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), Bangalore proposes that every accredited institution should establish an Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) as a post-accreditation 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, it will channelize all efforts and measures of the institution towards promoting its holistic academic excellence.

Committed to sustain its top position with undiluted ethics, the Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, (VSSUT) Odisha has established the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) to institutionalize the process of quality enhancement and sustenance in all the key areas of its delivery.

In view of the national educational reforms, legislative enactments, the UGC/MHRD directives and the challenges put forth by globalization, VSSUT actively engages itself in the development and implementation of quality benchmarks in all its key performance areas.

The IQAC is entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring total quality management by ushering in innovations leading to achieving excellence and adoption of intervention strategies for monitoring their successful implementation. Ever in quest for excellence, the IQAC functions to assure institutional accountability with probity to all the stakeholders, funding agencies in particular and society as a whole.

Objectives

To develop a system for conscious, consistent and catalytic action to improve the academic and administrative performance of all units of the university.
To set quality benchmarks for all units and evolve mechanisms for monitoring and ensuring performance in accordance with them.
To evolve and implement strategies for self-evaluation to sensitize all functionaries to be accountable for student and stakeholder satisfaction.
To take steps for the periodic internal academic audit of the teaching-learning and research activities of all departments/faculties and institutes
To ensure in-service continuing education and training of all functionaries for enriching the intellectual capital and professional competence of the university.
To collaborate with other reputed academic institutions and agencies globally for improvement of quality and brand image of the University.

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 and 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 evaluation procedures;
Sharing of research findings and networking with other institutions in India and abroad.

Functions

Some of the functions expected of the IQAC are:

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, Alumni and employers on quality-related institutional processes;
Dissemination of information on various quality parameters of higher education;
Organization of inter and intra University 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 University;
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

Ensure heightened level of 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 University functioning;
Build an organised methodology of documentation and internal communication.