Higher Education Institutions

Faculty vitality is the main ingredient to enhance professional education and competence. Enriching the faculty vitality in key domains of teaching, assessing, research, professionalism, and administration is perceived to improve educational environment significantly and enhances the academic performance of learners. Faculty development programme (FDP) has been considered as a stand-alone educational pedagogy in fostering knowledge and professional skills of faculty.

Faculty development is important for improving teachers' proficiency in specific tasks and their knowledge, skills and behaviour. FDPs help in fulfilling the expectations of individual faculty members by benefitting them professionally, which ultimately benefits students and institutions.

The programmes focuses on enhancing functional area expertise, improving one’s classroom delivery both as a teacher and trainer as well as enhancing abilities for conducting meaningful research.

Programme design is the process and methodology of creating quality learning environments and experiences for students. Through deliberate and structured exposé to instructional materials, learning activities, and interaction, students are able to access information, obtain skills, and practice higher levels of thinking. The focus of programme design is to put together the optimal learning experiences for students in an environment that is supportive and appreciative of learning and intellectual development.

The backdrop behind effective programme design is that the programmes themselves constitute the foundation of teaching and learning. An effective design means more students will be able to participate in deeper learning experiences that foster successful learning. At Rubrique, the science of good programme design is upheld and all of the components of a course / programme are deliberated. Whether in general education or programme-specific education, programmes must constitute the foundation of student learning. Therefore, effective course/programme design should result in the programmes making a positive impact and resulting in the appropriate intended student outcomes. Programme identification, together with effective course design, should make for optimal student learning and the achievement of intended student outcomes.

Institutional Effectiveness is a continuous cycle for planning, assessing, analysing and improving processes, programmes, and services that support the University’s mission and vision. Assessment at the institution builds its capacity to inform and evaluate change through data-driven decision making. The process of Institutional Effectiveness managed by Rubrique at its client’s campus ensures that it is indicative of the institution’s commitment to continuous improvement guided by a vision for the future.

This effort is achieved through:

• Collecting, analysing, and distributing high quality institutional research.
• Consulting with colleges, departments, programmes, and schools/departments on research projects to ensure legitimacy and rigour of data.
• Coordinating a comprehensive system of Programme Reviews that contribute to the mission and strategic goals of the System and its schools/departments.
• Providing guidance and data support for student learning outcomes assessment.
• Guiding and facilitating the process of regional and programmatic / specialised accreditation.
• Ensuring that policy decisions are made with information and research gained from routine assessment.
• Supporting university strategic planning and its implementation.

The concept of excellence can be hard to define. Quite often we know it when we see it, but have trouble articulating how it can be achieved.

Rubrique creates bespoke frameworks that ride on the engine of Institutional Effectiveness to enable institutions and universities get higher scores in NAAC, NBA and NIRF rankings cycle after cycle. This also enables the universities to compete globally by applying for QS and THE rankings.

The Centres of Excellence are borne of identified challenges that would benefit from collaboration to produce new ideas and knowledge that will increase influence and promote change and innovation.

A key element of the strategy would be to draw on the University’s experience, expertise, and connections to develop centre of excellence on topical issues of common interest. The fundamental steps of creating a Centre of Excellence involves:

• Define – Clear Design Principles, Standards and Best Practices
• Assemble & Leverage – Strong Team with Solid Knowledge, Right Attitude and Assets
• Create – Arsenal of Reusable Components
• Establish – Stable, Monitored Environments
• Continuously Measure & Improve – Systems, Processes and Performance
• Design – Lightweight, Consistent Governance

Setting up new institution or a school or department entails long hours of planning and feasibility analysis. Some of the aspects that Rubrique covers are:

• Feasibility Study covering Techno-Eco-Viability study, macro and micro market analysis, demand and supply gaps, and other parameters
• Institutional Planning and Design
• Programmatic requirements for the built environment
• Organisational set-up
• Academic planning and Programme Design
• Approvals, Accreditations and Authorisations
• International Collaborations

Internationalisation as a concept and strategic agenda is a relatively new, broad, and varied phenomenon in tertiary education, driven by a dynamic combination of political, economic, sociocultural, and academic rationales and stakeholders. Its impact on regions, countries, and institutions varies according to their particular contexts.

Advantage of Internationalisation:

• Improved academic quality
• Internationally oriented students, staff
• Potential for increased international student enrolment
• Revenue generation, brain gain
• Higher rankings in national and international league tables