The connotation of ‘capacity’ in academia is not about capacity of some random space, a hall or auditorium. Nor does it refer to some physical strength in heavy-lifting. In academics, it refers to institute’s inclusive worthiness to develop enabling labs, intellectual wealth, quality excellence and faculty’s potential in teaching-learning, skilling, researching and knowledge creation, and to develop competence to deliver consultancy. An interesting part of capacity-building is that once it happens, it becomes attractive and infectious. Say, for example, a group of faculty or students, developed AI application to modify a seed quality or improved means of irrigation, you would find more faculty and students suddenly gravitating to join the exciting innovation, take expertise to the next level and enhance its traction to consultancy to farmers, horticulture, tree plantation, tea gardens and related organisations. In a lab you developed an alternative fuel or AI algorithm for a missile or drone to auto-seek a target and direct load, you created a capacity of its application for multiple use. Briefly put, by capacity-building you would set a solid foundation of your university in innovation and invention. Imagine, your university was a part of solution to moon landing and take off ! By capacity building, you get set to become a fountainhead of knowledge for the world. The youth start talking and finding out where your university is actually located, and how can they get there in the midst of excitement.
Institutions are living entities. Imagine a garden with myriad fauna flora, its hues n’ fragrance. It grows best n’ beautiful when there is a plan, quality of seeds, quality of soil, an ideal environment for growth, nourishment, risk mitigation and all-important, a highly skilled n’ experienced team of gardner with resources at their disposal.
Dynamics understood, institutes thus require capacity-building. It is best done by setting a strong foundation and enabling ecosystem, curriculum, culture of enquiry, innovation and excitement. Capacity-building is palpable if your environment is seen immersed in innovative projects, multidisciplinary research, experimenting in labs, demonstrating, building new knowledge, developing new capacities in emerging technologies, digital and AI applications, prototypes, models, designs, and deeply engaged in IPR, transfer of technology, real-life problem-solving activities-that seriously challenge our society. The campus appears, vibrant and happening.
By capacity-building, you are sending a strong message to the outside world- “hello, here is the dream destination of meeting your passion. Welcome, if you want to enrol, teach, innovate, research, learn or collaborate in this centre of excellence”.
Here are 7 baby steps to doing so;
✍️ Start with a passion-driven team of a few. Identify deep interest areas. Start building.
✍️ Support teams by arranging mentor/s they need and provide inclusive or even external lab and data resources, including seed money essential to make a beginning. You are now beginning to develop what’s famously called-ecosystem
✍️ Celebrate every minor milestone success and imbibe inspiration to dare and break the status-quo. Accept failures, but move on by inventing new ways. Now, you are developing a culture conducive to larger participation.
✍️ seek funding from wherever and whomever, including CSR-a step towards capacity-building
✍️ involve industry and collaborate to enhance capacity-building. Industry will only join if they see some prospects in your projects.
✍️ research is basic to capacity-building. Develop a Centre for Excellence and invite/undertake research to build new knowledge and to transfer idea into a transformative prototype or service leading to tech-transfer.
✍️Let the harbingers of innovation offer superior consultancy and their product and services, positivity impact industry and society.
One tool or mechanism that would assist you most is developing a highly enabling IDP that has a solid backing of the Governing Body particularly, in offering financial resources, and engaging and hiring talented n’ motivated men and women to make committed teams to enhance and sustain the capacity-building.
🌈It may look so simple but to be brutally honest, there is a quantum rigour in all of this. it might not be possible to begin all initiatives together. In that case, set razor-sharp priorities-essentially to grow measure by measure. Develop a sustainable model of planning and execution but don’t ever set weak goals.
Mechanisms, processes, quality audits, IDP reviews, feedback and other systems, policies and protocols provide you clarity, guidance and show you the torch in your journey to excellence. Don’t ignore them. They are very handy.
Summing up:: Capacity- building will get you not just your accreditation n’ ranking goals but jettison your institute, far beyond these goals to eminence. All you need to do is to align your capacity-building potential with critical ‘enablers’-the gold standards, not just for pure ‘numbers’ but for quality hidden in those numbers, and their resulting impact. Let IQAC duly mentored, develop institute’s gold standards and benchmarks based on SWOT and muster financial resources. Never forget to close the loop of the desired action and compellingly, undertake detailed quarterly reviews, and course-correct where needed.
☄️Don’t waste your time in over analysing. Start building. The greatest oak was once a little nut.
Prof: JR Sharma- Mentor to HEIs
