Outcomes-Based Education: How Industry-Academic Collaboration Can Shape the Future of Learning

Industry-Academic Collaboration

Outcomes-Based Education: How Industry-Academic Collaboration Can Shape the Future of Learning

Dec-14-2022, Articles

By collaborating with the industry, Higher Education Institutions will be able to easily overcome curricular challenges in terms of preparing students for employability and aligning with NEP goals. 

One of the best ways for HEIs to keep their graduating students ahead of the employability curve is to foster effective industry-academic partnerships. Students will gain access to courses and learning outcomes that are designed according to industry demands. In addition, they can provide you with invaluable insights into what students should do in terms of job preparation.

The benefits of industry-academic partnerships are limitless, but it’s important to tread carefully. Below are some tips on how to forge effective partnerships with academia.

Understanding Outcomes-Based and Skill-Based Education

Before you can understand how industry-academic partnerships can foster effective outcomes-based education, you need to understand what outcomes-based education (OBE) and skill-based education are. Simply put, OBE is an education system that measures success by the outcomes a student achieves, rather than by the time or effort expended in the classroom.

It’s a shift away from the traditional educational model, which measures success by how well a student has memorised information. OBE focuses more on what students can do with what they have learned than on what they know. This makes it relevant to both students and employers, as it prepares students for the real world and meets the needs of businesses.

The concept of OBE naturally puts skill-based education or vocational education in focus, where students master specific skills that prepare them for the job market.

NEP 2020: Transitioning Indian HEIs to an Outcome and Skill-based Approach

With NEP 2020, there has been a marked paradigm shift from the knowledge-based approach to the skill-based approach in the Indian Higher Education Sector in a transformative move to reskill our youth and build future competencies. Through the mainstreaming and integration of vocational education into general education, which will assist students in developing a variety of skills to meet industry demands and enhance the quality of education, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has placed a special emphasis on vocational education.

The new policy has created a skill-based education model. This has increased awareness of vocational programs designed to develop skills, employability, and self-reliance. Additionally, the National Education Policy 2020 recognizes the importance of soft skills as vital life abilities, such as communication, teamwork, problem solving, decision-making, analytical thinking, and resiliency.

As our colleges and universities slowly transition to this new system to align with NEP goals, they must find intelligent and efficient ways of integrating it and benefiting student employability. 

The National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) includes significant elements like horizontal and vertical mobility between vocational, general, technical, and job-specific education; outcomes-based learning; industry engagement; national occupational standards; competency-based curriculum; credit accumulation and transfer systems (credit banking); recognition of prior learning; quality assurance; and resource sharing. Standards for assessment and certification will be developed by regulatory bodies such as UGC/AICTE, Sector Skill Councils, or the relevant industry, and may need to be approved by NSQC in some cases.

Benefits of Industry-Academic Collaboration in HEIs

When industry and academia work together, both parties stand to gain a great deal. In the field of Information Technology (IT), for example, industry-academic collaboration has led to a number of benefits for students, educators, and the industry itself. Here are some key benefits of this type of collaboration:

  1. Students receive an education that is tailored to meet the needs of the industry. This means that they are learning the latest technology and skills that businesses are looking for. As a result, they are more likely to be hired by companies after they graduate.
  2. Educators have access to resources that help them update their courses and teaching methods. They can also get feedback from industry professionals on how well their students are performing and what skills they need to improve.
  3. The industry benefits from having a ready supply of graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge. It also has access to the latest research and technology from universities.

Course Design That Addresses Industry Demands

An important part of designing Outcome Based Education is to make sure that the courses you’re offering meet the needs of industries.

To do this, you need to have a good understanding of the skills that industries are looking for, and then design your courses accordingly.

This means that your syllabus will be constantly evolving and changing to keep up with the latest industry demands. However, this is a good thing! It means that your students will always be learning relevant, up-to-date information that they can use in their careers.

Of course, designing courses in this way takes a lot of work and collaboration between academia and industry. But the end result is worth it, as it leads to more effective and successful outcomes-based education.

Creating and Implementing Learning Outcomes

Creating and implementing learning outcomes can be a collaborative effort between industry and academia. Learning outcomes can be created by mapping the skills required for a certain job or industry and then designing course content and learning activities to help students acquire those skills.

Industry representatives can provide valuable insights into the skills that are currently in demand and may also be able to offer advice on how best to design courses and learning outcomes to meet the needs of the industry. Collaborating with industry partners can help ensure that courses and learning outcomes are aligned with the latest industry trends and demands.

Red Hat Global Certifications: Delivering Successful Learning Outcomes to Indian HEIs

Data from the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the National Council for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (NCSDE) predict a 29 million skill gap by 2030. This skill gap has already had an impact, with 53% of Indian businesses reporting that they are unable to hire suitable candidates due to a lack of future skills. Globally valid certifications delivered by the Open Source technology education leader, Red Hat, are a great way to overcome the skills gap challenge and prepare students for the most in-demand skills. IT and Data are the most sought-after professions globally, according to a new ManpowerGroup survey. In a recent circular, UGC recommended that Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) and their affiliated colleges/institutions interact with the leading IT – industries for the development and promotion of industry-oriented course modules.

