University of Calcutta Annual Quality Assuarance Report 21.

2008-09 Submitted to the NAAC

PART -A The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of the University of Calcutta was reconstituted by the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor on 30.06.06 as per the Revised Guidelines issued by the NAAC. The IQAC comprises the following members:






















Prof. Suranjan Das, Vice-Chancellor (Chairperson) Prof. Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Prof. Tapan Kumar Mukherjee, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Business Affairs and Finance Registrar Controller of Examinations University Librarian Inspector of Colleges Dean, Faculty Council for P.G. Studies in Science Dean, Faculty Council for P.G. Studies in Engineering and Technology Dean, Faculty Council for P.G. Studies in Arts Dean, Faculty Council for P.G. Studies in Law Dean, Faculty Council for P.G. Studies in Commerce, Social Welfare and Business Management Dean, Faculty Council for P.G. Studies in Education, Journalism and Mass Communication, and Library and Information Science Dean, Faculty Council for P.G. Studies in Agriculture & Veterinary Science Dean, Faculty Council for P.G. Studies in Fine Arts, Music, and Home Science Prof. Asish Kumar Roy, Member, Syndicate Prof. Shyamapada Pal Dr. Biplab Chakrabarti, Member, Syndicate Prof. Arunava Basumajumdar, Dept. of Chemical Technology (on lien) Prof. Sudipti Banerjea, Dept. of Commerce (Co-ordinator) Sri Sujit Kumar Barua, Acting Development and Planning Officer (Deputy Coordinator & Secretary)

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The following areas were identified for quality improvement by the IQAC:  Renewed focus on academic collaborations, both at the national and international levels  Training and development of the administrative manpower  Enhanced computerization and networking throughout the University  Continuation of the University library system modernization  Continuation of the faculty development exercise

Outcome achieved  The initiatives taken by some PG departments, well-supported by the University authorities, have led to quite a good number of collaborations with leading academic/ research institutions in India and abroad. In this connection, the following collaborations are worth mentioning: 1.

Proposal of M/s. OM Healthnet Telemedicine Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata, for undertaking a project for establishment of Institute of Biomedical Science & Technology by upgrading the Goenka Hospital and Diagnostic Research Centre 2. MOU with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics for promotion of research and training in Astronomical Instrumentation 3. MOU with the Ambassador of Spain to India for Implementation of Support for a Spanish Lecturer/Assistant 4. A UGC Network Resource Centre in the Radiophysics & Electronics Department 5. Rabindranath Tagore Centre for Human Development in collaboration with the Institute of Development Studies 6. MOU with some other Universities and some Italian Universities 7. Collaboration with the ICICI Bank to develop Industry-Academic Partnership has been accepted. 8. Proposal of the University of Cambridge, International Examinations, requesting to be member of its Higher Education Advisory Council for India 9. MOU with the Globsyn Technologies Ltd., Kolkata, for offering PG Diploma in Applied Economics & Information Management through CUIIPP for the purpose of training young professionals 10. M. Tech./ Ph.D.(Tech.) Programmes in Astronomical Instrumentation under the Applied Optics & Photonics Department in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore 11. Research collaboration with the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, for undertaking Ph.D. programmes under the University 12. MOU with the University of Haute Alsace, Mulhouse, France, for collaborative schemes

