About the trust: The R. C. Patel Educational Trust, is imparting quality education for last 38 years to rural and tribal students. It has short but hoary past that challenges the pattern of education in present and future. The R.C. Patel Educational Trust ( RCPET) along with sister institution, The Shirpur Education Society (SES) runs various renowned institutes such as an Engineering College, Two Pharmacy Colleges, An Arts Commerce and Science college, A Women’s College of Arts, A College of Polytechnic, A Junior College of Education (D.Ed. ) and a College of Education ( B.Ed.). RCPET & SES also runs 17 Pre-Primary Schools, 15 Primary Schools, 17 High schools, 07 Ashram schools, 08 Higher secondary schools ,02 Girls hostels and 01 Boys hostel.

About the institute: R. C. Patel Educational Trust’s Institute of Management Research and Development (IMRD), Shirpur has established in the year 1997. Though comparatively new and young institute it developed fast under the visionary leadership of Hon. Amrishbhai R. Patel, the former cabinet minister for school education, sports and youth welfare Maharashtra State. It is a self–financing institution, affiliated to Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari North Maharshtra University, Jalgaon (A-Grade NAAC accredited).MCA and MCA(Integrated) programs are approved by AICTE, New Delhi. IMRD is located in Shirpur, a town run by a municipal council in Dhule district of Maharashtra state, which is situated at the foot of the Satpura ranges and dotted with lush green trees and shrubs all around. The institute has earned repute as a centre for quality education for its prime infrastructure equipped with modern facilities and conductive environment. An academically competent and committed faculty is the backbone of Institute. Our Alumni hold significant position in their profession in India and abroad. IMRD offer Post Graduate program : MCA, MCA ( Integrated ) and MMS at Undergraduate program BCA, BBA and BMS, along with part time diploma courses DCM, DBM, Certificate courses CCBO, CCBM and CCED.

Vision

The vision of the institute is to provide quality higher education to the students of rural and tribal area, aspiring to develop a global perspective in Information Technology and Management Education.

Mission

  1. To remain outstanding provider of high quality management and IT education to create proactive and excellent professionals.
  2. To impart quality education to students and mould them into responsible persons by raising their level of education and social status.
  3. To provide value based education and igniting young minds to bring out the best in them.
  4. To make the students competent in global scenario and become self-reliant.

Institutional Strength

  1. Visionary, pro-active and professional management.
  2. Enviable Position among management institutes in North Maharashtra region.
  3. Well equipped infrastructure facilities.
  4. Young, Competent and Committed faculty.
  5. Institute is located in a beautiful lush green landscaped and pollution free campus.
  6. Enthusiastic support of management for extra curricular and co-curricular activities.

Institutional Weakness

  • Lack of large scale industries in the region.
  • Limited Industry-Institution Interaction due to location…
  • Lack of confidence among rural and tribal students due to undeveloped soft skills at the entry level.
  • Students changing approach towards post graduation admission.

Institutional Opportunity

  • Being a part of a big educational hub, access to various central facilities.
  • Enhanced support from Alumni in institutional development and placement opportunities.
  • Collaboration with industry, R&D organizations and educational institutes of eminence.
  • Institute’s improvement through well reputed assessment bodies like NAAC, NBA etc.

Institutional Challenge

  • Honing the skills and abilities of the students coming from rural and tribal area.
  • Networking and strengthening relationship with stakeholders.
  • Increasing expenses for providing quality education.
  • Attracting meritorious students.
  • Recruiting and retaining highly qualified and experienced faculty.

Executive Summary

The summary of the ensuing detailed report is précised below:

CRITERION I – CURRICULAR ASPECTS

Institute is located at Shirpur and affiliated to Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon. Our curriculum is exactly in line with syllabus prescribed by North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon. Changes are made in line with university guidelines. Academic flexibility has been incorporated through co-curricular in our teaching plan in order to bridge the gap between industry needs and the syllabus. Curriculum delivery is planned in advance to accomplish Vision & Mission of Institute. This process is carried out at the beginning of every academic year. Keeping in view academic planning, faculty members plan and execute their curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular activities through Academic Diary. The delivery of curriculum and implementation of various activities are regularly monitored by Academic Monitoring Committee. The quality of curriculum delivery and attainment of course objectives is ensured through internal assessment, seminar, practical assignments, students attendance etc. Institute has taken initiatives to start add on courses in the fields like Banking, Entrepreneurship etc. to ensure all round development of students and their placement. Institute regularly update academic plan based on the feedback from Faculty members, Students, Alumni and other stake holders. The outcomes of feedback are taken as corrective measures.

