Operational Features
Operational Features
Quality assurance is a by-product of ongoing efforts to define the objectives of an institution, to have a work plan to achieve them and to specify the checks and balances to evaluate the degree to which each of the tasks is fulfilled. Hence devotion and commitment to improvement rather than mere institutional control is the basis for devising procedures and instruments for assuring quality. The right balance between the health and growth of an institution needs to be struck. The IQAC has to ensure that whatever is done in the institution for “education” is done efficiently and effectively with high standards. In order to do this, the IQAC will have to first establish procedures and modalities to collect data and information on various aspects of institutional functioning.
The coordinator of the IQAC will have 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 institutions need to submit yearly the Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR) to NAAC by end of September every year positively. 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. During the institutional visit the NAAC peer teams will interact with the IQACs to know the progress, functioning as well as quality sustenance initiatives undertaken by them.
The Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR) may be the part of the Annual Report. The AQAR shall be approved by the statutory bodies of the HEIs (such as Governing Council/ Executive Council/Board of Management) for the follow up action for necessary quality enhancement measures.
The IQACs may create its exclusive window tab on its institutional website for keeping the records/files of NAAC, Peer Team Reports, AQAR, and Certificate of Accreditation Outcomes and regularly upload/ report on its activities, as well as for hosting the AQAR.
Revised Accreditation Framework
NAAC has launched Revised Accreditation Framework since July, 2017 and hence AQAR format also modified, in cognizance with the new methodology. The tools and parameters are designed in the new AQAR format are in such a way that the preparation of AQAR would facilitate the HEI’s for upcoming cycles of Accreditation. Data collected/prepared infuses quality enhancement measures undertaken during the years. Further, it also adds quality enhancement and quality sustenance measures undertaken in teaching, learning, research, extension and support activities of the Institution. It is hoped that new AQAR would facilitate Educational Institutions for creating a good database at Institutional level for enhancing the quality culture.
The Higher Education Institutions need not submit the printed/hard copy of AQAR to NAAC. Mandatory Submission of AQAR by IQAC
The Executive Committee of NAAC has decided that regular submission of AQARs is mandatory for 2nd and subsequent cycles of accreditation with effect from 16th September 2016: The following are the pre-requisites for submission of IIQA for all Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s) opting for 2nd and subsequent cycles of A& A:
- Having a functional IQAC.
- The minutes of IQAC meeting and compliance to the decisions should be uploaded on the institutional website.
- Mandatory submission of AQARs on a regular basis for institutions undergoing the second and subsequent cycles of Assessment and Accreditation by NAAC.
- Upload the AQAR’s on institutional website for access to all stakeholders.