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 The Administrative Staff College has started conducting varied types of programmes for the administrative staff (i.e., officers and non-teaching employees) of the University. Apart from developing computer-related skills, communication skills, accounting skills, analytical skills and knowledge about the regulatory framework of the University, increasing emphasis is there on personality development, stress management, time management etc.  All the administrative departments are fully equipped with required number of computers. The Accounts Department and the Cash Department have been computerized specially for recording of transactions and maintaining financial records. Registration of around 1,00,000 students is done every year with the help of a software, developed by the University. The University is in the process of developing a data bank with the support of appropriate programmes. A common server-based system is now working in the Examination Department for the UG examinations in a LINUX environment. The process of digitization of the old Tabulation Registers of marks of different examinations (starting from the year 1860) initiated to facilitate proper record keeping and speedy despatch of verification reports is nearing completion. Centralized and departmental computing and internet facilities, digital library, eresources, etc., positively contribute to the students’ learning experience. All the Engineering and Technology and Science Departments and many Social Science and some Humanities Departments have good number of computers and printers in air-conditioned computer laboratories/rooms. In most of the cases, those are connected through LAN and internet facilities are available in all the campuses/departments. Apart from the standard softwares, some specific/tailor-made softwares are in use in different departments.  Internet bandwidth has been increased from 4 mbps to 16 mbps. To facilitate the access to on-line and internet service provided by the University, a space has been separated out in all the campuses, apart from in the Central Library, so that the students, research scholars and teachers can access e-books and e-journals. The University Library has completed the digitisation of the certain rare documents. The process of computerisation of all the departmental and campus libraries of the University has been initiated. All the departmental libraries are provided with a computer each. The University Library has set up a Digital Repository on the first floor of the Central Library. Digitised documents are preserved there. Bibliographical records of books of all campuses are now available in the University Website. Work for setting up of a Braille Library, in collaboration with the National Association for the Blind, in the second floor of the Central Library for visually-challenged students is in the completion stage. The Central Library is paying special attention to procurement and building up of career literature for the students appearing in the various competitive examinations like IAS, WBCS, NET, SET, CAT, GMAT, UPSC, SSC, etc. The University

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provides access to 4,000 foreign e-journals to the users in all campuses under the UGC-INFONET programme. Under the TEQIP, the University Library has procured: a. The full Springer Online Journal Archives of 800 Journals titles and Springer E-Books collections of more than 10000 E-Books from the copyright year 1999 to 2008 b. IEL Online Level II (Full package of IEEE and IEE Journals) c. Science Direct Journals and SCOPUS Library users can search books and other documents in OPAC and can avail of the facility of automated library circulation. The software the library is using for automation purpose is SOUL (Software for University Libraries) which is prepared by the INFLIBNET Centre. The University has been identified by the INFLIBNET-UGC for access to Chemical Abstracts and Biological Abstracts under the UGC-INFONET programme through the ‘Sci-Finder-Scholar’. The work relating to digitization of the title and table of contents of all Ph.D. theses and medical dissertations (21000 approx.) has been completed. Now users from across the globe can access the same through the University website. Barcoding of books of the Central Library has been completed. IP-based access to e-books and e-journals is provided for which user demand is growing. The University, from its own fund, has developed well-integrated internet connections for all its campuses.  Apart from participation in the faculty development programmes conducted by the UGC-Academic Staff College on a regular basis and need-based training programmes organized by some PG departments from time to time, quite a good number of faculty members in different departments have been provided with different types of assistance (like research grants, seed money for research, fellowships, travel grants, study leave, leave on deputation, etc.) with a view to helping them participate in prestigious and useful national/ international conferences/ seminars/ workshops, get advanced-level training and do doctoral/ post-doctoral research in leading academic/ research institutions in India and abroad under different schemes/ arrangements. Under the UPE scheme, the faculty members are encouraged to undertake multi-disciplinary/ interdepartmental/ inter-institutional research projects, the proposals for which are reviewed by the subject experts from all over the country.