Criteria II : Teaching – Learning and Evaluation

Institute conducts admission procedure as per norms laid by apex bodies like DTE, Maharashtra and KBC NMU, Jalagon. However there are not many admissions from other states but institute is given a first preference by candidates in the NMU region for admissions in UG as well as PG programs. That is why we can observe increase in percentage of admissions in the institute every year. After admitting, student in the institute is assessed on the basis of his/her qualifying exam percentile, CET score and first internal assessment’s marks. Based on this evaluation set of activities are deployed to slow learners as well as advanced learners in addition with some common activities. In Innovative teaching approaches, use of academic diary is adopted by faculty members to deliver program effectively. Academic diary is specially designed based on the guidelines and in lined with the core values provided by UGC, under the supervision of former Vice chancellor, who is executive director of the Trust. Academic diary helps faculty members to record each and every curricular activity along with personal notes at one place. It also helps to monitor performance of the students continuously. Despite of regular teaching-learning methods, institute adopts various activities beyond syllabus guidelines like Mini Project Development, Software Exhibition, Best field work competition etc and facilities like ICT enabled classrooms to ease up learning process. Learning through external resources like NPTEL, SWAYAM (e-Certification), YouTube etc. is also encouraged among students. Though Institute face challenge to recruit and retain highly qualified faculty members due to location drawback still have recruited sufficient number of well qualified and competent teachers. Institute closely follows all the examination reforms and the time line set by KBC NMU. The evaluation process is transparent and efficient along with well defined process for grievance redressal. Institute realizes the attainment of teaching and learning process outcome through growing results specifically university rankings and placements of the students.

Criteria III – Research, Innovation and Extension

Institute has constituted Research Motivation Committee to motivate faculty members and students to participate in research related activities. This committee makes aware to faculty members and students to participate in various research conferences/seminars/workshops, to write proposals for grants in research projects and encourages them to participate in state level competitions like Avishkar. At current situation, Institute is in the primal stage of research still faculty members have published research work in various journals and conferences. Institute has framed policy to support faculty members as well as students financially. Administrative help, infrastructural facility and academic assistance are extended to everyone. Institute have Project Incubation Centre in which students are encouraged to take on projects dealing with challenges faced at local level to cope up fulfillment of requirements raised by small scale industries and organizations. Institute is involved extensively in various social activities in collaboration with government and non government organizations so that students can understand challenges and issues in society. Students have visited nearby industries to acquire current happenings and actual processes of industries. Institute has focused on two social issues majorly in addition to other regular activities that are Gender equality in collaboration with NGO, ”Men Against Violence and Abuse” and Swachha Bharta Abhiyan in collaboration with “Shirpur Warwade Municipal Corporation”.

Criteria IV – Infrastructure and Learning Resources

The institute is well equipped with infrastructural facilities like ICT enabled classrooms, updated computer laboratories, seminar hall, auditorium etc. The institute also have ample space for indoor as well as outdoor sports activities. Institute has a very strong IT infrastructure and updates regularly in terms of software and hardware as per needs. The institute have network of 241 computers with 100 Mbps in addition with alternative Internet connectivity of 20 Mbps through Wi-Fi by using 9 access points to fulfill the academic as well as research needs. Internet access controlling, monitoring and management are done through centralized firewall Cyberoam. Institute library comprises of 7173 books, 48 national/international journals. Library is using library management system LIBSYS4 version 6.3 for automating whole processes of library and extends its access through OPAC. Library has subscription of E-databases such as DELNET and is a member of NDL. Library portal developed in house is hosted on institute website to extend services of library in digital mode. Institute have well defined structure for maintaining and utilizing physical, academic and support facilities.

