Best practices in quality education and partnerships to advance the sustainable development agenda in higher education institutions

Dr. Yogesh P. Velankar earned his PhD in Engineering Education from Purdue University, USA. He presently holds the post of Chair Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai Innovation and Technology Foundation, India. Dr Velankar is recognized as an expert on India’s National Education Policy 2020 and as a Mentor for Higher Education Institutions by India’s Higher Education Regulatory bodies. He has actively provided consultancy services to various stakeholders in the educational ecosystem at all levels, contributing significantly in capacity building, policy making and organizational development initiatives. Dr Velankar’s industrial experiences include strategic talent management, competency and knowledge management, workplace learning, training and professional development. His areas of interest include educational policy and governance, leadership development, technology enhanced and lifelong learning, strategic initiatives for sustainable development and innovation.

Sambujang Marreh is the current Head of Research and Development at the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA) – regulator of tertiary institutions in The Gambia. He has over 10 years’ working experience in the tertiary education sector. In 2022, in partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning (CoL), he served as a consultant facilitator for the online course “Leading Change for Technology-enabled TVET” as part of the UNESCO-CoL Project on “Building and Strengthening Resilience of TVET Institutions post Covid-19” to enhance sustainable education service delivery in developing countries. Currently, he is pursuing a PhD in Educational Evaluation with a specific interest in sustainability in higher education at the Institute of Education, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Ousman Badjie serves as the Registration, Accreditation, Assessment and Certification Manager at the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA), The Gambia. His expertise in quality assurance, technical and engineering education has earned him a place on several national committees. Badjie holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in Technical Education, with a specialization in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, from the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Adult Education at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. As an active researcher in the field of technical and engineering education, Badjie is particularly interested in assessment practices and innovative pedagogical approaches that support quality learning outcomes.

Gideon Yeboah is a dedicated educator and researcher with a Bachelor of Integrated Science Education and a Master of Rural Development and Management Studies. He has three years of teaching experience and is currently pursuing his PhD in Sustainable Development at Amrita School for Sustainable Futures, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri Campus, India.

Barbra Ncube is a dedicated lecturer and researcher holding a Bachelor of Education degree in Applied Art and Design, as well as a Master of Technology Education degree in the same field. With 10 years of teaching experience, she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Sustainable Development at Amrita School for Sustainable Futures, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri Campus, India. Barbra’s research interest focuses on education for sustainable development, reflecting her commitment to integrating sustainability into educational practices.