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PART-B 1.Activities reflecting the goals and objectives of the institution Goals and objectives of the institution have continued to get reflected through upgradation of many of its existing curricula and syllabi and introduction of some new academic programmes, both in the traditional and emerging areas, including some interdisciplinary ones. It is needless to mention that the institution is gradually strengthening its research activities in all its disciplines. Some more new PG courses and research centres have come up as a result of sustained academic efforts over the years. In spite of imperatives, the fact remains that even normal expansion and ability to respond to the fast-emerging socio-economic needs continues to be a major challenge before the institution given its long past, size and the varied nature of its activities. The University teaching community’s active contribution to the process of maintaining and helping grow the UG academic sector continues through involvement of teachers in varied capacities. The University’s services to the community, through different regular activities, only reflects its deep-rooted social commitment. Apart from regular and commendable activities of the NSS Cell, a number of socially-relevant programmes (viz., blood donation/medical check up camps, programmes focusing on national integration, secularism, democracy, peace, scientific temper, social awareness, literacy, eradication of prejudices, small family norms, flood/drought relief, problems of poor/destitute women/children, problems of socially-backward and/or economically-weaker sections of people, etc.), are organised on a regular basis or from time to time, ensuring involvement of all the components of the University.

2. New academic programmes initiated (UG and PG) a. P.G. Diploma Course in “G.I.S. and Remote Sensing” under the Geography Department,Surendranath College for Women (affiliated to C.U.) b. P.G. Certificate course in “Social Research Methodology” under the Department of Anthropology

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3. Innovations in curricular design and transaction  Computer-aided instructions and programmed teaching in all the Engineering & Technology departments, many Science departments and some Social Science departments and a few Humanities departments  Introduction of semester system at different levels in many Science departments and some Social Science departments  Continuation of the process of modernization of curricula/syllabi practically in all the major courses/disciplines and, in such process, the curricula/syllabi of leading academic/ research institutions in India and abroad are very much considered.  In all the Engineering and Technology, most Science, many Social Science and a few Humanities courses, the students are provided with the opportunity to acquire more computer skills.  Teachers in all the academic departments have been found to actively contribute in the development and/or upgradation of curricula/syllabi.  Faculty members in the concerned subjects are in regular touch with the employment world and share their relevant experience in terms of re-designing/ upgrading the course contents with a view to making the students really employable.

4. Inter-disciplinary programmes started a. P.G. Diploma Course in “G.I.S. and Remote Sensing” under the Geography Department,Surendranath College for Women (affiliated to C.U.) b. P.G. Certificate course in “Social Research Methodology” under the Department of Anthropology

5. Examination reforms implemented The system of receiving individual application forms for re-examination in respect of the UG examinations has been discontinued and has been risplaced by a comprehensive format to be sent by the college concerned. This practice has made the process of submission of application student-friendly and has also quickened the process of reexamination. The examinations in the practical papers of the honours subjects of the final part of the UG examinations are now held before the examination in the theoretical papers. This is a major contribution towards reduction in the number of days required for publication of the results.

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The generation of the notifications regarding holding of the examinations and filling in of the application forms have also been connected to a newly-created database of fees applicable for the different PG examinations. This has made the notifications more exhaustive and comprehensive. Efforts are there to build up a comprehensive and dynamic website exclusively for the Examination Department.

6. Candidates qualified: NET/ SLET/ GATE etc. NET – June 2008  JRF and Lectureship – 33  Only Lectureship- 175 December 2008  JRF and Lectureship –21  Only Lectureship- 150 SLET (2008-09) – 281 GATE (2008-09) -- 17

7. Initiative towards faculty development programme 4 OPs, 15 RCs and 1 Principals’ Workshop have been conducted during the year. Apart from organizing OPs, RCs and other in-service training programmes, and national/ international conferences/ seminars/ workshops, a good number of faculty members in different departments are given the opportunity (by way of research grants, seed money for research, fellowships, travel grants, study leave, leave on deputation, etc.) to participate in prestigious national/ international conferences/ seminars/ workshops, get advanced-level training and do doctoral/ post-doctoral research in leading academic/ research institutions in India and abroad under different schemes/ arrangements funded by a number of national/ international agencies. In the departmental budgets, there are sums allotted for research, seminars, and departmental journals, apart from the funds available from the ‘unassigned grants’.

