Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC)

Introduction

In pursuance of its Action Plan for performance evaluation, assessment and accreditation and quality up-gradation of institutions of higher education, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) proposes that every accredited institution should establish an Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) as a quality sustenance measure. Since quality enhancement is a continuous process, the IQAC will become a part of the institution’s system and work towards realisation of the goals of quality enhancement and sustenance. The prime task of the IQAC is to develop a system for conscious, consistent and catalytic improvement in the overall performance of institutions. For this, during the post accreditation period, institutions need to channelize its efforts and measures towards promoting the holistic academic excellence including the peer committee recommendations.

The work of the IQAC is the first step towards internalization and institutionalization of quality enhancement initiatives. Its success depends upon the sense of belongingness and participation in all the constituents of the institution. It will not be yet another hierarchical structure or a recordkeeping exercise in the institution. It will be a facilitative and participative voluntary system/unit/organ of the institution. It has the potential to become a vehicle for ushering in quality enhancement by working out planned interventionist strategies by IQAC to remove deficiencies and enhance quality like the “Quality Circles” in industries.

Vision of IQAC:

To ensure quality culture as the prime concern for the Higher Education Institutions through Institutionalizing and internalizing all the initiatives taken with internal and external support.

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

• Ensuring timely, efficient and progressive performance of academic, administrative and financial tasks;
• Relevant and quality academic/research programmes
• Equitable access to and affordability of academic programmes for various sections of society
• Optimization and integration of modern methods of teaching and learning;
• The credibility of assessment and evaluation process
• Ensuring the adequacy, maintenance and proper allocation of support structure and services;
• Sharing of research findings and networking with other institutions in India and abroad

Functions:

• 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
• Collection and analysis of feedback from all stakeholders on quality related institutional processes
• Dissemination of information on various quality parameters to all stakeholders
• 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
• Periodical conduct of Academic and Administrative Audit and its follow-up
• Preparation and submission of the Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR) as per guidelines and parameters of NAAC

Benefits:

IQAC will facilitate / contribute to:

• Ensure clarity and focus in institutional functioning towards quality enhancement;
• Ensure internalization of the quality culture
• Ensure enhancement and coordination among various activities of the institution and institutionalize all good practices
• Provide a sound basis for decision- making to improve institutional functioning
• Act as a dynamic system for quality changes in HEIs;
• Build an organised methodology of documentation and internal communication

Dr. H M Gangadharaiah Extramural Lecture Series

Preamble: Extramural lectures aim to expose staff and students on which are beyond their curriculum and also provide a platform to interact / exchange ideas with speakers. The importance of extracurricular activities on college campuses is well established. The primary goals of extracurricular activities focus on the individual student level, the institutional level, and the broader community level. These activities exist to compliment the university's academic curriculum and to augment the student's educational experience. Remembering the sacrifice and services of founder of SSES Dr. H M Gangadharaih, an immortal personality in the history of Indian education, IQAC-SSIT is organizing extramural lecture series in his name as Dr. H M Gangadharaiah Extramural Lecture Series.