Forgeahead

An opportunity for universities to forge ahead in their transformation of teaching, research and administration TO BECOME A WORLD-CLASS INSTITUTION

The Forge Ahead programme is designed for universities to undertake transformation and reforms to enhance their growth. This is a targeted program spanning 4 years with clear objectives, activities, deliverables and milestones. The main objectives of this programme include:

• Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats Assessment of all departments and appraisal by independent experts

• Development and implementation of a strategic business plan for growth. This is developed and customised to the needs of a chosen university focussing on their needs and aspirations for improving teaching, research, industry interface, grant income, human resources, and administration. The plan is designed to make a step change in the university’s standing, reputation and income.

• Development and implementation of interface with industry on teaching, research and grant income. VentureWorkX will establish Innovation Centres in various technology areas as a part of this programme that are physically hosted by the chosen university and develop industry driven post-graduate courses in technology areas.

• Agreements with world-leading universities, especially from the UK, USA, Japan and Australia where joint teaching and research programmes will be developed and implemented especially at the postgraduate level, allowing the chosen university to tap a wider base of students in India who would otherwise go for foreign studies.

• A measurable increase in financial income from teaching, research, grants, industry links, start-ups and spin-offs, national and global standing, quality of research output and international partnerships. The following figure shows the expected Milestones covered over 16 quarters.

We perform a swot appraisal, report our findings and then develop a strategic growth plan to implement a 4 year forgeahead programme of work

WE CREATE A NEW BUSINESS PLAN FOR YOUR ACADEMIC ORGANISATION FOCUSSED ON PLANNED CHANGED AND GROWTH TO INCREASE REVENUE AND RECOGNITION

We apply best management principles for first making a 10 year business plan for the university after undertaking an audit and appraisal of existing mode of working and financial management. The business plan is based on a series of changes to be introduced at the university within the first 4 year execution window. Each functional unit (e.g. department) develops a new business plan focussed on growth that is strategically aligned with the new vision of the institution. The business plan touches upon every element of university function including teaching, research, grant income, human resources, policies and regulations, media, infrastructure needs of the future, management and administration, compliances, accreditations and course changes, industry interfacing, training, placements and jobs and so on. The university business plan is therefore composed of smaller business plans for each department, centre and other central operations, each designed for maximising growth for that unit.

WE PUT WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH, INNOVATION, INDUSTRY INTERFACE AND PROBLEM SOLVING BASED LEARNING AT THE HEART OF OUR PLAN

We bring on-board the global experience of how best quality universities are run. We also bring on-board a number of commercial organisations that will be involved in Forge Ahead programme providing a greater role of industry in making university courses aligned with what companies need from graduates. VentureWorkX can set up Innovation Centres and Technology Science Parks for chosen universities. We revive academic R&D with industrial input, rejuvenate engineering and other technology programs currently seeing a decline in India and align growth of the institution with support and guidance of decision makers working on future government policies that affect universities.

WE ESTABLISH INNOVATION CENTRES AT UNIVERSITIES WITH LEADING INDIAN AND INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES WORKING TOGETHER WHO CAN REVITALISE YOUR R&D

We bring research active companies to your campus to engage on serious R&D projects which is either funded by them or we help with getting public funding to pursue such work. We establish joint areas of interest in teaching, research, doctoral and post-doctoral programs. We set-up Innovation Centres and Technology parks hosted on campus.

WE BUILD INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS FOR NEW COURSE DEVELOPMENT, STUDENT AND TEACHER TRAINING, STUDENT PLACEMENTS AND DEGREES

In order to become a World-class Enterprise, one needs to behave and think like one. Our experts have decades of experience behind them turning good universities into great universities. We build international partnerships with universities and companies and bring best practices from around the world on developing an educational system that all are proud of. We help develop effective training systems (courses, materials, apps) for staff with world-class experts and by placing them in international universities to get an exposure on best educational practices. We focus on improvements in teaching quality and developing new courses in collaboration with industry and leading international universities.

WE SOURCE LEADERS AND BEST INDIVIDUALS TO WORK FOR YOUR ORGANISATION TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND GLOBAL RECOGNITION

An effective academic administration led by visionaries and great leaders is the key to university growth and success. Without high quality management, clear policies procedures and performance measurement, regular appraisals and feedback, and sourcing of individuals who are self-driven, the quality of overall academic output will be low. Great universities are run professionally and not to the whims and fancies of individuals. In our role we recommend rules by which all functional units must be run, formulate policies that are fair and equitable to all, and help implement standard operating procedures that provide a regimented approach to doing things, monitoring how well we do them, and taking action where we fail.