8. Total numbers of seminars /workshops conducted 14

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9. Research projects a) Newly implemented— 36 b) Completed— 20

10. Patents generated, if any BIOCHEMISTRY BIOTECHNOLOGY BOTANY PHYSIOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY & SOIL SCIENCE

-

02 2 (European) 1(filed) 03 Development of software for experiments on attention and memory for practicals in Experimental Psychology (Mr. S. Mukherjee) - Bio-products in collaboration with Kamarpukur Ram Krishna Mission have been formulated and are awaiting their refinement and release soon. 1. Room freshner 2. Soap 3. Floor cleaner 4. Mosquito repellent 5. Botanicals

GENETICS & PLANT BREEDING

- Varieties (in the trial) : 3 and NCBI (USA) registration of genes : 1

APPLIED OPTICS & PHOTONICS

- • •

• RADIOPHYSICS & ELECTRONICS CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

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Prof. L.N.Hazra has applied for two patents on “design of Zoom lens” and “Lens Design Software”. Prof. Ajay Ghosh, jointly with the scientists of CMERI, has applied for a patent for “Laser-based Alignment System for TWT”. Prof. A.K.Datta has developed and reported an “Optical Computing System”.

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11. New collaborative research programmes 1-Apr-08

A Committee has been constituted to look into the proposal of M/s. OM Healthnet Telemedicine Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata, for undertaking a project for establishment of Institute of Biomedical Science & Technology by upgrading the Goenka Hospital and Diagnostic Research Centre.

1-Apr-08

MOU has been signed with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics for promotion of research and training in Astronomical Instrumentation

29-Apr-08

MOU with the Ambassador of Spain to India for Implementation of Support for a Spanish Lecturer/Assistant.

17-Jun-08

A UGC Network Resource Centre has been opened in the Radiophysics & Electronics Department.

17-Jun-08

Rabindranath Tagore Centre for Human Development has been established in collaboration with the Institute of Development Studies.

29-Jul-08

MOU has signed with some other Universities and some Italian Universities

29-Jul-08

Proposal for collaboration with the ICICI Bank to develop IndustryAcademic Partnership has been accepted.

29-Jul-08

Proposal of the University of Cambridge, International Examinations, requesting to be member of its Higher Education Advisory Council for India has been accepted.

12-Aug-08 MOU has been signed with the Globsyn Technologies Ltd., Kolkata, for offering PG Diploma in Applied Economics & Information Management through CUIIPP for the purpose of training young professionals. 12-Aug-08 Syllabus and Regulations for the proposed M. Tech./ Ph.D.(Tech.) Programmes in Astronomical Instrumentation under the Applied Optics & Photonics Department in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, have been accepted. 12-Aug-08 A sub-committee has been formed to consider the proposal of the Director, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, for undertaking Ph.D. programmes under the University. 4-Nov-08

MOU has been signed with the University of Haute Alsace, Mulhouse, France, for collaborative schemes.

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12.Research grants received from various agencies Funding Agency CSIR (EMR –I) CSIR (EMR-II) ICHR ICAR ICSSR INSA/ ICPR DAE DST DBT Government of India West Bengal Government MISC ICMR UGC

Grants Received (Rs.) 1,14,06,705 42,93,543 5,65,200 14,79,000 30,000 2,69,639 19,99,221 4,56,07,630 1,43,38,715 3,05,36,943 72,07,049 69,71,807 12,31,496 51,28,89,125

13. Details of research scholars More than 550 research scholars (funded by UGC, DST, DBT, DAE, CSIR, ICMR, AICTE, ICSSR, ICHR, Endowments, Government of West Bengal, Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Commerce, NCERT, NTRF, ISRO, DRDO, etc.) are there in the PG departments taken together.

14. Citation index of faculty members and impact factor Please refer to the RAR/ Part-I/Institutional Data/ Volume-2/Profile of the Departments/ Serial No. 25.

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15. Honors , awards to the Faculty i.

