Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC)         

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 an institution’s system and work towards realizing 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 performance of institutions. The IQAC will make a significant and meaningful contribution in the post-accreditation phase of institutions. During the post-accreditation period, the IQAC will channelize the efforts and measures of an institution towards academic excellence. The guidelines provided in the following pages will facilitate the institution in the creation and operation of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC).

The work of the IQAC is the first step towards the internalization and institutionalization of quality enhancement. Its success depends upon the sense of belongingness and participation it can inculcate in all the constituents of the institution. It will not be yet another hierarchical structure or recordkeeping exercise in the institution; it will be a facilitative and participative voluntary system/unit/organ of the institution. The IQAC has the potential to become a vehicle for ushering in quality by working out intervention strategies to remove deficiencies and enhance quality. Quality circles in industries operate on similar lines.

THE BASIC PURPOSES OF THE IQAC ARE:

a) To ensure continuous improvement in the entire operations of the institution.

b) To assure stakeholders connected with higher education – namely, students, parents, teachers, staff, would-be employers, funding agencies and society in general - of the accountability of the institution for its own quality and probity.

THE IQAC WILL EVOLVE MECHANISMS AND PROCEDURES FOR ENSURING THE FOLLOWING:

a) Timely, efficient and progressive performance of academic, administrative and financial tasks.

b) The relevance and quality of academic and research programmes.

c) Equitable access to and affordability of academic programmes for various sections of society.

d) Optimization and integration of modern methods of teaching and learning.

e) The credibility of evaluation procedures.

f) The adequacy, maintenance and proper allocation of support structure and services.

g) Research sharing and networking with other institutions in India and abroad.

THE FUNCTIONS OF THE IQAC:

Some of the functions expected of the IQAC are:

1. Development and application of quality benchmarks/parameters in various activities of the institution.

2. Dissemination of information on quality aspects.

3. Organization of discussions, workshops, seminars and promotion of quality circles.

4. Recording and monitoring quality measures of the institution.

5. Acting as a nodal agency of the institution for quality-related activities.

6. Preparation of the Annual Quality Assurance Report and such other reports as may be decided from time to time. The coordinator of the IQAC and the secretary has a major role in implementing these functions. The IQAC may derive major support from the already existing units and mechanisms that contribute to the functions listed above. The operational features and functions discussed so far are broad-based to facilitate institutions towards academic excellence and institutions may adapt them to their specific needs.

THE ANNUAL QUALITY ASSURANCE REPORT (AQAR) OF THE IQAC:

All the accredited institutions which have established the IQAC will submit a self-reviewed progress report annually to the NAAC, detailing the tangible results achieved in key areas which are specifically identified by the IQAC in the beginning of the academic year by devising a perspective plan. The AQAR is the outcome of the perspective plan of the IQAC.