Introduction

As per the proposal from National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bangalore our institution established and Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC). Since quality enhancement is a continuous process, the IQAC will become a part of the institution’s system and work towards realization of the goals of quality enhancement and sustenance. The IQAC is to develop a system to channelize all efforts and measures of the institution towards promoting its holistic academic excellence during the post-accreditation period.

The work of the IQAC is the first step towards internalization and institutionalization of quality enhancement initiatives. As it is facilitative and participative organ of the college it keeps all records and analyze them to ensure the quality at all nodes.

Vision, Mission & Value Framework

Vision

To ensure the quality in education along with administration that is the vital role in achieving the vision of Vivekanandha College of Arts and Sciences for Women (Autonomous)

Mission

• To ensure the quality in education that we provide to the students
• To do periodic assessment to ensure the quality in both academic and administration in the college.
• To provide academic environment for promotion of quality of teaching – learning and research and to appreciate the excellence in the functioning of the college.
• To encourage innovative practices in both academic and administration, through self- evaluation, accountability and autonomy.
• To encourage research studies that closely related to socio-development and do consultancy and training programmes for social changes
• To have a keen relationship with stakeholders of education for quality education promotion and sustenance
• To maintain that quality to reach the excellence of institution.

Value Framework

The value framework of IQAC of VICAS

• Contributing to Social Development
• Fostering Global Competencies among Students
• Inculcating a Cultural System among Students
• Promoting the Use of Technology in Teaching and Learning
• Quest for Excellence in both Curriculum and Management

Objective & Strategies

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 for 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;
• The relevance and quality of academic, research programmes and administration;
• Ensuring affordability of academic programmes for various sections of society;
• Optimization and integration of modern methods of teaching and learning;
• The credibility of evaluation procedures;
• Ensuring the adequacy, maintenance and proper allocation of support structure and services including infrastructure;
• Sharing of research finding and networking with other institutions in India and abroad.

Functions & Benefits

Functions

Some of the functions expected of the IQAC are:

• Development and application of quality benchmarks/parameters for various academic and administrative activities for 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 Teachers, students, Alumni, parents and other stakeholders for quality-related institutional processes;
• Dissemination of information on various quality parameters of academic and administrative units;
• Organization of inter and intra institutional workshop, 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 for the Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR) as per guidelines and parameters of NAAC, to be submitted to NAAC.

Benefits

IQAC helps the institutions in planning and monitoring. It also gives stakeholders or beneficiaries a cross-sectional participation in the institution’s quality enhancement activities. The guidelines given here are only indicative and will help the institutions for quality sustenance activities.

IQAC will facilitate / contribute

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

• Ensure internalization of the quality culture and inculcate the quality in all stakeholders of the college;
• Ensure enhancement and coordination among various activities of the institution and institutionalize all innovative practices;
• Provide a sound basis for decision-making to improve institutional functioning;
• Act as a dynamic system for quality changes in academic and administrative units;
• Build a well-planned and scientific methodology of documentation and internal and external communication.

Composition of the IQAC

IQAC is constituted under the Chairmanship of the Principal with heads of important academic and administrative units and teachers and distinguished educationists and representatives for local management stakeholders.

The composition of the IQAC may be as follows:

The membership of such nominated members shall be for a period of two years. The IQAC should meet at least once in every quarter. The quorum for the meeting shall be two-third of the total number of members. The agenda, minutes and Action Taken Reports are to be documented with official signatures and maintained electronically in a retrievable format.

While selection these members several precautions need to be taken. A few of them are listed below:

• It is advisable to choose persons from various backgrounds who have earned respect for integrity and excellence in their teaching and research. Moreover, they should be aware of the ground realities of the institutional environment. They should be known for their commitment to improving the quality of teaching and learning.
• It would be appropriate to choose as senior administrators, persons in charge of institutional services such as library, computer CENTRE, estate, student welfare, administration, academic tasks, examination and planning and development.
• The management representative should be a person who is aware of the institution’s objectives, limitations and strengths and is committed to its improvement. The local society representatives should be of high social standing and should have made significant contributions to society and in particular to education.

The role of coordinator

1. The role of the coordinator of the IQAC is crucial in ensuring the effective functioning of all the members.
2. The coordinator of the IQAC may be senior person with expertise in quality aspects. She/he may be a full-time functionary or, to start with, she/he may be a senior academic /administrator entrusted with the IQAC as an additional responsibility. Secretarial assistance may be facilitated by the administration. It is preferable that the coordinator may have sound knowledge about the computer, its various functions and usage for effective communication.

Operational Features of the IQAC

IQAC has a work plan to achieve the mission of IQAC and monitor the quality in all nodes of the college. It ensures that whatever is done in the institution for “education” is done efficiently and effectively with high standards that close to the vision and mission of the college. In order to do this, the IQAC established procedures and modalities to collect data and information on various aspects of institutional functioning. The coordinator of the IQAC and the secretary has a major role in implementing these functions.

Monitoring Mechanism

1. The institutions need to submit yearly the Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR) to NAAC.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. The Annual Quality Assurance Reports (AQAR) may be the part of the Annual Report.
5. The AQAR shall be approved by the statutory bodies of the college for the follow up action for necessary quality enhancement measures.
6. 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.

IQAC Quality Policy

IQAC augments the Institutional policy, by committing itself to:

• Empowering women by inculcating qualityand sensitivity to social responsibility as predominant facets in their personal and professional lives.
• Sustaining and enhancing quality in higher education to hold ourselves accountable to our stakeholders, through processes of self-evaluation and continuous improvement.