Prof. S. Jha, Department of Botany, has been elected Fellow of the National Academy of Science (F.N.A.Sc.), 2008.

ii.

Prof. B. De, Department of Botany, has been awarded the 2008 Endeavour Executive Award by the Australian Government.

iii.

Prof. S. Bera, Department of Botany, has been nominated as Fellow, Indian Fern Society, Patiala, 2008.

iv.

Dr. Sibnath Deb, Department of Applied Psychology, has received the Executive Counciloir Award 2008 awarded by the ISPCAN – a global professional Organization based in the USA.

v.

Dr. K. Bhattacharyya, Department of Applied Optics and Photonics, has received a Research Award from the Mitutoyo Association for Science and Technology, Japan.

Eminent Teacher Award Name Sri Premamoy Ghosh Sri Jugal Kishore Mukherjee Sri Jawharlal Sen Sri Sunil Thakur Sri Bireswar Banerjee Smt. Jyoti Das

Subject Applied Chemistry Physics History Medical Science Geography Pure Mathematics

16. Internal resources generated 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Tuition Fees Examination Fees Registration and Migration Fees Non-collegiate Fees NCPG Preliminary Test Fees Transfer from Endowment Fund Miscellaneous Sale proceeds

-

Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs Rs. Rs.

Total

-

Rs. 19,18,54,600

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3,24,00,000 8,73,00,900 1,45,00,000 50,00,000 12,25,000 15,97,900 2,93,50,800 2,04,80,000

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17. Details of departments COSIST(ASSIST)/ DST.FIST, recognition

getting SAP, etc. assistance/

See Annexure 1

18.Community Services The NSS Cell of the University has been functioning since introduction of the NSS by the Government of India in the University in the year 1969 and now it has 121 units out of which 27 units in the colleges in the North 24 Parganas District has been transferred from the University to the West Bengal State University, Barasat, North 24 Parganas, because those colleges have been permitted by the NSS Wing of the Higher Education Department, Government of West Bengal, to open NSS units in their colleges. Almost of all the colleges, having NSS units, have been playing active role by guiding the NSS volunteers, who are the students of their colleges, to serve the greater society by adopting about 121 different slums and villages under the territorial jurisdiction of the university. Some outreach programmes have been organized under the TEQIP. Service-tocommunity programmes, tribal development programmes, and staff development programmes are also the major components of the TEQIP. About 250 programmes have been organized for creating the awareness and also for transferring the technology with the participation of the faculty members and the students. It is worthwhile to mention here that, based on the MOU signed with the Modern Academy of Continuing Education [MACE], Kolkata (established by the Modern High School for Girls’ Trust) in May 2006 with a view to offering a Comprehensive Training Course for Primary and Secondary School Teachers, the goal being development of intensive, technology-based and futuristic teacher-education programme, the University is continuing to extend its functions and services to the general public under the name Community Outreach Programme through the reputed institutions engaged in imparting education other than those offered by the University and its affiliated colleges. Already, three batches of trainee teachers have received certificate since August 2006 and a large number of trainee teachers have been subsequently employed by reputed schools.

19. Teachers and Officers newly recruited Teacher- 49 Officer - 5

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20. Teaching –Non teaching staff ratio 1:3.6

21. Improvements in the library service During the period under review
Internet bandwidth has been increased from 4 mbps to 16 mbps. To facilitate the access to on-line and internet service provided by the University, a space has been separated out in all the campuses, apart from in the Central Library, so that the students, research scholars and teachers can access e-books and e-journals.
The University Library has completed the digitisation of the following rare documents:
Tagore Law Lectures
Hundred Years of the University
Minutes of the Syndicate
The University Calendar
The Calcutta Review
Annual Reports of the University
Paintings and Architecture
University Commission Reports
Financial Estimates
Miscellaneous Reports
University Regulations
University Acts
Important Lectures
Convocation Addresses
The process of computerization of all the departmental and campus libraries of the University has been initiated. All the departmental libraries are provided with a computer each. The past and present students of the Library and Information Science Department have been engaged for cataloguing and classification work under the ‘earn while you learn programme’.
A Seminar Complex with modern facilities has been in regular use on the 4th floor of the Central Library Building. The Seminar Hall is adorned with all the facilities that any Seminar Hall of today’s international standard can boast of. It has aptly been named after two ladies, Chandramukhi Basu and Kadambini Ganguly, who are the vanguards of higher education for women in India, the first two lady graduates of the University, nay the country.
A permanent exhibition regarding the history of the University has been set up on the ground floor of the Central Library.

