IQAC

Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC)

Objectives, Strategies, Functions, Benefits, Operational Features and Monitoring Mechanisms

Dear Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to convey that, our Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) was established in the year 2004. The Cell has been functioning as integral part of our Academic and Administrative activities. Post NAAC (National assessment and Accreditation Council) –II assessment, the IQAC has geared up and has extended its support for all the Academic and Administrative affairs of our College.

As you are aware that, NAAC, Bangalore has made certain changes in the format of SSR/ RAR and changed weightages of all seven criteria and focuses more on “Quality Policy” and creation of “Quality Benchmarks”. At the same time, the role of IQAC in this entire episode has been transformed from ‘Cell” to ‘System” and more appropriately now referred as “Internal Quality Assurance System”(IQAS). The composition of IQAS has been slightly modified by NAAC, with external representations as an “External Expert” and students as well. Thus, expectations from IQAS have been increased and have a key role in the “Governance” and “Management” of the College/ Institution. Presently, the College is also preparing for “Academic Autonomy”. The IQAS will be playing a pivotal role in establishing the ‘Choice Based Credit System”, frame work for all syllabi and pattern for ‘Continuous Evaluation System”.

Objective

The primary aim of IQAC is

• To develop a system for conscious, consistent and catalytic action to improve the academic and administrative performance of the institution.
• To promote measures for institutional functioning towards quality enhancement through internalization of quality culture and institutionalization of best practices.

Strategies

IQAC shall evolve mechanisms and procedures for

a)   Ensuring timely, efficient and progressive performance of academic, administrative and financial tasks;

b)   The relevance and quality of academic and research programmes;

c)   Equitable access to and affordability of academic programmes for various sections of society;

d)   Optimization and integration of modern methods of teaching and learning;

e)   The credibility of evaluation procedures;

f)    Ensuring the adequacy, maintenance and proper allocation of support structure and services;

g)   Sharing of research findings and networking with other institutions in India and abroad.        

Functions

Some of the functions expected of the IQAC are:

a)     Development and application of quality benchmarks/parameters for various academic and administrative activities of the institution;

b)     Facilitating the creation of a learner-centric environment conducive to quality education and faculty maturation to adopt the required knowledge and technology for participatory teaching and learning process;

c)     Arrangement for feedback response from students, parents and other stakeholders on quality-related institutional processes;

d)   Dissemination of information on various quality parameters of higher education;

e)   Organization of inter and intra institutional workshops, seminars on quality related themes and promotion of quality circles;

f)    Documentation of the various programmes/activities leading to quality improvement;

g)   Acting as a nodal agency of the Institution for coordinating quality-related activities, including adoption and dissemination of best practices;

h) Development and maintenance of institutional database through MIS for the purpose of maintaining /enhancing the institutional quality;

i)    Development of Quality Culture in the institution;

j)    Preparation of the Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR) as per guidelines and parameters of NAAC, to be submitted to NAAC.

Benefits

IQAC will facilitate / contribute

a)  Ensure heightened level of clarity and focus in institutional functioning towards quality enhancement;

b)  Ensure internalization of the quality culture;

b)  Ensure enhancement and coordination among  various activities of the institution and institutionalize all good practices;

c)  Provide a sound basis for decision-making to improve institutional functioning;

d)  Act as a dynamic system for quality changes in HEIs;

e)  Build an organised methodology of documentation and internal      communication.

Operational Features of the IQAC

Quality assurance is a by-product of ongoing efforts to define the objectives of an institution, to have a work plan to achieve them and to specify the checks and balances to evaluate the degree to which each of the tasks is fulfilled. Hence devotion and commitment to improvement rather than mere institutional control is the basis for devising procedures and instruments for assuring quality. The right balance between the health and growth of an institution needs to be struck. The IQAC has to ensure that whatever is done in the institution for “education” is done efficiently and effectively with high standards. In order to do this, the IQAC will have to first establish procedures and modalities to collect data and information on various aspects of institutional functioning.

The coordinator of the IQAC and the secretary will have a major role in implementing these functions. The IQAC may derive major support from the already existing units and mechanisms that contribute to the functions listed above. The operational features and functions discussed so far are broad-based to facilitate institutions towards academic excellence and institutions may adapt them to their specific needs.

Monitoring Mechanism

The institutions need to submit yearly the Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR) to NAAC. A functional Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) and timely submission of Annual Quality Assurance Reports (AQARs) are the Minimum Institutional Requirements (MIR) to volunteer for second, third or subsequent cycle’s accreditation.  During the institutional visit the NAAC peer teams will interact with the IQACs to know the progress, functioning as well quality sustenance initiatives undertaken by them.

The Annual Quality Assurance Reports (AQAR) may be the part of the Annual Report. The AQAR shall be approved by the statutory bodies of the HEIs (such as Syndicate, Governing Council/Board) for the follow up action for necessary quality enhancement measures.

The Higher Education Institutions (HEI) shall submit the AQAR regularly to NAAC. The IQACs may create its exclusive window on its institutional website and regularly upload/ report on its activities, as well as for hosting the AQAR.

The Composition of   IQAC is as follows:

Dr. Sameer S. Terdalkar                                               Dr. Ravindrasinh G. Pardeshi

Coordinator, IQAC                                                                              Principal

E- Mail: sterdalkar@fergusson.edu

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