We Focus on Innovative Teaching and Learning and Research-Driven Curricula, says Prof. (Dr.) Parma Nand

In a conversation with Shiksha.com,  Prof. (Dr.) Parma Nand says Sharda University stands out as a leader in innovative teaching and learning, research-driven curricula, and fostering community engagement. The institution is committed to providing holistic education through a diverse range of multidisciplinary programs, ensuring optimal learning outcomes for a culturally rich and highly diverse student body. 

Prof. (Dr.) Parma Nand did Ph.D. in Computer Science & Engineering from IIT Roorkee, M.Tech & B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Delhi. Prof Parma Nand has more than 29 years of experience both in industry and academia. 

Q1. What are the three things that your institute is doing that will enable it to differentiate itself from competition?

Sharda University stands out as a leader in innovative teaching and learning, research-driven curricula, and fostering community engagement. The institution is committed to providing holistic education through a diverse range of multidisciplinary programmes, ensuring optimal learning outcomes for a culturally rich and highly diverse student body.

The university's curriculum is dynamic and regularly updated to incorporate cutting-edge technologies and industry trends, aligning with the principles of Industry 4.0. Distinguished by its diversity and relevance to contemporary technological advancements, Sharda University offers research-driven courses, including AI, IoT, and data analytics, utilizing research-, project-, and problem-based learning pedagogies. The learning experience is enhanced through hands-on internships, apprenticeships, and applied learning methodologies, promoting a practical and applied approach to education. Collaborative student research projects, employing a Faculty Student Industry Connect approach involving industry experts, further enrich the academic experience.

In its commitment to excellence, Sharda University has adopted NEP-2020 across its degree programmes, beginning in the Academic Year 2021-22. The institution adheres to NEP-2020 principles, producing graduates with well-established domain-specific knowledge, critical thinking abilities, and a proactive mindset. This prepares them to offer sustainable solutions to real-world challenges and fosters the skills to lead continuous learning and innovative problem-solving.

Sharda University fosters a research culture within its student community, offering research-infused curricula that focus on the latest technological trends. Graduates are supported intellectually and financially through the Sharda University Seed Fund, providing various platforms such as the Sharda Launch Pad, Incubation Centre, startup accelerator, IPR Cell, and Research Development Cell. These serve as hubs for nurturing inventive ideas, encouraging startups, cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset, and transferring technology aligned with industry's dynamic requirements. As a result of above student supported activities, Sharda University currently has 34 ongoing Government sponsored research projects totaling Rs. 1238.29 Lakhs with publication of 1170 regular research papers (2022-23) in the journals of high repute. Students of Sharda University has major contribution the publication of 505 Patents out of which 62 patents are Granted. 

In the realm of community engagement as one of the best practice, Sharda University integrates community-based learning into its curriculum. Students actively visit localities to identify and address community issues, seamlessly blending theoretical knowledge with practical application. This hands-on experience fosters critical thinking and allows students not only to identify problems but also to work towards sustainable solutions. Actively engaging with communities strengthens the bond between the academic institution and the community, cultivating a sense of social responsibility among students and contributing to the community's well-being.

Q2. What are the top three initiatives undertaken by you that are helping your students become more industry ready?Remaining attuned to current industry trends and consistently updating curricula to align with evolving job requirements is a primary focus at Sharda University, aimed at ensuring students are well-prepared for the workforce. The university employs several key initiatives to achieve this goal which are given below.

Sharda University actively collaborates with various industries through multiple MoUs to tailor curricula according to industry needs. This approach involves providing students with valuable real-world work experience through internships. By doing so, students can apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings, effectively bridging the gap between academic learning and industry practices.

The incorporation of Capstone, Industry, Project, Problem, and Research-Based Learning pedagogies into the curriculum is another vital practice. This involves designing projects that simulate real-world challenges, fostering teamwork, problem-solving, and the practical application of skills. This not only enhances technical proficiency but also instills a mindset for addressing real-world problems, ensuring students are well-prepared for the demands of the industry.

Sharda University further integrated skills enhancement courses into the curriculum to improve essential skills such as communication, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving. Recognizing these skills as important for overcoming major hurdles in job placement and essential for success in the workplace, the university ensures that students are equipped with a well-rounded skill set that goes beyond technical knowledge.

Q3. What are the key attributes that a student should have in order to?

-Qualify for your Institution:

Sharda University is known for providing higher education and success in higher education is influenced by a combination of academic and personal attributes. The key attributes that are required to qualify for Sharda University are 1. motivated students committed to their studies, 2. students with effective time management skills 3. Students having genuine interest in the subject matter, 4. Students owns their responsibility for attending classes regularly, submitting assignments on time, and seeking help when needed and 5. Students’ own honesty and integrity towards their study.

-Get top grades in your institution:

Achieving excellent academic grades at Sharda University relies on a learner-centric approach and mindset. Learners must know the assessment pattern encompassing various course types such as theory, practical work, internships, projects, research-based tasks, community engagement, and dissertations. Typically, course evaluation comprises of Internal Assessment, consisting of continuous assessment (CA) and mid-semester examination (MSE) as evaluation components. Further, the semester-end assessment is carried out through End Semester Examination (ESE).

A thorough understanding of the evaluation components (CA, MSE, and ESE) is instrumental in enabling learners to attain a good grades at Sharda University. Additionally, the acquisition of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and abilities in each course is a key parameter that enables learners to achieve top grades.

Q4. Which programme/s would you say is/are your best? What is it that helps your institution differentiate itself for this programme?

The engineering and management programmes stand out as premier programmes, particularly in North India. Furthermore, Sharda University also bears excellence in Medical Sciences, Dental Sciences, Pharmacy, and Nursing Sciences. The strength of the engineering and management programmes lies in several key factors:

• Sharda University's programmes are designed with industry-infused and research-oriented curricula, combining contemporary theoretical knowledge with practical exposure. This unique blend ensures that students are well-prepared for the dynamic challenges of the professional world.
• Students enjoy full autonomy in selecting their courses, including generic electives, discipline-specific electives, and University open electives. This flexibility empowers students to tailor their degree based on personal interests, nurturing a tailor made learning experience.
• The university's strong connections with industries also facilitate networking with professionals, contributing to a robust learning environment.
• Going beyond traditional offerings, the programmes integrate real-time and hands-on experiences through platforms like Sharda Launchpad, Research Development Cell, and the Incubation Centre. This approach nurtures innovation and entrepreneurship among students, setting the programmes apart from conventional offerings at other institutes.
• Sharda University holds an NAAC A+ grade, highlighting its uniqueness in teaching-learning practices, research, extension activities, faculty support, and student progression. Additionally, with 87^th ranking in NIRF and accreditations from the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) for various engineering programs, the university is known for providing education of the highest quality, placing its vision at the forefront of eminence.

Q5. What are you doing to improve/drive better campus placements for your current students and alumni? What kind of jobs routinely come to campus? What would you say are the key recruitment trends for your college (observed over the past five years)?

The focal point lies in the synergy of our dynamic programme curricula and faculty support, enabling the student’s placement and progression. Sharda University's programme curricula are intricately woven with current industry requirement, leveraging faculty-student industry connect (FSIC), boot camps, community engagement, apprenticeships, and the implementation of project-based, problem-based, and research-oriented learning methodologies. This approach makes our students to seamlessly adopts with the professional realm.

Presently, our campus attracts multinational core companies specific to each branch, along with reputed national companies for facilitating healthy placements. Over 70% of our graduate’s secure placements, including progression in higher education and the initiation of their own startups or ventures. Notably, the placement rate exceeds 90% in Engineering and MBA programmes, exhibiting a consistent upward trend.