4. DESCRIPCIÓN de resultados
4.5 Asistencia funeraria
6.5.1 Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC)
a. Has the institution established an Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC)? If ‗yes‘, what is the institutional policy with regard to quality assurance and how has it contributed in institutionalizing the quality assurance processes?
The institution which constantly seeks to upgrade itself in terms of teaching faculty and other staff, its infrastructure, equipment and activities is committed to achieving excellence within the realities of its situation and circumstances. To that end it organizes its annual expenditure keeping in mind, first, the welfare of the students, next that of the staff members and thirdly the larger society of which it is an integral part.
b. How many decisions of the IQAC have been approved by the management/ authorities for implementation and how many of them were actually implemented?
Almost all the development initiatives and ventures in the college proposed by the IQAC in the past four years have been passed by the management.
c. Does the IQAC have external members on its committee? If so, mention any significant contribution made by them.
The IQAC has members from the college Governing Body and staff members on it. In that sense there are no external members on the committee.
d. How do students and alumni contribute to the effective functioning of the IQAC? The students who are the targeted recipients of all the ventures undertaken by the IQAC for the betterment of the college naturally stand to gain from the innovations. They, by their very participation help in furthering the developmental agenda of the college. An apolitical Students‘ Union supports all the initiatives proposed by the IQAC and thus contributes to its effective functioning.
The alumni of the college are a great source of strength, and they not only provide ideas for qualitative improvement of the college, arrange educative and career oriented programmes, set up funds for needy students and members of the kitchen staff, help the college to get access to important functionaries in the government, but also arrange corporate sponsorship for alumni programmes.
e. How does the IQAC communicate and engage staff from different constituents of the institution?
The IQAC holds occasional meetings with the entire workforce in the college to apprise them of its plans and intentions, and seeks suggestions from everyone even as it achieves a general consensus on its policies through such meetings. The staff representatives on the Governing Body engage with the plans of the IQAC at the inceptual stage while reports on developments
and intentions alike are regularly placed at Teachers‘ Council meetings, and meetings with the non-teaching staff. Thus, the IQAC engage staff from different constituencies in the institution.
6.5.2 Does the institution have an integrated framework for Quality assurance of the academic and administrative activities? If ‗yes‘, give details on its operationalisation.
Examinations such as the annual Selection Tests and the Midterm Tests along with Entry- level questionnaires and periodical tests are tried and tested mechanisms for quality assurance. Tutorials conducted by the faculty comprise another mechanism whereby the academic needs of individual students may be catered to. The college is strict about the attendance of students and in extreme cases withholds promotion to the next class in the interest of discipline. The automation of the central library is another mechanism developed by the institution to improve the quality of facilities and services in the library. The operation of seminar libraries by departments is another method aimed at meeting the reference needs of students. The formulation of teaching plans within the purview of the academic calendar is also aimed at methodically unitizing and communicating individual assignments of teachers within rational timeframes. Parent-Teacher meetings held on a regular basis along with the Report Card system are measures to keep guardians informed of their wards‘ performance in college. Subscription to Inflibnet is a facility availed by the institution to enhance the knowledge base of faculty and students. The formation of the UGC Resource Network Centre is another facility developed to equip the students with computer and internet skills.
The move towards automation of the college office is another mechanism instituted by the college to improve efficiency in this section. The recent extension of ICT facilities to staff and students alike is a step in the same direction. The Principal keeps a tab on the functioning of administrative units and conducts regular formal and informal meetings with administrative personnel to ensure that all guidelines are strictly adhered to and matters are disposed of speedily and efficiently.
6.5.3 Does the institution provide training to its staff for effective implementation of the Quality assurance procedures? If ‗yes‘, give details enumerating its impact.
The institution deputes its staff to the competent agencies which disseminate the training for faculty members such as Orientation Programmes and Refresher Courses conducted by the Academic Staff Colleges, and its non-teaching staff to workshops conducted by the affiliating university. Workshops for teachers organized by the affiliating university on topics such as revised syllabi, model questions etc are unfailingly attended by the faculty members so that they can keep abreast of the developments in the curriculum.