Red Hat’s training and assessment are completely focused on learning outcomes; primarily preparing students for the industry. The training is collaborative, and the assessment is based on live tasks as one would have them at a workplace. A minimum of 70% is required to qualify for the certifications, and once a student qualifies, they are ready for employment without any further training.

HEIs would hugely benefit from installing an industry-led culture by offering these certification programmes in collaboration with Red Hat, which would make them employability ready; one of the primary goals of NEP.

I-Max OBE+: Delivering Future-Ready Skills to Indian HEIs

The World Economic Forum’s Skill Outlook  in August 2021 predicted that by 2022, the skills required to perform most jobs will have shifted significantly. Skills gaining prominence include analytical thinking and active learning as well as skills such as technology design, highlighting the growing demand for various forms of technology competency. 

The 2022 skills equation includes more than just technological competence. The value of “human” skills such as critical thinking, persuasion, negotiation, attention to detail, resilience, flexibility, complex problem-solving, emotional intelligence, leadership, social influence, as well as service orientation, will grow in prominence.

But how can these courses be taught at our institutions? That too with consistent results. The I-Max OBE+, a 360-degree, OBE-driven learnability-employability platform that includes an AI-based professional interview and viva-você simulator, comes into play here. A blended learning system for comprehension and concept generation, the platform covers prominent future-ready soft skills such as critical thinking, negotiation skills, emotional intelligence, and leadership. The learning is entirely adaptive and changes to accommodate the learner’s needs. 

Employability skills are professional aspects of graduate attributes in outcome-based education, and I-Max OBE+ assists HEIs in successfully addressing these graduate attributes and becoming NEP-compliant.

Conclusion

So what does this all mean for Indian HEIs? In order to foster an effective industry-academic partnership, you need to create a process that allows for the development and approval of courses and learning outcomes. The process should be designed according to the demands of industry and should allow for the involvement of industry partners in the development and approval of courses and learning outcomes.

Fostering effective industry-academic partnerships to introduce skill-based education and outcome-based education through skill-readiness programmes and certifications by Red Hat and I-Max OBE+ Platform, can help HEIs design courses that are technically updated as well as align with NEP and NSQF goals. Red Hat, a pioneer in training and assessment that is outcome-focused, does just that, through its academic partnerships that deliver industry-driven, globally valid certifications. 

IPSR, a pioneer in Outcome-Based and Skill-based education, empowers HEIs to align their teaching-learning strategies to NEP goals by facilitating competency programmes. For more details on how your HEI can make this transition, please contact us at +91 9020592530.

Smitha Thomas Head PR and Communication A Seasoned Editor, Writer and Trainer with strong Researching Skills, Great enthusiasm for Academic Trends and Significant Achievements in Corporate Communications and Publishing

Dr. Mendus Jacob

A prominent Academician and an Entrepreneur with 30+ years of experience. He is also the Director of MCA Programme at Marian College, Kuttikkanam (Autonomous). Former Director of School of Applicable Mathematics, M.G. University. Research Guide of Lincoln University. Member of Academic and Administrative bodies of Autonomous Colleges, Engineering Colleges and Business Schools. He is a Ph.D. in Operations Research and has to his credit a number of National and International publications. He has served as resource person for many National & International Seminars & Conferences in Mathematics, Management and Computer Applications. He has organised, conducted and served as resource person for a number of Faculty Development Programmes including UGC sponsored Refresher Courses. His areas of interests are Outcome Based Education, Accreditations, New Educational Policy etc.

22 Replies to “Outcomes-Based Education: How Industry-Academic Collaboration Can Shape the Future of Learning”

  1. Dr. Sreekala M says:

    Actually, reading this equipped me to effectively implement OBE

    1. Smitha Thomas says:

      Dear Dr Sreekala M,
      A big ‘thank you’. Great to know that this information was useful to you. It inspire us to keep improving our research and the information we provide. If you have any queries feel free to contact us at academicsolutions@ipsrsolutions.com

    1. Smitha Thomas says:

      Dear Dr Valsa M.A,
      Thanks for this great feedback. We are happy that our blog was informative and valuable for you. If you have any queries feel free to contact us at academicsolutions@ipsrsolutions.com

  2. Jalaj Kumar Pandey says:

    Nicely Explained

    1. Smitha Thomas says:

      Dear Jalaj Kumar Pandey,
      Thanks for leaving us such wonderful feedback. We are happy that our blog was informative and valuable for you. If you have any queries feel free to contact us at academicsolutions@ipsrsolutions.com

  3. Shibu Samuel says:

    The role of Academy-Indistry collaboration in the future learning is well explained.

