Introduction

Shalaka foundation’s Keystone School of Engineering (KSE) is promoted by highly qualified and experienced people sharing common passion for education. The promoters are well known personalities in the field of academic, management, training-placement, infrastructure and development. Keystone School of Engineering was established in year 2012. The campus is located nearby upcoming area of Pune like Hadapsar& NIBM. The campus environment is nature friendly and we harness the concept of “Nurture with Nature”.

 

Keystone School of Engineering was started with three conventional courses. viz., Computer, Electronics & Telecommunication and Mechanical Engineering. The institute is affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune (SPPU).

Vision

To emerge as a world class knowledge center producing professionals of high academic acumen, committed to professional ethics, integrity and meaningfully contributing to national development.

Mission

1. To achieve and uphold high academic and professional standards by providing quality education and training.
2. To develop and encourage the originality, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and professional leadership among the students.
3. To create an environment conducive to academic growth and career development for all students so as to achieve excellence in their chosen field.
4. To respond to industry needs by offering curriculum relevant to changing needs of society & Industry.
5. To instill in students the belief in equality, dignity and the value of every person.
6. To provide active student development programs, curricular and extra-curricular to foster student participation in social development and nation building.
7. To create awareness in students about their obligation towards the society and the nation.

Curricular Aspects

1. Institute is affiliated to SPPU, DTE Maharashtra & AICTE, New Delhi. The Curricular Planning and academic calendar is provided by SPPU.
2. The Institution ensures effective curriculum delivery through a well planned and documented process.
3. The institute take the structured feedback from all stake holders i.e. Students, Teachers, Employers, Alumni &Parents regarding content, of the syllabus, teaching- learning and required modifications to cater changing industrial needs. These feedbacks are communicated to University authorities and recommend the changes. Due to the rigidness of larger University structure, if these suggestions are not adopted then the institutes launches its own Certificate and Diploma programmes. This always helps in enhancing employability of Keystone students.
4. Institute integrates cross cutting issues relevant to Gender, Environment, Sustainability, Human Values and Professional Ethics by conducting extension programs.
5. Value added courses imparting transferable and life skills offered to bridge the gap between industry and institute.
6. Students are encouraged to undertake industrial visits, industrial projects, industrial project guide, Internship and industrial training

Teaching-learning And Evaluation

Curricular Planning:

1. The institution assesses the learning levels of the students, after admission and organizes special Programmes for advanced learners and slow learners.
2. Teacher is the soul of education system. At Keystone it is our constant endeavor to have the best mix of experience and youth. All teachers are Post Graduates and pursuing Doctorate.
3. Student centric methods, such as experiential learning, participative learning and problem solving methodologies are used for enhancing learning experiences
4. Use of ICT and , E-Learning resources is encouraged.
5. Innovation and Creativity in teaching- learning is the forte of Keystone
6. Programme outcomes, Programme specific outcomes and course outcomes for all Programme offered by the institution are stated and displayed on website and communicated to teachers and students.
7. Attainment of Programme outcomes, Programme specific outcomes and course outcomes are evaluated by the institution.

Research, Innovations And Extension

1. Any institution cannot survive only on education but need to have future vision of Research, Innovations and Extension
2. Institution has created an ecosystem for innovations including Incubation centre and other initiatives for creation and transfer of knowledge
3. Number of Workshops and seminars conducted on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
4. Industry-Academia Bridge is created by various ways such as industrial projects industrial guides and examiners
5. The institution has a stated Code of Ethics to check malpractices and plagiarism in Research .
6. Faculty and students are encouraged to publish research papers.
7. Students are encouraged to participate in extension activities, such as Swachh Bharat, AIDs awareness, Gender issue etc.
8. Institute has developed linkages with various industries for Faculty exchange, Student exchange, Internship, Field trip, on-the- job training and research.
9. Institute has signed Functional MoU’s with more than 30industries.