A positive impact accruing from these types of training is evident in the knowledge, confidence and performance of the participants who contribute to the effective implementation of the quality assurance procedures.
6.5.4 Does the institution undertake Academic Audit or other external review of the academic provisions? If ‗yes‘, how are the outcomes used to improve the institutional activities?
Yes. The institution does undertake Academic Audit. Outcomes from this exercise give us the right impetus to remain focused on achieving the goal of academic excellence. Classes are held very regularly; extra classes are taken to cover any loss of class and the syllabus is covered exhaustively, discouraging selective approach. Academically weak students and
and remedial classes are taken to cater to them so that they can overcome their weakness. Consequently, many parents, who themselves have been deprived of a chance to receive education, have found the college a safe haven to introduce their students to the world of learning. Thus the college can justifiably take pride in the fact that it has created many graduates out of first generation learners. Again, the advanced learners are provided further assistance in the form reference books, journals etc so as to ensure that they can optimally exploit their potentialities while taking their exams. Our efforts in this regard have borne fruit as some of our students have regularly secured first class marks in University examinations.
6.5.5 How are the internal quality assurance mechanisms aligned with the requirements of the relevant external quality assurance agencies/regulatory authorities?
Guided as it is by the norms of Calcutta University, UGC and NAAC, the college has in place several quality assurance mechanisms. Faculty members are selected in accordance with UGC rules and other posts filled according to government guidelines. Books for the Central and Seminar libraries and other equipment (for laboratories etc) are acquired with UGC grants. The latest computer technology has been harnessed and state of the art laboratories built to enhance the quality of the teaching learning process. The Governing Body of the institution along with the Principal keep an eagle eye on the everyday running of the institution.
The institution, as has already been stated, has as its goal imparting of value based education. A humane, kind and compassionate approach is always maintained while dealing with students. Academically weak students are given special care, differently- abled students are provided with a support system and underprivileged students are assisted in securing various scholarship. Class room teaching is not just confined to completing the syllabus. Students are encouraged to seek knowledge about upcoming areas and new fields of study in their respective discipline so that they can keep pace with contemporary developments. What is more, they are always advised to be upright, to have fellow feelings, to consider their peers not as competitors but as friends. The NSS programme of the institution encourages the natural human propensity to extend a helping hand towards the less privileged in tune with the core values put forward by external regulatory authorities such as Calcutta University and NAAC.
The kind and affectionate approach of teachers and the bonhomie among students create a healthy, peaceful environment which attracts students and parents alike. Because of a well qualified faculty with teachers who are actively pursuing doctoral or post doctoral research and constantly upgrading their knowledge, students find the atmosphere in college to be intellectually invigorating. Students get satisfaction from the way their teachers equip them with information and analysis that enable them to do well academically and also win prizes in various internal as well as inter-college events like debates, quizzes and seminars.
As has already been mentioned, the institution treats education as a holistic process whereby students can learn how to live and not just how to earn a living. In spite of a demanding academic schedule, students are offered a chance to get involved in various kinds of social service, particularly under the aegis of NSS. As the students try to introduce underprivileged children to the world of education, they develop the values of kindness and compassion, they learn to empathize with those sections of society who are not as fortunate as themselves, they come to the realization that the nation cannot progress until and unless this section is brought out of the morass of ignorance, deprivation and degradation. Thus, they, perhaps in a tiny way, make some contribution to national development. Apart from this, bodies such as the Women‘s Study Cell, the Cine Club, the Eco Club and the Debate Club involve the students in awareness programmes pertaining to gender rights, health, preservation of the environment etc thereby furthering the process of creating concerned and conscientious individuals sensitive to their own needs as well as to those of society.
Moreover, the disciplined and secure environment within the college campus, free from outside interference and undisturbed, continuous holding of classes inspire parental confidence whereas friendly and affectionate disposition of the faculty is comforting and reassuring for the young students. Feedback from ex-students corroborates this. Parents or relatives of many present students have studied in this college in the past. This signifies that the trust and confidence of parents regarding the quality of education imparted in this institution has actually become stronger with the passage of time as successive generations continue to choose the college as their alma mater.
