Hyderabad: The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of St Francis College for Women, Begumpet, Hyderabad in celebration of Silver Jubilee organises a National Seminar on ‘From Compliance to Excellence: Reimagining the Quality Journey’ on 28th April, 2026 at St Francis College for Women. The hybrid seminar brought together celebrated academicians, education administrators, industry and quality experts on a platform for collaborative learning and knowledge transfer between institutions.
Principal Prof. T. Uma Joseph delivering a session on “Experiential Learning and Best Practices.”
The inaugural session was graced by Chief Guest Prof. V. Balakista Reddy, Chairman, Telangana Council for Higher Education, and Guest of Honour Dr. Sr. Deepthi, Secretary General, Xavier Board of Higher Education in India.
Students inaugural dance performance at the IQAC National Seminar.
Addressing the gathering, Principal Prof T. Uma Joseph reflected on the 25 years journey of IQAC at St Francis College. Prof. Joseph noted how from its inception in 1959 with 15 students to its present strength of 3500 students, the college has been striving continuously to enhance quality. She commended the IQAC –right from its foundation– for meticulously documenting the achievements and milestones of the college in academics, research and co-curricular, while setting benchmarks for continuous quality enhancement. She extended her deep appreciation to all the erstwhile and present coordinators of IQAC.
Also Read-
The Chief Guest, Prof. V. Balakista Reddy congratulated the coordinators for choosing a theme of utmost importance and relevant for discussion in contemporary higher education. He noted that with globalisation where competition is inevitable it is important for educators to “update or outdate”. He called for curriculum reforms, skill-based education, and a future-oriented approach aligned with the vision of a Viksit Bharat and Telangana Rising.
College management felicitating Chief Guest Prof. V. Balakista Reddy at the event.
Prof Reddy further shared the vision of TGCHE for Inclusive development focusing on affordability, accessibility, quality, equity, inclusiveness in education. He advised the attendees from different institutions to update the curriculum and courses provided based on grassroots approach and stakeholder inclusion to develop a futuristic education system.
Guest of Honour Dr. Sr. Deepthi underscored the shift from traditional education models to skill-oriented, AI-integrated learning. She emphasized that “the transition of the educators, leads to the transition of students that further leads to the transition of the institution to Excellence”. She also highlighted the Xavier Board’s focus on values, faith, leadership, and collaborative learning across its network of institutions.
Guest of Honour Dr. Sr. Deepthi, Secretary General, Xavier Board, India, being felicitated by the college.
Marking 25 years of the IQAC and four successful NAAC accreditation cycles, the institution acknowledged and felicitated its IQAC coordinators for their dedication and pivotal role in guiding the college towards sustained excellence. The coordinators honoured included Ms. Maya Ramakrishna, Ms. K. Girija, Prof. T. Uma Joseph, Dr. Savita Sukumar, and Dr. P. Roseline. The session also witnessed the release of a seminar souvenir compiling best practices from various institutions across the country, serving as a resource for shared learning
The first session of the seminar ‘AI Tools in Higher Education & Digital Maturity- Academic Perspective’ by Mr. Pankaj Bhagat Faculty in IT, Networking AI highlighted how AI can be effectively integrated into teaching and learning processes to benefit both teachers and students by demonstrating practical tools and approaches for leveraging AI in academic environments. He urged faculty to enable students to be creators rather than mere job seekers, through his idea, “Stop applying for jobs, start applying AI.”
Release of the IQAC Souvenir during the Silver Jubilee National Seminar.
Prof. A. Patrick, Department of Commerce, Osmania University, explored the concept of inclusive excellence in higher education. He stressed on the importance of connecting with the learner, by means of communicating in one’s mother tongue, improving rural education facilities, and addressing barriers like gender bias and financial struggles. Prof Patrick put forth that instead of temporary support, institutions should redesign systems for inclusivity through flexible teaching and diverse perspectives. He emphasized how psychological safety tois a prerequisite for intellectual performance and emphasized that teachers play a crucial role by creating safe, inclusive classrooms.
In the third session, Prof. T Uma Joseph, Principal, St Francis College for Women spoke about “Experiential learning and the Best Practices” of the institution. Emphasizing institutional growth, she noted the expansion of academic programs, faculty exchange initiatives, study abroad opportunities through global collaborations and MoUs with leading organizations. She also underscored the focus on curricular and co-curricular excellence aligned with National Education Policy through internships and research culture, as well as the college’s strong social responsibility initiatives, including community engagement and village adoption, reaffirming its mission to nurture intellectually competent, morally upright, socially committed, emotionally stable, spiritually inspired, and patriotic citizens.
A panel discussion on ‘Sustainable Quality Ecosystems & Global Benchmarking’ further enriched the seminar, encouraging dialogue on long-term quality strategies and global standards in higher education. Representatives from different institutions shared the best practices adopted for ensuring sustainable growth and promoting quality education. The seminar concluded with a valedictory ceremony and emerged to be “intellectually enriching and practically rewarding” as affirmed by the Principal Prof T Uma Joseph.
