The ‘Quality Rating’ reform marks a transformative step toward strengthening the quality and credibility of nursing and paramedical education in Uttar Pradesh. Implemented by the Uttar Pradesh State Medical Faculty (UPSMF) in collaboration with the Quality Council of India (QCI), the program aims to establish a standardised and transparent framework to evaluate institutional performance and encourage continuous improvement. In 2023, the first rating cycle assessed 383 nursing and 294 paramedical institutes on key parameters including infrastructure, faculty qualifications, teaching and learning processes, governance, and student outcomes.
A standardised rating tool was developed, drawing on national operational guidelines and adapting elements from the Standards-Based Management and Recognition (SBMR) approach, accompanied by Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for assessors to ensure structured, evidence-based assessment. The rating process included institutional self-assessments, third-party on-site verification, scoring using statistical standardisation and grading from ‘A’ to ‘E’, grievance redressal, and public dissemination of results on the state portal. The outcomes revealed that only 9 per cent of institutes achieved Grade A, while the majority fell within the C category, indicating average compliance and significant scope for improvement in academic and clinical training quality.
To support capacity building, UPSMF initiated a structured Mentorship Program using a hub-and-spoke model. High-performing institutes serve as mentors to lower-performing institutes, fostering shared learning, periodic assessments, and targeted quality enhancement. 29 Mentor Institutes were established across three phases, collaborating with 95 Mentee Institutes through a voluntary engagement model. As a result, 20 Mentee Institutes achieved ≥75 in performance standards, 25 faculties were certified as mentors, and training coverage exceeded 80% across key domains. The mentorship effort has achieved notable progress in strengthening teaching-learning practices, clinical processes, and institutional management capacities.
It has introduced a transparent, data-driven framework that systematically benchmarks institutional performance, fosters accountability, and drives evidence-based improvement. By uncovering performance gaps and promoting informed decision-making among students, administrators, and policymakers, the reform elevates educational standards. It cultivates a culture of excellence and competitiveness, ensuring that the state’s health education ecosystem evolves in step with the dynamic demands of the healthcare sector.
