Parul University ranks in the top 50 private universities in India under the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA), an initiative of the Ministry Of Human Resource Development (MHRD) for providing an innovation-oriented approach to learning.
ARIIA is an initiative of systematically ranking all major higher educational institutions and universities in India on indicators related to “Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development” amongst students and faculties.
The ranking came upon the assessment of the University under the various categories of funding and support, revenue generated, entrepreneurship awareness, practical exposure, intellectual property, among others.
Criteria 1: Budget, Expenses to Support & Revenue Generated
The Entrepreneurship Development Cell of Parul University has been taking various initiatives to develop, shape, and promote the innovative ideas of its students, into developed start-up projects.
In addition to the University’s efforts of making these student ideas a success, the support of the government through grants has been another channel that has made these projects succeed.
Parul University has been a recipient of a total of over 1 crore in government grants which have been fostering various entrepreneurship projects.
Numerous students and faculty mentors have been awarded these grants through SSIP on their generic projects and some on COVID-19 related innovations, these projects have been permitted for further development.
Criteria 2: Infrastructures & Facilities to Support Innovations and Start-ups
The growth of innovative entrepreneurship has led to the University formulating a specific Entrepreneurship Development Cell which has been designed to promote and develop the ideas of its students.
The cell has been working in collaboration with the students and faculties so as to develop these start-up ideas. It has played a nurturing role and has also created the bridge between the student projects and various potential investors across numerous industries.
The cell is equipped with a task force of 10 incubation managers who have been playing the key role of shaping and creating the idea innovation ecosystem which is required for developing these start-ups.
Criteria 3: Awareness Activities for Promoting Idea Generation and Innovation
The cell has been responsible for the organizing of a series of flagship events such as Boot Camps for start-up grooming, Vadodara Hackathon, and Demo Day, all these events have successfully created the essential ecosystem of innovation within the University campus.
These events have brought to the campus, potential investors from various industries and corporate fields who have provided the students of Parul University with the opportunity of pitching their projects ideas, so as to receive investments.
Criteria 4: Promotion and Supporting Entrepreneurship Development
Events such as Vadodara Start-up Festival have created a buzz among the students not only of Parul University but also across the State of Gujarat. Such festivals have allowed students to have sessions and engage in interactive talks with expert industrialists who have gotten to share their insightful expertise with the students. The University has been organizing a total of over 100 entrepreneurship talks annually, where students have gotten to learn first-hand information relating to the field and has also organized start-up centered meets and promoting the participation of women in the field of entrepreneurship such as the WE Women Entrepreneur Meet.
Criteria 5: Intellectual Property (IP) Generation, Technology Transfer, and Commercialization
The University has been focusing on turning students from being job seekers into becoming job makers. A total of 63 Intellectual Property Rights have been filed and these have been in the various fields of applied sciences, engineering, medical sciences, pharmacy among others. These patents and copyrights filed have been fundamental towards reflecting the ingenuity of the University’s students along with the effort of their faculty mentors.
Criteria 6: Innovative Learning Methods & Courses
Entrepreneurship has become one of the core foundations of its learning methodologies. This allows students to constantly be surrounded by knowledge and understanding of this field. Through such early entry-level learning, the University has been creating the ideal ground for encouraging the maximum participation of its students into the field of innovation.
The University has also incorporated entrepreneurship as part of its continuing education programs, thus allowing both the students and faculties to enhance their knowledge in regards to the field.
Criteria 7: Innovation in Governance
The cell was nurtured by the development of an AR VR based technology which was essential in the functionality and management of the University’s daily activities. The innovation featured a system that provides a 360-degree view of the University, and such a system has proven to be of great significance to the administration of the University especially in the COVID-19 time where social distancing has been encouraged on various grounds.