Infrastructure And Learning Resources

1. State of art infrastructure is created that fosters the teaching learning process.
2. The total infrastructure is created as per the University norms which includes instructional, administrative and amenities areas.
3. It includes Spacious class room, Tutorial rooms, Seminar Hall.
4. State of art laborites equipped with equipment and machinery as per the University Syllabus.
5. All the classrooms and seminar halls are equipped with ICT- enabled facilities.
6. State of art library with large number of books, e-books and digital library.
7. Well equipped computer center with internet connection of Leased line 50 mbps with Wi-Fi facility. Facilities for e-content development such as Media Centre, Recording facility, Lecture Capturing System (LCS)
8. Work shop with updated machinery required for various shops
9. Huge play ground for outdoor sports such as Cricket, Football, Volley ball & Kabbadi. Indoor sports facilities such as Table Tennis, Carom, Chess& Dart are available.
10. Gymnasium for students is available.
11. Huge amphitheatre for the capacity 0f 1200 students is created for various extra curricular activities. Hostel facility near to campus and bus facility plying all over Pune and Sub Urban areas.
12. The institute has allocated budget plan for updating the laboratory, maintenance and modernization.
13. Allocated budget plan for purchase of new equipment, books & future requirements.

Student Support And Progression

1. Keystone students are benefited by scholarships,freeships& Minority Scholarship provided by the Government of Maharashtra.
2. Additionally, Shalaka Foundation and Leela Poonawala Foundation provides financial support to meritorious & needy students.
3. Number of capability enhancement and development schemes such as Guidance for competitive examinations, Career counseling, Soft skill development, Remedial coaching, Language lab, Bridge courses, Yoga and meditation, Personal Counseling are available.
4. A strong cell is created for student grievances andragging cases. Internal complaint committee (ICC) is functional for sexual harassment and grievances.
5. Placement of outgoing students is very encouraging and we have placed 90% of outgoing students in 55 companies.
6. Students are encouraged and trained for higher studies with exposure to expert lectures, seminars on higher education.
7. Students are encouraged to appear for examinations likeGATE & Civil Services. Students participate in various Co curricular and extracurricular activities actively.
8. Institute has various sports teams like Cricket, Football, Volleyball, Kabbadi, Table Tennis, Badminton, Carom.
9. We have active enthusiastic ART CIRCLE to contribute in various extracurricular activities as Street Play, Sinhgad Karandak& many more events.
10. Every department has active vigorous students association KESA, MESA & ACES.
11. Students have representated in various committees likeDiscipline committee, Library Committee, Anti- ragging Committee, Grievances Committee, Redressal Committee, Sport Committee & Sports Committee.
12. The first batch has passout in 2015-2016. The Alumni association gained momentum in January 2017.Each year we conduct Alumnimeeton January 26th. The response from Alumni is highly encouraging and they Alumni contributes in form of donation, prize money, industrial projects, industrial training and enlightening sessions called as FOOTSTEPS.

Governance, Leadership And Management

1. The promoters of the institute have rich experience of 25 years in the field of academics & engineering. We have well known personalities from academics, engineering, consultancy on governing body and local managing committee.
2. These bodies envisaged the future vision of organization and accordingly play the plan for implementation.

1. The institute has well defined Organizational structure defining roles and responsibilities along with authorities and responsibilities. This gives clear picture of decentralization and participative management.
2. Faculty and non teaching staff members are the soul of the institution and every care is taken related to self appraisal, performance appraisal and incentives to boost the performance of the organization.
3. Financial audits are conducted regularly as per government norms and the management strategies for mobilization of funds and the optimal utilization of resources.
4. Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) has participation of Principal and Heads of the department to contribute significantly for the quality of education.
5. The institution reviews its teaching learning process, structures & methodologies of operations and learning outcomes at periodic intervals.

Institutional Values And Best Practices

1. The institute is committed to gender equity and organizes various promotion programs for gender. Adequate facilities for Safety and Security, Counseling and Common Room are in place.Environment consciousness & sustainability is achieved by green practices.The institute has planted 1200 plus trees in last five years on baron land.Rain water harvesting and Waste Management steps for Solid waste, Liquid waste & E-waste management are in place.The college provides own transportation facility and remaining students are encouraged for public transport, pool transport and bicycles.
2. Various facilities for Differently abled students (Divyangjan) are available.
3. Contribution to local community in form of extension activities such as NSS, Value education, Swach Bharat, Computer literacy and Cyber Crime are practiced by the institution. This has lead to establish a brand of KEYSTONE in the neighboring community.
4. Human Values and Professional Ethics are embalmed through various mentors having social, academic and industrial contribution.
5. Code of conduct handbook exists for all the stake holders.
6. Institution organizes national festivals like Independenceday, Republic day, Engineer’s day, Teachers day, Ganesh Utsav, Id etc. and birth / death anniversaries of the great Indian personalities like Gandhi jayanti, Bal din, are celebrated.
7. The institution always focus on various activities which enhances teaching learning process, employability and the skill sets of the students.