    1. Smitha Thomas says:

      Dear Shibu Samuel,
      Thanks for leaving us such wonderful feedback. We are happy that our blog was informative and valuable for you. If you have any queries feel free to contact us at academicsolutions@ipsrsolutions.com

  4. Amandeep Kaur says:

    Very informative

  5. C.V.L. SHIVANI says:

    informative

  6. The link between HEI and Industrial firms via OBE is very conducive to mould the students with more employability skills. Thus it is demanding in the present era

  7. Dr SindhuBI says:

    veryUsefuland nice programme

  8. Dr.Kalpana Dixit says:

    yes for identifying and defining learning outcomes skills and competencies Industry-Institute collaboration is very important. this is really a great source of information and a good resource to understand the importance of OBE in Higher Education

  9. Dr.M.R.Ezhilarasi says:

    Industry-Institute collaboration is very important.

  10. Rosmin John says:

    The benefits of industry-academic collaborations are limitless, but it’s important to treat carefully.

  11. The industry and higher education collaboration is vital in the current scenario. OBE will enhance that.

  12. Ms.T.Bhavani says:

    Industry-Institute collaboration is very important and also useful.

  13. Ms.T.Bhavani says:

    Industry-Institute collaboration is very important and good

  14. Industry-Institute collaboration is very important and also useful.

  15. Dr.Kalpana Dixit says:

    This article is very informative with factual information. Industry-Academia collaboration is important to shape the future of HE because we have to produce skilled and competent learners as per the demand of the Industry.e have to generate employment.

  16. sss rahul kiran says:

    Industry-Institute collaboration is essential

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get Free Email Updates!

Join us for FREE to get instant email updates!

Your Information is Safe With us!

Articles

Demystifying Outcome Based Education: Insights from the workshop at Gauhati University.

Gauhati University recently made significant strides towards enhancing the quality of Higher Education across the North East region by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IPSR Solutions Limited. This significant agreement designates Gauhati University as a mentor in Outcome Based Education (OBE) for Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) throughout the region. Through this MOU, IPSR […]

Education Through Outcome-Based Learning: A Transformative Journey | Government College for Women, Guntur

In a remarkable stride towards enhancing educational practices, Government College for Women Autonomous, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, commenced on an enlightening two-day workshop on Outcome-Based Education (OBE) Implementation and Question Bank Preparation. Held on February 6th and 7th, 2024, this initiative was a collaborative effort with ipsr solutions limited, the recent OBE (Outcome-Based Education) workshop held […]

Customer Success Spotlight: RVS College, Coimbatore

A journey begins. In 2019, just before the pandemic started, we were contacted by RVS College regarding OBE implementation. That’s how our relationship with our latest QnSmart i customer began. Our deep expertise, our research insights, and our dedication and focus on helping colleges and universities get geared for today’s education landscape convinced RVS College […]

UGC promotes inclusion of Indian Artists and Artisans in Indian HEIs as ‘Kalagurus’

UGC promotes inclusion of Indian Artists and Artisans in Indian HEIs as ‘Kalagurus’ The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently proposed a draft regulation that will appoint local artists and artisans in colleges and universities. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2020‘s goal of bridging the gap between higher education and the arts. […]

Understanding India: NEP-aligned Short Term courses on Indian Heritage and Culture

Understanding India: NEP-aligned Short Term courses on Indian Heritage and Culture India is a land of rich heritage and culture, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) has proposed introducing courses that showcase this diversity to attract international students. The UGC has issued draft guidelines for higher educational institutions to offer short-term modular programs on various […]

Demonstrating Value: Enhancing Your NAAC Grade with Add-On Courses

Add-on courses are short-term training programs that are designed to supplement the core curriculum of a degree program. These courses are usually offered as certificate or diploma courses, and they provide students with additional skills and knowledge that are relevant to their field of study. Add-on Courses and the New Curriculum Framework The hallmark of […]

Institutional Preparedness for NEP 2020: A Comprehensive Checklist for Indian Higher Education Institutions

As per the National Education Policy 2020, higher education in India is poised for a transformational change. All Indian HEIs will be expected to achieve a number of milestones to ensure they are fully prepared for the rollout of NEP 2020. This is also a requirement for Accreditation. When trying to get your institution ready […]

How RHA can benefit in flexibility and enrichment of the curriculum from NAAC and OBE perspective

Red Hat Academy (RHA) is a Free Academic partnership from Red Hat, the American multinational software company and the world’s leading provider of enterprise open source solutions. Red Hat Academy provides a curriculum to help education institutions keep pace with the demands of the industry. The curriculum involves hands-on instruction across the platform, middleware, and […]

One week National Level Online FDP on OBE and Essential AI Tools for Teachers, St Thomas College Palai

Highlights of the FDP: The resource persons for the one-week sessions were Dr Sunil Job KA,  Dr Suresh Namboothiri, and Dr Mendus Jacob.  Programme sessions are delivered through synchronous-asynchronous hybrid mode. Live webinars steered the Inaugural session and streamed through multiple channels. Hands-on Activities through LMS provide an enriched learning experience. 2467 Participants and 936 […]

Copyright @ 2024 Copyright ipsr solutions ltd ipsr solutions limited. All rights reserved