Internal Quality Assurance Cell
Dr. Sangita Jagtap.
Associate Professor
M. Sc.(Gold Medalist), Ph. D.(NCL,Pune)
Visiting Scholar (Stanford University,California,USA)
SET, NET,GATE
PGD.Pharm., MBA(HR)
sangeetajagtap@rediffmail.com
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.
The composition of IQAS has been slightly modified by NAAC, with external representations as an "External Exper" and students as well. Thus, expectations from IQAC 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 IQACwill be playing a pivotal role in establishing the 'Choice Based Credit System', frame work for all syllabi and pattern for 'Continuous Evaluation System'.
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.
- Development and application of quality benchmarks/parameters for various academic and administrative activities of the institution;
- 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;
- Arrangement for feedback response from students, parents and other stakeholders on quality-related institutional processes;
- Dissemination of information on various quality parameters of higher education;
- Organization of inter and intra institutional workshops, seminars on quality related themes and promotion of quality circles;
- Documentation of the various programmes/activities leading to quality improvement;
- Acting as a nodal agency of the Institution for coordinating quality-related activities, including adoption and dissemination of best practices;
- Development and maintenance of institutional database through MIS for the purpose of maintaining /enhancing the institutional quality;
- Development of Quality Culture in the institution;
- Preparation of the Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR) as per guidelines and parameters of NAAC, to be submitted to NAAC.
Quality Policy of the IQAC
The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of the college is primarily focused in internal quality. The University Grants Commission (UGC) and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) have laid the onus of quality enhancement of colleges on the IQAC. The IQAC has, from time to time, adopted the quality parameters set by statutory agencies such as the UGC, NAAC, State Government and the University and used them to assess and assure that quality is maintained. The primary objective, thus, of the IQAC is look into rather than at the college processes with a perspective of providing quality to all stakeholders.
Understanding the significance of Internal Quality Assurance Systems (IQAS), the IQAC has attempted over the years to systemize processes through which quality enhancement can be achieved. The IQAC has also perceived that quality enhancement initiatives need to be decentralized, rather than nodal, with several activity heads being appointed and each deploying their activities as a separate team.
College IQAC set the following objectives
- To define quality parameters for the college.
- To monitor the quality aspects of the institution.
- To intervene and guide the departments wherever necessary for quality enhancement.
- To create, operate and monitor a decentralized system for all activities.
Composition of IQAC
Members of the IQAC have been strategically selected so that representation for the Arts, Commerce and Science Faculties, Liberian, Director of Physical education, top office and administrative authorities is ensured. As a result, planning and decision making has become easier and smoother and implementation is efficient.
We consider the teacher as a hub for all college activities, academic and otherwise, and hence assuring teachers' progression helps in assuring quality. For the co-, extra-curricular activities and extension activities teachers are assigned managerial roles. Committees are formed for this purpose. It is relevant to note that these committees are carefully constituted to ensure that though leadership is rotated, key experienced members remain the same assuring high performance levels. Such decentralization has helped in participation of teachers in quality sustenance. This experience over the years has helped evolve a fairly stable and efficient system, which today requires little monitoring and has been internalized.