CRITERION I: CURRICULAR ASPECTS
1.1 Curriculum Design and Development
1.1.1 How is the institutional vision and mission reflected in the academic programmes of the university?
The University offers various academic programmes in Engineering, Applied Sciences, Pharmacy and Management to develop, enhance, and improve the quality of human resources. The courses offered by the University are highly relevant to the needs of the Industry and the society and reach the expectations of stakeholders. The latest requirements of Research & Development (R&D), Industry, Government and Society are suitably incorporated in the curriculum design and development and are reviewed once in two/three years to excel in teaching programmes. The curricula are designed to improve the employment potential nationally and internationally.
The University also provides adequate library facilities with latest books and journals and Computer laboratories to the faculty and students to achieve excellence in teaching and research.
Several Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) have been signed nationally and internationally, such as, with Central Institute of Tool Design, Hyderabad, Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden and Asian Institute of Technology Bangkok to make our students acceptable at a global level.
The University also provides opportunity for the faculty and students to organise/participate conferences, workshops and seminars in emerging areas.
1.1.2 Does the university follow a systematic process in the design and development of the curriculum? If yes, give details of the process (need, assessment, feedback, etc.).
The University has constituted Boards of Studies (BoS) for each Department at Under Graduate (UG) and Post Graduate (PG) levels consisting of experts from Government, industry and eminent academic institutions, such as, IIT’s NIT’s, other Universities, colleges and alumni. Normally two out of every five members in each board are external experts. In all the other academic committees about 45% external members are involved at the discretion of the Vice-Chancellor.
The Boards of Studies decide on the curriculum and contents of the syllabi based on the feedback from the stakeholders, such as R&D establishments, industry, academia, alumni and society. The proposed curriculum is discussed at length in periodic meetings of the respective Boards of Studies to prepare the final draft. The final draft is placed before the Academic Senate for approval.
1.1.3 How are the following aspects ensured through curriculum design and development?
* Employability :
The University offers various courses in the employment relevant areas in Engineering/Technology and Sciences useful for the development of the society. To ensure that the offered programmes are suitable to the needs of industry, experts from relevant industries and other R &D organisations are included in the Boards of Studies.
Feedback from the stakeholders is collected to include their suggestions in the new curriculum. Courses to enhance communication skills are included in curriculum to increase the employability. Internships and live projects are also undertaken by students to enhance employability.
∗ Innovation :
The University introduced Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) for Postgraduate and Undergraduate programmes in all the constituent and affiliated colleges. The University designed self-learning system through e-Learning systems developed by Centre for Innovative Technologies and conduct e-classes through online mode are also conducted by the University.
The University has developed lecture contents (e-LSDM) of all courses offered in B.Tech. and placed the courses on-line for the benefit of students of constituent and affiliated colleges. This is in addition to NPTEL courses already available on-line.
The University has also established an Entrepreneurship Development Cell (EDC) to train the students in their respective fields of study. Guest lectures, Workshops, Seminars and visits to Industries/Institutions are organized on regular basis. The Entrepreneurship Development Cell helps in developing entrepreneurship skills among the students through their interaction with Industries, Institutes/Alumni and Research organizations.
∗ Research:
The University encourages the faculty and students to pursue value addition research in emerging areas by involving local industry located in Hyderabad Metropolitan area specialized with Pharma, Defence R&D, Biotechnology, Aerospace and IT. Effective interaction with them has enabled our research scholars and M.Tech. /M. Pharm. / M.Sc.
students to undertake live research projects for win-win scenarios.
1.1.4 To what extent does the university use the guidelines of the regulatory bodies for developing and/or restructuring the curricula? Has the university been instrumental in leading any curricular reform which has created a national impact?
The University follows the guidelines issued by the regulatory bodies like UGC, AICTE, Pharmaceutical Council of India and Government while designing the curricula.
The University included subjects like Environmental Studies and Disaster Management, based on the guidelines issued by Government. Based on the UGC and State Government's suggestion, a subject named “Gender Sensitization” has been prescribed in all the Under Graduate courses. The guidelines of UGC/AICTE are followed for apportioning the curriculum content into basic sciences, humanities, core engineering, etc.
Ninety percent of curriculum of the University matches with the model curricula developed by UGC/AICTE.
1.1.5 Does the university interact with industry, research bodies and the civil society in the curriculum revision process? If so, how has the university benefitted through interactions with the stakeholders?
Yes, experts from industries, Research & Development organisations and other reputed academic institutes are invited during Boards of Studies meetings. The feedback from industry, research organisations and members of civil society is considered while designing the curriculum. This will provide meaningful interaction between academicians and other stakeholders. While organising workshops and conferences, the academicians get an opportunity to interact with the experts concerned and this will help in the modification of curriculum accordingly.
1.1.6 Give details of how the university facilitates the introduction of new programmes of studies in its affiliated colleges.
The affiliated colleges of the University are encouraged to propose new courses relevant to the societal needs through BOS meetings as per the norms and guidelines of UGC, AICTE, State and Central Governments. For example a course in Gender Sensitization was introduced in B.Tech/ B.Pharm at second year second semester level after conducting two workshops inviting all teachers and considering their suggestions on how this course ought to be taught in the classroom effectively.
1.1.7 Does the university encourage its colleges to provide additional skill-oriented programmes relevant to regional needs? Cite instances (not applicable for unitary universities).
Yes, the University encourages and offers skill oriented programmes. For the
development of Science and Technology, Government of India established an Entrepreneurship Development Cell (EDC) in the University in December 2002 with an initial grant of 10.42 Lakhs. The EDC organizes Entrepreneurship awareness camps, and Entrepreneurship development programmes to various sections of society. The University offers various certificate courses through distance education.
The University also encourages and conducts faculty development programmes, refresher courses, orientation courses for faculty, student orientation programmes, management development programmes, workshops, conferences of national and international repute.
For example, JNTUH in collaboration with NASSCOM and Telangana Academy of Skills and Knowledge has reoriented the curriculum in Data Analytics of Cyber Security with effect from January 2016 in the curriculum of B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering, Information Technology for third year second semester, fourth year first and second semesters and made it more practice oriented.