All these mechanisms ensure that the institution is totally in tune with the requirements, academic and value based, of external quality assurance authorities like the University of Calcutta, the UGC and NAAC.
6.5.6 What institutional mechanisms are in place to continuously review the teaching learning process? Give details of its structure, methodologies of operations and outcome? The Principal and to some extent the members of the Governing Body of the college along with the teachers and staff are involved in planning, implementation and evaluation and review of the academic programmes. The academic committee comprising Heads of all the departments chalk out the academic calendar at the beginning of the session and the same is incorporated in the college prospectus so that students can have previous knowledge about the schedule to be followed. Office staff helps faculty members in preparing the class routine and in assigning rooms to each class. Once the session starts, modifications are made to the academic calendar as and when required, particularly taking into consideration need and convenience of the students. Progress of academic work and performances of students in internal and university exams are extensively evaluated by Principal and other faculty members through discussion and deliberation at staff meetings held at regular intervals. These are conveyed to the guardians through report cards and through one to one meetings with the Principal whenever necessary. The members of the Governing Body are all well conversant with the modalities of academic management and contribute valuable suggestions whenever their help is solicited.
The college is an affiliated institution of University of Calcutta and must work within the parameters set by the university in academic matters. Nevertheless, existing courses are taught with extreme care, information about contemporary developments are provided to the students and the students‘ response and comments are solicited and given due importance. The congenial atmosphere for learning and for the exchange of ideas thus created fosters a spirit of inquiry and a thirst for more in depth discussion.
6.5.7 How does the institution communicate its quality assurance policies, mechanisms and outcomes to the various internal and external stakeholders?
The Principal takes special care to ensure that academic programmes are implemented optimally on the basis of active co-operation among faculty and non-teaching staff so that syllabus can be completed within stipulated time, remedial classes to cater to the needs of slow learners can be taken and there still can be time available for students to participate in extra-curricular activities. The faculty get a chance to interact with parents in the guardians‘ meetings which are held quite regularly. Parents are advised to encourage their wards to pursue their studies dutifully and to participate in various co-curricular activities and strive to become all-rounders. Through participation in the NSS programme, students become involved in community service and gain first-hand experience of handling problematic and sometimes unprecedented situations. Special lectures delivered by noted scholars, religious leaders and social activists, organized by the college authority on various occasions, contribute to the development of right mindset in students so that education for them becomes not just a means of earning a living but a medium of learning how to live. The
continuous progress of academic and non academic work through their presence and participation in governing body meeting, teachers‘ council meetings, IQAC meetings and parent-teacher meetings. Occasionally, they offer valuable suggestions for course corrections so that the ultimate goal of ensuring quality teaching-learning process can be accomplished. Orientation programmes at the beginning of courses, parent-teacher meetings, report cards, uploading performance data on the college website are other mechanisms to ensure that vital stakeholders like students and parents as well as the community at large are made aware of the dedication and sincerity with which the college is pursuing its agenda of holistic learning. Any other relevant information regarding Governance Leadership and Management which the college would like to include.
The institution harbours a viable vision which may be effectively translated into practice. Another good practice sought to be implemented by the institution is the extension of democracy to all sections as far as is practicable. The college continues to endorse and maintain a politics-free and peaceful campus characterized by a sense of cordiality between all sections. The adherence to an inclusive policy and outlook to ensure social justice and encourage socio-cultural pluralism is again a significantly good practice in governance. While the college tries to identify the needs of the stakeholders it is not always possible for it to address all the issues that have emerged from the explorations. The recognition of the constant need to introspect, review, revise, upgrade and improve infrastructure, equipment, facilities, services and human resources is the engine which is expected to take the institution forward. If the will to improve the institution is the engine powering its movement to the future and a more evolved self, the cooperation and understanding between the authorities, staff, students and other stake holders is the cornerstone on which the educational edifice is built, and subsequently rests.