The Internal Quality Assurance Cell of Birla Global University organised a National Seminar on “Reimagining Quality in Higher Education: Innovation, Accreditation and Global Competitiveness,” bringing together academic policymakers and national experts to map a transformative roadmap for India’s higher education ecosystem.
Opening the event, Dr Manidatta Ray, Seminar Convenor and Director of IQAC, introduced the core theme, while BGU Registrar Dr B.K. Das emphasised that educational quality mirrors institutional excellence, highlighting BGU’s focus on innovation and societal commitment.
The inaugural session featured key insights from distinguished dignitaries. Chief Guest Kali Prasanna Mohapatra, IAS, Director of Higher Education for the Government of Odisha, urged institutions to look beyond current achievements and map out a strategic educational vision for the next 50 to 100 years.
Guest of Honour Prof. Damodar Acharya, Former Director of IIT Kharagpur and Former Chairman of AICTE, commented on dual-degree programs and compulsory six-month internships as the best essential practices for creating industry-ready learners.
Prof. Kulbhushan Balooni, Vice Chancellor of BGU, opined that Indian institutions must follow global benchmarks, noting that increased investment and effort are vital to compete internationally.
The core of the seminar featured insightful technical sessions led by eminent academic leaders from across the country. Prof. Bhaskar Bhattacharya from Banaras Hindu University spoke on accreditation and sustainable development, followed by Prof. Chandrashekhar Narayan Bhende of IIT Bhubaneswar, who discussed innovation and global benchmarking. Prof. Siddharth S. Padhi of IIM Kozhikode addressed the strategic value of rankings for institutional growth, while Prof. P. R. Dash of Utkal University broke down the operational realities and challenges within ranking frameworks.
The event concluded with an interactive session dedicated to sharing institutional best practices among participants. Following a comprehensive presentation of the seminar report by Dr R.K. Mishra, Deputy Director of IQAC and a certificate distribution ceremony, Dr Poonam Sahoo delivered the final vote of thanks to close the successful event.
