St Francis College marks 25 years of IQAC with national seminar on higher education quality
HYDERABAD: St Francis College for Women hosted a national seminar on “From Compliance to Excellence: Reimagining the Quality Journey” on April 28, 2026, marking the silver jubilee of its Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC).
The hybrid seminar brought together academicians, administrators, industry experts and quality specialists to discuss evolving standards in higher education.
Leaders highlight need for future-ready education systems
The inaugural session was attended by V. Balakista Reddy, chairman of the Telangana Council for Higher Education, and Sr. Deepthi, secretary general of the Xavier Board of Higher Education in India.
Principal T. Uma Joseph traced the institution’s journey from 15 students in 1959 to over 3,500 students. She said the IQAC has consistently documented academic and co-curricular progress while setting benchmarks for quality.
Reddy urged institutions to adopt curriculum reforms and skill-based learning. “With globalisation, it is important for educators to ‘update or outdate’,” he said, calling for alignment with the vision of a developed India. He outlined the council’s focus on affordability, accessibility, equity and inclusiveness.
Sr. Deepthi emphasised the shift to AI-integrated and skill-oriented education. “The transition of educators leads to the transition of students, which leads to institutional excellence,” she said.
Sessions examine AI tools, inclusivity and best practices
The seminar marked 25 years of IQAC and four National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) cycles. Former and current IQAC coordinators were felicitated, including Maya Ramakrishna, K. Girija, T. Uma Joseph, Savita Sukumar and P. Roseline.
A seminar souvenir compiling best practices from institutions across India was also released.
In the technical sessions, Pankaj Bhagat spoke on AI tools in higher education, demonstrating their use in teaching and learning. He encouraged faculty to help students become creators. “Stop applying for jobs, start applying AI,” he said.
A. Patrick from Osmania University stressed inclusive excellence, highlighting the importance of mother-tongue communication, rural education access and addressing gender and financial barriers. He said institutions must redesign systems for inclusivity and ensure psychological safety in classrooms.
Uma Joseph later presented the college’s best practices, including academic expansion, faculty exchange, global collaborations and community engagement initiatives.
Panel discusses global benchmarks and sustainability
A panel discussion on “Sustainable Quality Ecosystems & Global Benchmarking” focused on long-term strategies and international standards in higher education. Participants shared institutional practices for sustainable growth.
The seminar concluded with a valedictory session. Joseph described the event as “intellectually enriching and practically rewarding”.