Criteria V – Student Support and progression

Institute has effective system of informing students about various scholarship schemes provided by Government, university and institute. Institute closely monitors this schemes right from filling the application form up to disbursement of scholarship amount to the students. Institute organizes guest lectures on Competitive exam preparation and career guidance. It also gives opportunity to enroll and complete various add-on courses, certificate courses and online courses through online spoken tutorial etc. Institute also organizes bridge course, remedial coaching and mediation activity during exams etc regularly to help students acquainted with actual requirement for progress which is not included in syllabus anywhere. Institute have Parent – teacher system through which students are allocated to each faculty member. Parent teacher conducts meeting frequently and extends counseling to needy students in academic and overall development. Institute has proactive Training and Placement cell which helps students to take various third parties training on technical as well as soft skills required in current scenario of placement. Efforts of T and P cell can be witnessed through growing number of placements in all stratums of industries. This result in 50-60% employment through in campus and off campus recruitment drives. From Institute 35-40% students opt for higher education. Training and placement cell also keep networking with Alumni by various modes of interaction. In response alumni visits the institute to deliver lectures, for induction program and for placement activity. Institute have various committees like Student grievance redressal cell, anti ragging and women anti harassment committee to keep the institute’s environment healthy and conductive by all means. Institute helps students to showcase student’s talent in cultural and sports activity by organizing various competitions and encourage taking part in various competitions at university level.

Criteria VI – Governance, Leadership and Management

IMRD has three main bodies of concern LMC, IQAC and AMC which carries out governance of the institute in respective level of function. All committees are framed in democratic way which results reflectiveness, transparency and participativeness in all aspects. Institute have well organized hierarchical structure of all the committees which stands accountable for the defined work assisted with e-governance in finance & accounts and student admission and support. Institute have well defined policy document for recruitment, service rules, code of conduct, facilities to the staff etc. There is well defined set of policy and activities for the welfare of the staff like insurance, financial assistance for attending seminar/conference/workshops, technological equipment assistance, health awareness, celebration etc. Institute prepares and executes strategic plans for development of the institute. Each process in such plan is executed with proper implementation using documentations. Institute has very effective and transparent performance appraisal system for teaching staff. Reviews of the filled API form on submission are given to teaching staff and are then confirmed for fitness of promotion. Institute have well structured audit system. Budgeting and auditing in regular intervals is carried out to make efficient and effective use and mobilization of available financial resources. A meticulous system ensures no objection in internal/external audit. Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) aims at continuous enhancement of quality in teaching-learning process. IQAC meets in regular interval to take review on ongoing processes and to decide on inputs to strategic plans of future.

Criteria VII – Innovations and Best practices

Institute believes that students admitted in the institute be a good human being for life long journey in personal or professional life. Keeping this objective in focus institute organizes various seminars, workshops, street plays, charity activities, days and campaigns etc for practicing gender equality, understanding fundamental duties and rights, promoting universal values and preserving the importance of nationalism etc. Institute practices gender sensitivity by providing various facilities and through functioning of various committees. Being located at rural area, it is observed that students in the territory are least aware about professional/career oriented programs, Institute understand this gap and makes every aspirant students to aware about such programs and be benefited by enrolling into such programs for their better future. Institute provides infrastructural and internet facility free of cost to such students. Institute has well defined code of conduct for students, teaching and non teaching staff. Some programs of the institute is approved by AICTE and all programs are affiliated to KBC, NMU, hence functioning of all the programs is carried out as per norms laid down either by AICTE or KBC, NMU. There are set policies regarding functioning of finance, academics and administration in the institute, which results transparent functioning in all the areas. There are many practices adopted by institute to improve teaching and learning process or to improve overall performance of students. Among all such practices a week long induction program and Soft skill and personality development program are two such programs which are revived every year by considering needs of the students coming from rural and first learner background. Extending to overall performance of students, institute is of the opinion that innovation and creative learning process is one area which is distinctive in the performance of the Institute.