plagued by many problems, one of the most noticeable being the high rate of attrition and turnover. While several factors account for turnover, one of the most prominent reasons for most employees is the lack of identification and belongingness with their institutions. The affection, however, does not evolve in a day and requires perennial nurturing from transformational leaders. Transformational leaders pervade a feeling of belongingness among employees for their organization through transcendence of employees’ interests for organizational interests. The relationship between transformational leaders and organizational commitment, though well documented, is not linear or direct. The mechanisms and boundary condition that explains these effects have remained a holy grail in Indian HEIs. The present study proposed that organizational commitment can be increased by transformational leadership associated with motivational job characteristics. It further proposed that the perceived organizational support strengthens the relation between transformational leadership and job characteristics as well as between job characteristics and organizational commitment. The study employed a survey method using a proportionate stratified random sampling method to collect data from 320 employees from 32 institutions. Results of our study support a structural model whereby indirect effects supplement the direct effects of transformational leadership on organizational commitment through the mechanisms of job characteristics. Further, it found that the relationships were significantly stronger for followers who perceived more organizational support. The findings of this study will help institutions to get a dedicated and committed workforce to render their service for long and reduce the cost of recruitment, selection, training and switching.

Remote assessment strategies in the post-COVID era of blended learning do they have a role?

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, students' right to education has been threatened globally, and medical colleges are not an exception to this. During COVID-19 induced lockdown, medical colleges had to resort to online classes instead of regular academic sessions. Medical colleges and other higher education institutions in India faced a challenge in determining on how to engage their students in the learning process and assess them using reliable, effective and acceptable methods. Now that the covid pandemic is nearly over, many medical colleges have already started regular sessions. At the same time, some continue to use online lectures and other tools for engaging their learners in addition to regular classes. Medical colleges also used different online tools for formative assessments. But the effectiveness of such online educational activities is yet to be established in India. This article discusses how unsupervised online tests can be used for formative and summative exams in post-covid medical education.