Benchmarking

ACADEMIC departments, as a practice, set a day or two to go “benchmarking.”

How does benchmarking take place? The simplest I have observed is a pre-arranged visit to entities to look into the best practices of the latter aligned to the objective/s of the benchmarking visit. Benchmarking participants carry a Guide – a set of pointers as to what best practices to observe, to clarify/discuss with the officials of the said entities. After the main purpose is done, and to satisfy other human needs, -- the social, recreational and cultural aspects of these educational tours would include at the very least a swim in waters far from the madding crowd, or a visit to a historical spot or viewing a celebrated tribal/ethnic event or shopping. And of course, there will be countless photos; selfies, too to document the tour. In the late afternoon or that of the next day, everybody prepares for home – tired but happy. Albeit, the benchmarking experience serves also as a form of continuing professional development (CPD). Upon return to the university and in some scheduled conference, the notes based on the Guide are collated, deliberated and an implementation plan contextually appropriate to a department is drawn.