1. Introduction

In pursuance of its action plan for performance evaluation, assessment and accreditation and quality upgradation 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 and to enhance quality culture. Although Sister Nivedita University (SNU) is not yet accredited by NAAC, however the University has set up its IQAC to develop a system for conscious, consistent and catalytic improvement in the overall performance of the University and to pursue three step action plan of:

• Providing quality education
• Student performance evaluation
• Achieving the NAAC accreditation

2. Vision

To develop a quality culture in the University with reliable and transparent efforts to ensure all round excellence and holistic growth.

3. Missions:

• To be the main driving force for achieving highest possible quality by removing all existing gaps.
• To direct all the efforts and measures towards academic excellence with a systematic and methodical approach.
• To identify quality parameters and develop a benchmarks for measuring those, leading to constant improvement in all academic and administrative sectors.
• To work as a catalyst to promote and ensure quality teaching- learning process and research.
• To encourage the academic departments to establish a student centered learning environment, use ICT tools to teaching-learning process.
• To encourage Departments to organize Seminars, Workshops, Orientation and Faculty Development Program (FDP) in regular intervals.
• To promote collaboration with other stakeholders of higher education for quality evaluation, promotion and sustenance.
• To identify, encourage and cultivate talent and innovative minds as well as extra- curricular activities
• To assess the annual progress of Departments and the University through timely audit.
• To establish a university data base to maintain all the documentation regarding various activities leading to quality improvement.
• To ensure smooth functioning of all the support system in a well-orchestrated manner.
• To encourage self-evaluation, accountability, autonomy and innovations in SNU.

4. Strategic objectives:

IQAC needs to evolve a mechanism and procedures for:

• Ensuring timely, efficient and progressive performance of academic, administrative units
• Adoption of relevant and quality academic and research program
• Ensuring equitable access to and affordability of academic programmes for various sections of the society
• Optimization and integration of modern methods of teaching and learning
• Ensuring credible assessment and evaluation processes
• Ensuring the proper allocation, adequacy and maintenance of support structure and services
• Sharing of research findings and networking with other institutions in India and abroad

5. Functions:

• Development and application of quality benchmarks;
• Parameters for various academic and administrative activities of SNU;
• Facilitating the creation of a learner-centric environment conductive 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;
• Organisation of inter and intra-institutional workshops, seminars on quality related themes and promotion of quality circles;
• Documentation of the various programs /activities leading to quality improvement;
• Acting as a nodal agency of the University for coordinating quality-related activities, including adoption and dissemination of best practices;
• Development and maintenance of institutional database through Management Information System (MIS) for the purpose of maintaining/enhancing the institutional quality;
• Periodical conduct of Academic and Administrative Audit and its follow-up.

6. Benefits

IQAC will facilitate / contribute to:

• Clarity and focus in institutional functioning towards quality enhancement
• Provide a sound basis for decision-making to improve functioning of all the academic as well as administrative Departments of SNU.
• Act as a dynamic system for quality changes in the various Schools of SNU.
• Build an organised methodology for documentation and internal communication.