Data key to framing policies, driving decisions: Experts

167

KU organises training workshop for nodal officers

SRINAGAR: To enhance the proficiency of participants in efficiently capturing and managing data related to higher education institutions (HEIs), the Directorate of Internal Quality Assurance (DIQA), Kashmir University (KU), Friday launched a daylong training workshop on ‘Data Capturing’ for nodal officers of the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) here.

Participants from various affiliated colleges of Kashmir University, Cluster University-Kashmir and SKUAST-Kashmir attended the training programme, an official press release issued here read.

In his maiden address as AISHE Chairperson, KU Registrar, Prof Naseer Iqbal, urged stakeholders to collaborate and uphold data accuracy standards, emphasising the distinction between real and virtual data, the release read.

 “Policies are based on certain parameters and data is the key. We need to work as a team and coordinate with each other,” he said, adding that we should come forward and share our ideas for a better tomorrow.

“We are doing pure science and it our responsibility to be the right interface between people and academia and in this case higher education,” he maintained.

In his welcome address, Director, DIQA, KU and Nodal Officer, AISHE, Prof Manzoor Ahmad Shah stressed the pivotal role of passion and data in driving decisions and shaping policies. He emphasised the need for data accuracy and encouraged participants to cultivate a scientific approach towards data management.

“Passion provides the purpose and data drives the decisions. Policies are framed on the information provided by data. The aim should be providing quality and accurate data as clean and as reliable as possible,” Prof Manzoor reiterated.

He encouraged scientific temperament among the youth and urged removing data noise. “Data is the language through which higher education institutions speak as data also shapes our intuition,” Prof Manzoor added.

Joint Director, Higher Education Institutions (HEI), Ministry of Education, Government of India, Anita Sirohiwal, provided insights into the online web-based Data Capture Format (DCF) on AISHE portals, highlighting the intricacies of the process.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Deputy Director, DIQA, KU, Dr Ajaz Akbar, highlighted the significance of the workshop and emphasised the importance of accurate data in shaping policies and decision-making processes.

Dr Asif Iqbal, Coordinator AISHE, J&K, provided an overview of AISHE’s objectives and background, emphasising the importance of accurate data in policy formulation.

Assistant Nodal Officer, AISHE, Wasim Ahmad Bhat delivered the formal vote of thanks.

The subsequent technical sessions focused on providing hands-on training for filling online web-based DCF and addressing difficulties and doubts.

Deputy Director, HEI, MoE, GoI, Dona Francis; Joint Director IT (NIC), GoI, Sandhya Rani; Deputy Director, IT (NIC), GoI, Kunal Kashyav; Accounts Officer, RUSA/AISHE, J&K, Ajay Raina; and Head, Division of Agrometeorology and Nodal Officer, AISHE SKUAST-K, Prof. Sameera Qayoom were also present at the inaugural ceremony, the release added.