Journal of Engineering Education Transformations

Umesh M. Bhushi ¹, K. Vizayakumar ², Shivaprasad Dandagi ³, A. S. Deshpande ⁴

Affiliations
1 VTU PG Centre, Belgaum, IN
2 IEM Department, IIT Kharagpur, IN
3 KLE College of Engineering, Belgaum, IN
4 GIT, Belgaum, IN

Abstract

Major facets of TQM are Customer focus, Top Management Commitment, Total Employee Involvement, Continuous Improvement (CI), all these should be aptly supported by an adequate measure. Of these Top Management does inspire and drive the culture towards that of a total quality organization. Even in most quality awards like EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) model, leadership drives the policy, strategy, and people management within the organization, providing the resources and processes necessary for it to thrive. Thus, Top Management Commitment (TMC) has been emphasized widely in literature, but, the evidence to assess the commitment, and means to initiate have been inadequate or absent. TMC has been emphasized widely in literature, but, the evidence to assess the commitment, and means to initiate have been inadequate or absent. Unless this measure exists, it is difficult to assess the status of the organization and commenting on the lack of TMC would be unfair and in many a case, an eye opener is required to the management to show how they really are aiding in the TQMICI implementation. This paper discusses only an approach towards the measure of TMC assessment in an Engineering education system and also methodology has been spelt out to make it dynamic with the changes in time.

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Umesh M. Bhushi ¹, K. Vizayakumar ², S. B. Dandagi ³

Affiliations
1 Adarsh Institute of Technology and Research Centre, Vita, Maharashtra, IN
2 Monitoring & Research Development, Vignan Group of Engineering Institutions, Andhra Pradesh, IN
3 Rajendra Mane College of Engineering and Technology, Ambav, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

Universities are in the knowledge business, and are involved in knowledge creation, dissemination, and learning. Universities do perform multiple roles, like creating new knowledge, acquiring new capabilities and producing an intelligent human resource pool. The University's mission should endeavor towards providing education of the highest quality coupled with a leading contribution to the advancement of knowledge, thereby developing in students the imagination, talents, creativity and skills necessary for the varied and rapidly changing requirements of modern life. The pace and growth of Modern Science and Technology is so rapid that the Technical Know-how and its applications are vital for the nation s economic advancement. Engineering is one such profession that affects all aspects of modern life. The education of an engineer is demanding; it not only benefits humanity but also provides great rewards for the future and personal satisfaction from pursuing such a career. Five significant contributions of the university to the nation are: educating the citizens and leaders who think critically and independently; to model freedom of expression and freedom of inquiry; to serve as an engine of economic growth and prosperity; to foster the development of the community that surrounds; and to promote greater understanding among the peoples and nations of the world.

How does the perspectives of university, its junctions, role differ across the countries based on the need, is it feasible to have an integrated cross cultural analysis to arrive at an integrated approach, this needs a perspective study across the countries. The paper provides a birds eye view oj these differing perspectives as a precursor need for setting lip of Technical University and its effective governance.

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Umesh M. Bhushi ¹, K. Vizayakumar ², S. B. Dandagi ³

Affiliations
1 Adarsh Institute of Technology and research Centre, Vita, Maharashtra, IN
2 Monitoring & Research Development, Vignan Group of Engineering Institutions, Andhra Pradesh, IN
3 Rajendra Mane College of Engineering and Technology, Ambav, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

Knowledge economy is essential to the growth of the developing countries and universities are essential ingredient to the health of new knowledge economy, which indicates the economic and social progress of a nation. University is society's one of the most enduring creations, it has been primary agent in the transformation of societies. Challenges in higher education is no longer only nation centric. They have already attained global dimensions, particularly after trade in services has been brought under the purview of the WTO regime. The University's mission should be towards providing education of the highest quality coupled with a leading contribution to the advancement of knowledge, thereby developing in students the imagination, talents, creativity and skills necessary for the varied and rapidly changing requirements of modern life. This pursuit of education improvement requires a strong future orientation and a willingness to make long-term commitments to students and to all stakeholders, communities, employers, faculty and staff. Universities need to demonstrate accountability to all the stakeholders and customers. Universities and other higher education institutions that are recognized to be in the knowledge business, valuing knowledge and viewing knowledge as an asset need to be dynamic, innovative and continued learners. This entails systems approach and thinking. As systems thinking is a shift of mind set from in seeing people as helpless reactors to seeing themselves as active participants in shaping their reality, from reacting to the present to creating the future by being proactive. The multiple roles played by the university accentuate them to anticipate many types of changes, including changes in education requirements, instructional approaches, resource availability, technology, and demographics. A major long-term investment associated with improvement could be the investment in creating and sustaining a mission-oriented assessment system focused on learning. This entails strategic management of the entire University activities. There is a need to engineer the working system of the universities.

The forces of technology and globalization are creating a revolution that is forcing the universities to seek new ways to reinvent themselves for sustenance. Universities must innovate or else will perish. Their ability to learn, adapt and change becomes a core competency for its survival. Operational facets of University management is highly complex and non linear in reality. Such a system is characterized by interaction of feedback loops that when combined, define the structure of the university system and its behaviour over time. To facilitate the sustenance ill the dynamic environment and in the wake of GATS agreement, 'Systems thinking' will assist universities to be proactive and foster healthy environment for its regulation.

Thus, this paper reviews the world wide perspective to arrive at the various issues and different facets of university management to ascertain the complexity and operational aspects pursued by various authors. This could drive the development of new university governance on a firm footing.

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