Objectives of the Practice
The objective of this practice is to cultivate a vibrant research environment that enhances the university's overall research output. The underlying principles include fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, supporting faculty and students through financial incentives, and upgrading research facilities. The university aims to motivate faculty to engage in high-quality research, reward impactful contributions, and attract talented scholars. By providing seed grants, fellowships, and support for publication and patent filing, the university ensures continuous enhancement of research capabilities, contributing significantly to academic excellence and societal betterment.
The Context
To provide a conducive environment for research and innovation, SR University has taken up several initiatives. First, there was a need to establish a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration, requiring the breakdown of traditional academic silos and fostering cross-departmental research initiatives. Second, the university needed to allocate sufficient financial resources to provide meaningful incentives, such as seed grants, fellowships, and funds for research publications and patent filings. Further, upgrading research facilities and infrastructure was critical to support advanced research activities. Attracting and retaining talented faculty necessitated competitive rewards and career development opportunities. Addressing these contextual features was essential to cultivate a vibrant research environment, increase research output, and enhance the university’s academic standing and societal impact.
The Practice
The practice at SRU is unique in the Indian higher education context due to its comprehensive approach to foster research and innovation. The university not only enhances its research facilities but also promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and recruit faculty with strong research potential. SRU’s recognition as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) by the DSIR further emphasizes its commitment to research excellence. The establishment of multiple Research Centers and a Technology Business Incubator (SRiX) highlights its innovative ecosystem. SR University introduced a Research Incentive Policy aimed at encouraging and rewarding faculty members for their research endeavours and contributions. The policy outlines the criteria for research incentives, grants, and other forms of support to facilitate impactful and innovative research projects. Incentives range from a minimum of Rs. 12,000 to a maximum of Rs. 1.0 lakh for high-impact SCIE-Q1 journal publications. Faculty members are also provided with seed grants of up to Rs. 10.0 lakh, based on the merit of the proposal and its potential. Further, the university offers financial support for attending conferences and workshops, purchasing research consumables, and obtaining memberships in professional bodies. However, constraints included the high financial investment required for upgrading infrastructure and acquiring advanced equipment. Further, attracting and retaining talented researchers in a competitive academic environment posed challenges. Despite these limitations, SRU's strategic initiatives have led to significant contributions to the academic and research landscape in India.
Evidence of Success
SRU's research initiatives have demonstrated significant success, reflected in its consistent rankings and impactful contributions. The university ranked 98th in the Engineering category in both 2024 and 2023 National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings, showing its consistent performance. In the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, SRU achieved notable ranks: 2nd in India for Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), 16th for Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), and 47th for Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7). The university’s global recognition is further highlighted by its ranking as the 619th Most Sustainable University in the 2023 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings. Research output at SRU has surged, with Scopus publications increasing from 151 in 2021 to 916 in 2023, and 860 papers published in 2024 till date. Citations nearly doubled from 2200 in 2021 to 4650 in 2023, leaping to over 7800 in 2024 till date. The total funding received from sponsoring agencies during 2020-2023 is Rs. 14.14 Crore, further supporting SRU's research and innovation efforts. SRU’s innovation ecosystem has successfully incubated 84 startups. These achievements indicate that SRU's strategic focus on research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovation is yielding substantial academic and societal impacts.
Website Link : https://sraap.in/glogin.php
Student Roll Number : 2103A54001
Objectives of the Practice
The objectives of SR University's Gamification Platform are to enhance student motivation and engagement by rewarding achievements across academic, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities. The platform aims to foster a competitive spirit through a system of Alpha and Sigma coins, levels, and badges, which students can earn and show case publicly. The underlying principles include incentivizing performance, promoting holistic development, and encouraging continuous improvement. By integrating rewards with student achievements, the platform creates a conducive environment for learning and personal growth, driving both academic excellence and extracurricular participation.
The Context
SR University's Gamification Platform focuses on fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and promoting holistic student development. The platform is designed to seamlessly integrate with existing academic and extracurricular frameworks, providing meaningful incentives for students to excel in all areas. Financial resources were strategically allocated to support the rewards system and necessary infrastructure, ensuring the platform’s long-term sustainability. The gamification elements, such as Alpha and Sigma coins and achievement badges, were carefully crafted to align with the university’s academic standards while boosting student motivation. This approach allowed SRU to to develop a vibrant atmosphere that motivates students to succeed in their extracurricular and academic endeavors, improving their entire educational experience.
The Practice
SR University's Gamification Platform is a unique initiative in the context of Indian higher education, designed to enhance student engagement by integrating gamification into the academic and extracurricular experience. This practice involves the use of a rewards-based system where students earn Alpha and Sigma coins for achievements in curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities. These coins can be redeemed for various benefits, including certificates, prizes, and opportunities to meet with university leadership. Along with reflecting a student's progress and accomplishments, the platform also offers levels and badges that can be shared publicly on social media to further encourage and recognize them. What sets this practice unique in Indian higher education is its comprehensive approach to student development. Unlike traditional methods that focus primarily on academic performance, SRU's platform encourages students to engage in a wide range of activities, fostering a more holistic development. By recognizing and rewarding achievements across different domains, the university creates a more dynamic and competitive environment that drives students to excel in multiple areas. In terms of constraints and limitations, the implementation of this platform required significant financial investment in terms of infrastructure, rewards, and ongoing maintenance. Ensuring that the gamification elements were motivating without being overly competitive was also a challenge, as the system needed to maintain academic rigor while appealing to a broad range of students. The success of the platform depended on its ability to integrate seamlessly into the existing academic and administrative frameworks, which required careful planning and coordination across various departments. Another challenge was the cultural shift required to break down traditional academic silos and promote interdisciplinary collaboration. This involved encouraging faculty and students to view research and learning as interconnected activities rather than isolated endeavours. Attracting and retaining talent who could thrive in such an innovative environment also posed a challenge, especially in a competitive academic landscape. Despite these challenges, SRU's Gamification Platform has proven to be a successful and innovative approach to student engagement in Indian higher education. It not only enhances academic performance but also promotes a culture of continuous improvement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and holistic development, making it a model that could be adopted by other institutions seeking to foster a more engaged and motivated student body.
Evidence of Success
SR University's Gamification Platform has shown impressive success through quantifiable improvements. Since its launch, there has been a 60% rise in student involvement in extracurricular and curricular activities since its debut. Overall student pass rates have increased by 20%, and attendance rates have increased by 20% as well. Student involvement in hackathons, research projects, and other competitive activities has increased by 15%. Over 2407295 Alpha and Sigma coins have been awarded as a result of the platform's incentives, and 96% of students are actively using the system. A 92% rise in friendly competition has been spurred by leader boards, improving overall performance. Additionally, as a result of the platform, social media posts highlighting student accomplishments have increased by 90%, indicating increased motivation and pride. These results indicate that the Gamification Platform is effectively enhancing student engagement, academic performance, and overall development at SR University.