ARIIA Ranking 2020: Parul University Ranks Among Top 50 Private Universities in India

In recognition of its efforts towards providing an innovation-oriented approach to learning, city-based Parul University has been ranked among the top 50 private universities of India under the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA). Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) is an initiative of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India to systematically rank all major higher educational institutions and universities in India on indicators related to 'Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development' amongst students and faculties.

The University has been engaging in a series of innovative projects which have been contributing to the scope of Start-up India. The ranking came upon the assessment of the University under the various categories of funding and support, revenue generated, entrepreneurship awareness, practical exposure, intellectual property, among others.

Criteria 1: Budget, Expenses to Support & Revenue Generated 

As a way of pushing forward its culture of innovative entrepreneurship, the Entrepreneurship Development Cell of Parul University has been taking various initiatives to develop, shape and promote the innovative ideas of its students, into developed start-up projects. In line with this, the cell has been playing a pivotal role in the incubation of over 70 start-ups. The incubated start-ups have been in the various social, corporate and industrial sectors such as engineering, medical sciences, marketing and advertising, pharmacy, science, food and beverage among other streams. The objective and purpose behind developing these innovative projects has been in line with the University’s agenda of providing practical solutions to some of the socio-economic challenges which the people have been facing. Thus, in providing these innovations. The start-ups have proven to be of great utility and essential to the extent of generating over 20 crores in total annual revenue.

In line with this, the cell has been playing a pivotal role in the incubation of over 70 start-ups. The incubated start-ups have been in the various social, corporate and industrial sectors such as engineering, medical sciences, marketing and advertising, pharmacy, science, food and beverage among other streams.

In addition to the University’s efforts of making these student ideas a success, the support of the government through grants has been another channel which has made these projects succeed. Parul University has been a recipient of a total of over 1 crore in government grants which have been fostering various entrepreneurship projects. Numerous students and faculty mentors have been awarded these grants through SSIP on their generic projects and some on Covid-19 related innovations, these projects have been permitted for further development.

Criteria 2:  Infrastructures & Facilities to Support Innovations and Start-ups 

The growth of innovative entrepreneurship has led to the University formulating a specific Entrepreneurship Development Cell which has been designed to promote and develop the ideas of its students. The cell has been working in collaboration with the students and faculties so as to develop these start-up ideas. Not only has it been playing the nurturing role, but it has also been creating the bridge between the student projects and various potential investors across numerous industries. The cell is equipped with a task force of 10 incubation managers who have been playing the key role of shaping and creating the idea innovation ecosystem which is required for developing these start-ups.

Criteria 3: Awareness Activities for Promoting Idea Generation and Innovation 

The cell has also been making a series of initiatives which have been designed to shape not only the theoretical but also the practical understanding of the students in the various streams of innovative entrepreneurship. The cell has been responsible for the organising of a series of flagship events such as Boot Camps for start-up grooming, Vadodara Hackathon, and Demo Day, all these events have successfully created the essential ecosystem of innovation within the University campus. These events have featured various exhibitions from successful entrepreneurs who get to instruct the budding innovators of Parul University towards their start-up journey. These events have brought to the campus, potential investors from various industries and corporate fields who have provided the students of Parul University with the opportunity of pitching their projects ideas, so as to receive investments.

The cell has been responsible for the organising of a series of flagship events such as Boot Camps for start-up grooming, Vadodara Hackathon, and Demo Day, all these events have successfully created the essential ecosystem of innovation within the University campus. These events have featured various exhibitions from successful entrepreneurs who get to instruct the budding innovators of Parul University towards their start-up journey.

Criteria 4: Promotion and Supporting Entrepreneurship Development 

In addition to these hands-on training and practical shaping events, the University has also been pushing forward various awareness programs which have been enlightening the students in regards to the various aspects of entrepreneurship. Events such as Vadodara Start-up Festival have created a buzz among the students not only of Parul University but also across the State of Gujarat. Such festivals have allowed students to have sessions and engage in interactive talks with expert industrialists who have gotten to share their insightful expertise with the students. The University has been organising a total of over 100 entrepreneurship talks annually, where students have gotten to learn first-hand information relating to the field. The University has also organised start-up centred meets with the objective of projecting and promoting the participation of women in the field of entrepreneurship such as the WE Women Entrepreneur Meet.

Criteria 5: Intellectual Property (IP) Generation, Technology Transfer and Commercialisation 

The University has been focusing on turning students from being job seekers into becoming job makers, and this has been possible through the successful development of various intellectual ideas into the stage of becoming filed IPRs. A total of 63 Intellectual Property Rights have been filed and these have been in the various fields of applied sciences, engineering, medical sciences, pharmacy among others. These patents and copyrights filed have been fundamental towards reflecting the ingenuity of the University’s students along with the effort of their faculty mentors.

Criteria 6:  Innovative Learning Methods & Courses 

For Parul University, entrepreneurship has become one of the core foundations of its learning methodologies which has allowed students to go the extra mile in their ability to navigate this field. To make this possible, the University has included entrepreneurship as a part of the curriculum thus allowing students to constantly be surrounded with the knowledge and understanding of this field. Through such early entry-level learning, the University has been creating the ideal ground for encouraging the maximum participation of its students into the field of innovation. The University has also incorporated entrepreneurship as part of its continuing education programs, thus allowing both the students and faculties to enhance their knowledge in regards to the field.

University has included entrepreneurship as a part of the curriculum thus allowing students to constantly be surrounded with the knowledge and understanding of this field. Through such early entry-level learning, the University has been creating the ideal ground for encouraging the maximum participation of its students into the field of innovation.

Criteria 7:  Innovation in Governance

Amongst the projects which the students have been innovating, some of the innovations have been centred on providing effective administrative support on various levels. The cell was nurtured by the development of an AR VR based technology which was essential in the functionality and management of the University’s daily activities. The innovation featured a system which provides a 360-degree view of the University, and such a system has proven to be of great significance to the administration of the University especially in the COVID-19 time where social distancing has been encouraged on various grounds

Note: This article has been published on the basis of press communication by the college