Encouraged by India's success in the IT services and Business process outsourcing (BPO) model, Indian educational institutions can explore opportunities in research outsourcing which forms the key component of the knowledge process outsourcing. Typically, this could be attempted in the areas of engineering, healthcare and biotech which are currently viewed to be the “sun rise” industries by the policy makers in India. In order to promote research process outsourcing, it is imperative that educational institutions should play a key role by focusing on both basic as well as applied research activities in collaboration with other knowledge sourcing partners (KSP). Unlike companies which are primarily concerned with the immediate commercialization of the outcome of the research, the purpose and prerogative of educational institutions are related with nurturing and dissemination of knowledge and imparting research skills among the professors/ researchers, there by leading to capacity building in the respective institution. This paper examines roles and responsibilities required in creating a 3-tier framework at the national level to facilitate research outsourcing and create opportunities for the faculty members, thereby living up to the dreams of our beloved president Dr. Kalam, in shaping up Indian research force by catering to opportunities in 21st century. It also addresses other related issues like Marketing; Web based research and administration, Quality assurance and IP (Intellectual property) security issues.

1. 1Prof. K. Sankaran
Mr. Ashok Rangaswamy
CMRIT
KPO in Education Sector
Knowledge Process Outsourcing
in Education Sector – GUI Model Approach
Prof. K. Sankaran
Ashok Rangaswamy
CMR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

2. 2Prof. K. Sankaran
Mr. Ashok Rangaswamy
CMRIT
KPO in Education Sector
Contents
• Introduction
• Opportunities in KPO
• INDIA as KPO hub
• Advantages of KPO in education Sector
• GUI Model – A conceptual Model
• Roles and Responsibilities of GUI Architecture
• Summary

3. 3Prof. K. Sankaran
Mr. Ashok Rangaswamy
CMRIT
KPO in Education Sector
KPO - Opportunities
Source: 'Mapping Offshore Markets Update 2005
Preferred destination for
Business and IT Outsourcing
increasing overseas R&D spending for product innovation setup
Preferred destinations
39%
29%
28%
4%
CHINA U.S INDIA OTHERS
Source: Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) global survey in September 2004

4. 4Prof. K. Sankaran
Mr. Ashok Rangaswamy
CMRIT
KPO in Education Sector
KPO $$$$$$$$$
Global Knowledge Process Outsourcing
industry (KPO) is expected to reach
USD 17 billion by 2010
Source: GlobalSourcingNow
of which USD 12 billion would be outsourced to India
2,50,000 KPO professionals by 2010 25,000

5. 5Prof. K. Sankaran
Mr. Ashok Rangaswamy
CMRIT
KPO in Education Sector
RO
Research process outsourcing (RO) entails the networking
of domain experts across the globe, with the view to
facilitate knowledge sharing, effective infrastructure
utilization, cost economy, sustained growth and
productivity.

6. 6Prof. K. Sankaran
Mr. Ashok Rangaswamy
CMRIT
KPO in Education Sector
Advantages of RO
• nurturing and dissemination of knowledge and imparting
research skills among the professors/ researchers
• Research capacity building in the respective institution.

7. 7Prof. K. Sankaran
Mr. Ashok Rangaswamy
CMRIT
KPO in Education Sector
Requisites of RO
• collaboration, ensuring higher understanding of client's needs
• superior quality services through quality control department.
• transparency, giving our clients a higher degree of control
• quick turnaround time through our well defined processes
• confidentiality / data protection
• cost advantage
• wide talent pool
• innovative thinking, to constantly improve our services and delivery
methodologies
• innovative client and job coding, to maintain client confidentiality

8. 8Prof. K. Sankaran
Mr. Ashok Rangaswamy
CMRIT
KPO in Education Sector
Avenues
• affiliation agreements with major research institutions
• bilateral Memoranda of Cooperation agreements with international
institutions
• consortia of Universities
• agreements for shared access to equipment and facilities
• joint research training programs with like international research-led
institutions
• national and international visiting researcher programs
• staff and student exchanges
• seed-funding of collaborative research ventures
• successfully establish a Strategic Alliance Agreement between the
University and the Defence Science and Technology
• encourage greater research collaboration between faculties and
departments and between staff and colleagues in affiliated
institutions.

