HiEd Log

Of late Al Shifa College of Arts & Science (ACAS) has become often connected to the blended teaching strategy known as Flipped Learning. This is because three months into the launch of the new college under my leadership, we decided to embrace a blended mode of content delivery. There were a number of reasons which drove us to this decision. The college was launched in the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic in the month of September in 2020. Though a good part of the lessons were provided during the period in the online mode, there were spells of offline presences too. A mode of content delivery which is ideal for the period was a blended one and flipped model is what we went for.  The Beginnings: What was prompted to a good extent by the compulsions of the pandemic period was later upgraded to a core practice of ACAS. This was not a decision taken in a hurry or done foreseeing a prolonged persistence of the pandemic situation. The series of discussions I had with the Department H...

Being a Founder-Leader is always challenging, though it offers privilege and opportunity. I have enjoyed the opportunity to lead Al Shifa College of Arts and Science (ACAS), a new undergraduate institution affiliated to the University of Calicut, from the scratch and after being at the helm for about four years, I am stepping down. There's so much of learning I have taken away from the experience and it has contributed much to my institution-building interests.  Over the next couple of weeks, I am sharing the processes and practices we implemented at ACAS while establishing the College. Looking back as you move on in your career is interesting. It helps one put in perspective the pathways which lie ahead too! A reflection on the efforts undertaken, outcomes achieved, the roadblocks hit and diversions necessitated, will always help. What I am attempting is to briefly mention and comment on the practices set up and the outcomes achieved. I am sure this will be of use to many in the...

Wendy Fischman and Howard Gardner in their book, 'The Real World of College: What Higher Education Is and What It Can Be' list Mission Sprawl, Projectitis and Misalignment as three interrelated problems which beset Higher Education in USA, based on more than 2000 interviews done with students, faculty, trustees, alumni and parents across ten campuses before the Pandemic. The primary objective of their research was to know if there is a higher level of Higher Education Capital (HIEDCAP - defined as, 'the ability to attend,analyze, reflect, connect, and communicate on issues of importance and interest') after the students finish their graduation.  Regarding the Mission Sprawl, they rightly argue: '... the chief problem with collegiate mission statements is not variation; it is the multiplicity of missions within specific campuses.... they are trying to be all things to all people'. As they argue and as we know, the mission statements of HEIs, more often than not m...