Improving of Placements, Higher Studies and Entrepreneurships of Civil Engineering Students through Quality Circle Activity

Abstract—Outcome Based Education (OBE) system is playing a vital role in engineering education as per New Education Policy 2020. In OBE, different types of active learning tools, varying from a simple, class room assessment tools like one-minute paper, thinkpair- share, flipped classroom, to a more complex technique like problem based learning, cooperative learning, peer supported independent study are used so that the engineering graduates get equipped with required skill sets to make them industry ready. In India, nowadays the quality of education provided by the institutions and the programs run by these institutions is evaluated by two major bodies namely NBA and NAAC. Accreditation of the programs and institutions by NBA and NAAC is based on some criteria and it has become an essential requirement to ensure the quality technical education. In NBA and NAAC, students’ placements, higher education, entrepreneurship, industry internship and connect with industry are considered to be the key indicators for ensuring quality technical education and a higher weightage has been provided in the evaluation process. In this paper, an attempt has been done to improve students’ placement index (i.e. placements, higher studies and entrepreneurships) by implementing the concept of Quality Circle (QC) activity for the students of civil engineering department of Rajarambapu Institute of Technology, Rajaramnagar. The results indicate that implementation of QC concept could improve placement index by 10% for last two batches and could maintain progress even during COVID pandemic. Thus, study concludes that implementation of QC concept helps in enhancing placement index of department. Keywords— NAAC; NBA; Outcome Base Education; Placement Index; Quality Circle;