9. 9Prof. K. Sankaran
Mr. Ashok Rangaswamy
CMRIT
KPO in Education Sector
Issues on RO
• Security clearance
• Legal aspects
• Ease of research collaboration
• Corroboration of capabilities of the research partners

10. 10Prof. K. Sankaran
Mr. Ashok Rangaswamy
CMRIT
KPO in Education Sector
GUI Model
Government
Agency for RO (ROA)
Research
Cluster/Individual
UNIVERSITY CRQA
RPE AAC
CUSTOMER CUSTOMER
Research process work flow Research Quality Assurance and Rating
Research process coordination and control Marketing and process initiation
Fig 1. GUI MODEL FRAMEWORK
ROA – Research Outsourcing Agency
CRQA - Council for Research Quality Assurance
RPR – Research Process Review cell
AAC – cell to Assess, Accredit and Corroborate credentials of researcher

11. 11Prof. K. Sankaran
Mr. Ashok Rangaswamy
CMRIT
KPO in Education Sector
CSIR AICTE
RMC
ROA
Research Outsourcing Agency (ROA)

12. 12Prof. K. Sankaran
Mr. Ashok Rangaswamy
CMRIT
KPO in Education Sector
Responsibilities of ROA
• Coordinate with international research funding agencies and form
MoUs
• Network research clusters and creation of researchers database
• Coordinate with AICTE to promote integrated research activities
through Universities/Colleges
• Coordinate with CSIR for active guidance and support for
researchers
• Coordinate with RMC for marketing successful research outcomes
out of research outsourcing activities
• Organize national level research awareness programs in
collaboration with CSIR and AICTE
• Sensitize through national and regional level seminars for creation
of research clusters and registration of researchers
• Formulate incentive schemes, tax benefits for promoting research
outsourcing and recommend to the Government for incorporation in
the annual budget

13. 13Prof. K. Sankaran
Mr. Ashok Rangaswamy
CMRIT
KPO in Education Sector
Responsibilities of University (U)
• Formulate guidelines to promote research in various affiliated
institutions
• Make research as a mandatory component of academic workload of
faculty
• Design incentive schemes for motivating both the faculty and
students
• Coordinate research activities of various colleges under single
umbrella
• Create a new post of (research and development) who is
responsible for all the activities
• Award research assistantships based on scores of national level
competitive test like ARAT
• Identify and foster research areas vis-à-vis with Institutions’
strengths and core competencies

14. 14Prof. K. Sankaran
Mr. Ashok Rangaswamy
CMRIT
KPO in Education Sector
Responsibilities of Institution
• Identify and establish core areas of research, in
consultation with research bodies
• Plan and execute research projects, as per commitment
given to Customer/ Sponsorer
• Attach top priority to the reward and recognition systems
of the institution to accomplish excellence in basic and
applied research (AICTE has to play a role here)
• Further develop the suite of short term courses,
seminars and mentoring programs designed to improve
staff performance in research methodologies and
management

15. 15Prof. K. Sankaran
Mr. Ashok Rangaswamy
CMRIT
KPO in Education Sector
Performance parameters
of Research Clusters
• Appraise individual staff performance on research
activity, research supervision and research ethics
compliance issues
• Competitive Grant performance
• Research Personnel data – Work load, completions and
profiles
• Publications

16. 16Prof. K. Sankaran
Mr. Ashok Rangaswamy
CMRIT
KPO in Education Sector
Summary
Research Process outsourcing (RO) is imperative for
globalized India
Education sector will play the “anchor” role in harnessing
RO
Academicians will play the proactive role as “Researchers”