Chitkara
University on 14th May,
2020 received E-Learning Excellence for Academic Digitisation (E-LEAD)
Certification from QS IGAUGE, the Indian arm of global rankings and ratings
agency Quacquarelli Symonds for its readiness and
excellence in online education.
This certification was presented to Chitkara University during
the COVID-19 to recognise its long time initiative and fully functional system
after a rigorous audit of readiness of university to cater the online
requirement of students, teachers & staff.
Union Human Resource Development Minister Shri Ramesh
Pokhriyal Nishank unveiled and presented E-LEAD certificates to the
institutions that have successfully completed an audit at a virtual event on
Thursday. Minister HRD also extended his best wishes and appreciated the
readiness of leading Indian University such as Chitkara University to score 150
marks out of 150 and becoming the future ready and online ready University,
which is the need of hour in such pandemic situation across the world, informed
by Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Pro Chancellor, Chitkara University.
The Secretary General of the Association of Indian
Universities (AIU), Professor Pankaj Mittal, also appreciated the effort of the
Indian Universities for their readiness of online education.
"I am glad that Chitkara University
has received the E-LEAD Certification from QS IGAUGE. Such recognitions during
such pandemic situation when the administration of many institutions were hit
hard and they were faced with immediate closure and the need to transform
hundreds of their brick and mortar classrooms, to online virtual ones. A year
back, when the concept of team teaching was introduced at the University, we
started with recording the lectures of our teachers and when only online
education and digital learning opportunities have the ability to contribute to
emerge as technology-enabled campus and fully online ready university with
strong emphasis on quality, accessibility, inclusivity, and excellence,"
said Dr.
Archana Mantri, Vice Chancellor, Chitkara University.
QS IGAUGE launched the E-LEAD programme in the
backdrop of current developments in the past six months. It deployed its global
resources to create a global best practises document and methodology, with an
aim to do a readiness check of institutions in India in adopting technology and
technology-enabled services for online teaching.
"The methodology, data collection & validation,
audit process, quality check and delivery mechanism have been thoroughly
reviewed by experts from the higher education domain," said Ashwin Fernandes,
Regional Director - South Asia, Middle East & Africa, QS-Quacquarelli
Symonds & CEO, QS-ERA India Pvt. Ltd.