M. S. Rawat, Director, IQAC
Nagaland University, Headquarters-Lumami-798 627 (Zunheboto)
E mail : iqacnu@gmail.com
[dropcap]N[/dropcap]agaland University (Central) with four Campuses and 62 Affiliated Colleges are scattered all over the state. The University was established by an Act of Parliament (No. 35 of 1989) and started functioning since 1994. Nagaland University has Kohima Campus at Meriema, Medziphema Campus (School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development (SASRD) at Medziphema and the interim Campus- Engineering, Technology and Management at Dimapur. The Headquarters has been functional since 2010 at Lumami under Zunheboto district which is about 45 km away from its district headquarters. Lumami is centrally located within Nagaland. The University with its central theme “Labor et Honor” meaning “Labour and Honour” , clearly portrays that hard work with sincerity and commitment will see the progress of the University and its students. As per the records of the year 2014 about 14643 Graduate and 1760 Post Graduate Students were enrolled for different courses. During the last five years about 200 Ph. D. Scholars were registered in the Ph. D. Programme. At present, there are Six Schools, Six Centres of Studies and Thirty Seven Departments in the University. The total number of Professors, Associate Professors and Assistant Professors (Teaching-Staff Members ) is about 185. Total Non-Teaching Staff Members are about 600. There are 26 Hostels for students, at present in the University. The University has established a College Development Council (CDC) in 2008. The future plan of the University is to develop curriculum focusing on professional and job oriented courses on economic development of the region. The University has enough of its own land in all Campuses, will be able to provide capacity building, be it short-term or long-term by creating incubator facilities in each of the Campuses in each of the required areas. Many dignitaries and external experts visited the University Campuses for various meetings, seminars, examinations and evaluation which stated the working spirit of the University fraternity. Ambassadors of eight European countries under the leadership of the Secretary, European Union visited the University during the year 2012 and exchanged ideas with faculty members, Ph. D. scholars and Students. The former Hon’ble Prime Ministers of India Shri Rajiv Gandhi and Shri Atal Vihari Bajpai and former His Excellency the President of India Shri A P J Abdul Kalam and the present His Excellency the President of India Shri Pranab Mukharjee have visited the University in the recent past.
John Henry Newman’s idea of a University is perhaps the universally accepted one. According to him, a University in its simple and rudimental form is a school of knowledge for every kind consisting of teachers and learners from every quarter. Human resource is now universally recognized as the most fundamental of all economic resources. The importance of higher education in accelerating the pace of socio-economic transformation of society through the development of highly skilled manpower has been duly recognized in India all through the Five Year Plans. Now the role of Higher education is constantly growing and knowledge based industries are now occupying the central place in the development process of the nation. Today, we are passing through a significant economic and technological transformation. Under this environment, the system of higher education needs to be strengthened to equip students with adequate skills and knowledge to enable their participation in the emerging knowledge society. Now time has come to focus on technical and professional education. For students to compete with the rest of the world, we need quality education with a greater emphasis on technology enhanced skills development. Nagaland has a progressive educational infrastructure at the school, college as well as University levels. The education system of Nagaland is very well organized. The history of education in Nagaland dates back to 1878 when the first School was started
in the Naga Hills. Higher education was started in 1959, when Fazl Ali College was established at Mokokchung. At present, there are about 62 Colleges affiliated to Nagaland University with a total student enrolment of about 25000. Recently, Global Open University, ICFAI University and many colleges are also functional in Nagaland under private sector. As per the information provided by the College Development Council (CDC) of Nagaland University, the general status of the affiliated colleges has been described as below.
• Number of Affiliated colleges under the University :62
• Number of Autonomous Colleges : 02
• Number of affiliated Colleges under 2(f) of UGC : 01
• Number of affiliated Colleges under 12 B of UGC : 25
• Number of Colleges having Science : 07
• Number of Accredited Colleges :09
Higher education is concerned with the process in more advanced phase of human learning, where students are mentally mature and capable to analyze, synthesize and grasp concepts and ideas of all kinds at abstract level. Higher education aims at attaining equity, equality and excellence with social justice through knowledge generating processes by way of teaching, research and extension programmes. Higher education influences all levels of education. It affects every field of human endeavour by providing human resources for production, planning, management and scientific and technological development. It therefore, influences the future of the state and nation. It contributes immensely towards national development through dissemination of specialized knowledge and skill. Higher education is important for its role in advancement of the frontiers of knowledge, discovering of newer technologies and their application in industry, business and agriculture for the betterment in life of the people. World Bank states “Higher education is of paramount importance for economic and social development. Institutions of Higher education have the main responsibility for equipping individuals with the advanced knowledge and skills required for positions of responsibility in government, business and the professions”. UNESCO emphasized that “State and society must perceive higher education, not as a burden on federal budgets but as a long- term domestic investments in order to increase economic competitiveness, cultural development and social cohesion”. Higher education system, it is also at the level of which prepares personnel for all other levels of education and expertise for greater variety of jobs that have to be manned in the social, economic and cultural sectors. Relation between higher education and development is a crucial one. Therefore, Higher education in any society is of vital importance in the whole educational system. If good primary and secondary education are like the strong stems of trees of society, higher education is like the fruits of these trees which are reaped in the form of socio-economic, industrial and technological development ultimately leading any nation towards better quality of life. Being at the apex of the educational pyramid, it has its own importance and place in almost all the societies of the world. In recent years, the scenario of Higher education has undergone a sea level change and prospect of Higher education has become more competitive and challenging.
The state’s development model envisages higher sustainable and inclusive growth. To meet these goals, Nagas have to enable science & technology education, research and innovation to play a leading role. Research is unfortunately not a preferred option in the colleges. To promote healthy environment for research, there is a need to increase fellowships, interdisciplinary, inter-colleges, inter-university organization, collaborations and establish industry incubation parks. The youth has to be equipped with capacity and expertise. Large scale formal vocational training is required for developing a capable workforce. Educational institutions have to usher more responsibility and accountability to elevate Nagaland to greater heights. Nagaland University now stands on a promise, for greater accomplishment and prominence. The work culture in the University as a whole is improving as it is a potential one. Many colleges in Nagaland are run by the products of Nagaland University. Keeping pace with the challenges ahead and to move forward with time and space, it is important to impart quality higher education in the state. Quality assurance in higher education is the need of the hour. The UGC has made it mandatory that all Higher Education Institutions undergo Assessment and Accreditation at the earliest. The immediate need is to reach out to the non-accredited colleges for the creation of awareness for getting accreditation from NAAC. Nagaland University is organizing a Two Day Awareness Workshop on “Quality Assurance in Higher Education” during March 26-27, 2015 at its Medziphema Campus (School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, SASRD), Medziphema near Dimapur. Interested readers may visit to the University’s website: www.nagauniv.org.in and the NAAC’s website: www.naac.gov.in .