Institutional Strength 

1. The promoters are well known personalities in the field of academic, management, training-placement, infrastructure and development. Their experience and expertise has created a strong base of industrial connect, collaboration and innovation in teaching learning.
2. Located in Pune which is an educational and cultural hub and known as OXFORD of east. The institute has spacious infrastructure, pollution free, serene environment along with the affiliation of world’s renowned SPPU.
3. The locational advantage has created strong networking possibilities in the industrial areas like Chakan, Bhosari, Kondhwa, Magarpatta IT Park and Hadapsar industrial estate. These linkages have created many avenues for joint and collaborating projects, industrial experts teachers, in plant training opportunities and consultancy.
4. Qualified experience teachers and administrative staff are the pillars of the institutes who are been continuously encouraged by the management.
5. Institute stands high by following innovative teaching learning practices, promoting co-curricular and extracurricular activities.
6. Teacher-Guardian scheme initiates personal counseling and mentoring for overall development of the student
7. Add-On training, value-added programmes for curriculum enrichment, industrial visits, expert lectures, internships facilitate holistic development of students.
8. Social awareness and responsibilities are been imbibed through events and activities which are conducted by students association in each department.
9. Importance of health is been encouraged by providing ample opportunities in the field of Gymnasium and sports like Table Tennis, Volleyball, and Cricket etc. for the students.
10. Feedback of the stake holders are proactively used to improve and upgrade various parameters of the institute.
11. Training and Placement Department is the backbone of any institute. Keeping its imperative role in mind, we have liaison with more than 100 industries.
12. The successful complition of first three batches and the Results, Placements, Progression towards higher studies itself has become advertising tool. Our Alumni are the brand Ambassadors.

 Institutional Weakness

1. Number of major research and interdisciplinary projects .
2. Placement in core industries
3. Consultancy activities need to be enhanced.
4. Rank of students at entry level
5. Number of faculty with Ph. D and research publications.
6. Limited flexibilities in curriculum and syllabus as the institute is affiliated to SPPU.

Opportunities

1. Institutional Opportunity
2. Training on Foreign Languages like German, Japanese is conducted for the students to enhance their career prospectus.
3. Continuous process of Alumni networking is done to enhance placement activities and industry institute interaction.
4. MoUs are signed with leading industries for the overall development of the students and faculties. Parents’ meet are organized, their feedback are collected and implemented to improve teaching and learning activities. Moreover feedback from alumni and industries are collected to improve overall personality of students.
5. Smart city advantage
6. Industry oriented training programs.
7. Collaboration with industries of Global standards.
8. Faculty and student exchange programs with foreign Organizations.
9. To attract highly meritorious students at entry level
10. As college is at the verge of Rural &Urban hence faculties opt this college as a stepping stone for their further professional growth.

Challenges

1. Growing number of engineering institutes.
2. Increase placements in core industries
3. Execution of collaboration with foreign Institutions To attract high meritorious students
4. Attracting meritorious students for getting admission in the institute.
5. Lack of awareness about exposure to education, technology and competitions among parents.
6. Entry of Private and Deemed University with fancy courses and aggressive marketing.

Additional Information 

The Institute has adequate infrastructure, supporting academic facilities, state of the art laboratories with well qualified and experienced faculty members with good retention ratio. The Institute gives highest priority to teaching- learning process. Emphasis is given on extra and co-curricular activities for holistic development of students. Institute aims to deliver the best quality in Teaching Learning and overall development of ourstudents, Faculty and Staff members.

Concluding Remarks :

Institute has well framed vision and mission, considering the needs of the society. Best academics, infrastructure, research laboratories, industry-interaction, self-learning and co-curricular and extra- curricular activities are some of the special features which cater to the comprehensive development of the students.

The management and governance of Institute play significant role in the evolutionary reforms towards positioning the Institute in the preferred list of all stake holders. The Institute believes in promoting a culture of delegation of powers through strategic policies. The Principal of Institute is assisted by HODs, Administrative Head, Section in-charges and coordinators of various committees in decision making process at the Institute.

Institute executes strategic planning from time to time for producing quality engineers and overall growth of the Institute. Institute regularly conducts training to staff and faculty members for implementation of quality procedures. External audit by various agencies like DTE, AICTE, SPPU, and internal audit is undertaken periodically to improve institutional activities.