Research Innovation and Extension
The NAAC seeks information on the policies, practices and outcomes of the institution,
concerning research, innovations and extension. It deals with the facilities provided and
efforts made by the institution to promote a ‘research culture’. The institution has the
responsibility to enable faculty to undertake research projects useful to society. Serving the
community through extension, which is a social responsibility and a core value to be
demonstrated by institutions, is also a major aspect of this Criterion.
The focus of Research, Innovation and Extension is captured in the following Key Indicators:
KEY INDICATORS
3.1 Resource Mobilization for Research
3.2 Innovation Ecosystem
3.3 Research Publications and Awards
3.4 Extension Activities
3.5 Collaboration
3.1 Resource Mobilization for Research
The institution provides support in terms of financial, academic and human resources
required and timely administrative decisions to enable faculty to submit project proposals and
approach funding agencies for mobilizing resources for research. The institutional support to
its faculty for submitting research projects and securing external funding through flexibility
in administrative processes and infrastructure and academic support are crucial for any
institution to excel in research. The faculties are empowered to take up research activities
utilizing the existing facilities. The institution encourages its staff to engage in
interdisciplinary and interdepartmental research activities and resource sharing.
3.2 Innovation Ecosystem
The Institution has created an ecosystem for innovation including an incubation centre and
other initiatives for the creation and transfer of knowledge. The institution conducts
workshops/seminars on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Industry-Academia Innovative
practices. Awards for innovation won by institutions/teachers/research scholars/students, and
start-ups incubated on-campus are explicitly commended by the institution.
3.3 Research Publications and Awards
Exploration and reflection are crucial for any teacher to be effective in one’s job. The quality
research outcome is beneficial for the discipline, society, industry, region and nation. Sharing
of knowledge especially theoretical and practical findings of research through various media
enhances the quality of teaching and learning. Research acumen in an institution is an
evolving feature reflecting various research outputs with clear records such as - doctoral, and
post-doctoral, projects, inventions and discoveries, and the number of research publications.
3.4 Extension Activities
Learning activities have a visible element for developing sensitivities towards community
issues, gender disparities, social inequity etc. and in inculcating values and commitment to
society. Affiliation and interaction with groups or individuals who have an interest in the
activities of the institution and the ability to influence the actions, decisions, policies,
practices or goals of the organization lead to mutual benefit to both parties. The processes and
strategies inherent in such activities relevantly sensitize students to social issues and contexts.
Sustainable practices of the institution leading to superior performance result in successful
outcomes in terms of generating knowledge useful for the learner as well as the community.
Extension also is an aspect of education that emphasizes community services. These are often
integrated with curricula as extended opportunities, intended to help, serve, reflect and learn.
The curriculum-extension interface has an educational value, especially in rural India.
3.5 Collaboration
Through collaboration, the HEIs can maintain closer contact with the work field. It helps
keep the academic activities in the HEI in a more realistic perspective and also expands the
scope of learning experiences for students. Collaboration can be sought with academic
institutions industry or other agencies of professional and social relevance. The range of
activities could include training, student exchange, faculty exchange, research and resource
sharing, among others. For making collaborative endeavours impactful it is necessary there is
a formal agreement or understanding between the institution and other HEIs or agencies for
such activities.