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The University Library has set up a Digital Repository on the first floor of the Central Library. Digitized documents are preserved there.
Bibliographical records of books of all campuses are now available in the University Website.
A New Arrival Section for display of new books has been set up in the first floor of the Central Library.
Work for setting up of a Braille Library, in collaboration with the National Association for the Blind, in the second floor of the Central Library for visuallychallenged students is in the completion stage.
The Central Library is paying special attention to procurement and building up of career literature for the students appearing in the various competitive examinations like IAS, WBCS, NET, SET, CAT, GMAT, UPSC, SSC, etc.
It has been observed that there is a significant increase in the number of users in the libraries of the University. 1200 users (approx.) are using the Central Library regularly. The Central Library frequently holds exhibitions on various subjects and such programmes have been appreciated by the academic community in and outside the University.

22. New books/ journals subscribed and their value During the period under review 30,285 books have been added to the stacks. The Library subscribed to 264 titles of periodicals including 99 foreign journals. In addition, the University provides access to 4,000 foreign e-journals to the users in all campuses under the UGC-INFONET programme. Under the TEQUIP, the University Library has procured: a. The full Springer Online Journal Archives of 800 Journals titles and Springer EBooks collections of more than 10000 E-Books from the copyright year 1999 to 2008 b. IEL Online Level II (Full package of IEEE and IEE Journals) c. Science Direct Journals and SCOPUS Expenditure on New books and Journals: Rs. 2,23,60,136

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23. Courses in which student assessment of teachers is introduced and the action taken on student feedback Student assessment of teachers has been introduced in all the Engineering & Technology departments, most of the Science departments and in some Social Science & Humanities departments.

24. Unit cost of education Rs. 91,091.88

25. Computerization of administration and the process of admissions and examination results, issue of certificates  All the administrative departments are fully equipped with required number of computers.  The Accounts Department and the Cash Department have been computerized specially for recording of transactions and maintaining financial records.  Registration of around 1,00,000 students is done every year with the help of a software, developed by the University.  The University is in the process of developing a data bank with the support of appropriate programmes.  A common server-based system is now working in the Examination Department for the UG examinations in a LINUX environment.  The process of digitization of the old Tabulation Registers of marks of different examinations (starting from the year 1860) initiated to facilitate proper record keeping and speedy despatch of verification reports is nearing completion.

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26. Increase in the Infrastructural facilities •

• • •

• • •

• •

Construction of a new Technology Campus is going on in full swing in Salt Lake upon 4.2 acres of land and a phase of construction has been completed. Civil work for erection of a new building for Nanotechnology at the Technology Campus has been undertaken. Construction of the new floors has been completed in the Centenary Building (College Street Campus) for academic and administrative purposes. A well-furnished Seminar Hall (Chandramukhi-Kadambini Hall) in the Central Library Building (4th floor) is now in regular use. Seminar halls in the Centre for Social Sciences and Humanities (Alipore Campus), Dr. B.C. Guha Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology, Botany/ Zoology/ Biochemistry/ Statistics Departments (Ballygunge Science College Campus), Radiophysics and Electronics Department (Rajabazar Science College Campus), etc., with state-of-the-art facilities, have been built. Construction of a new Administrative Staff College has been completed. A new transformer has been installed at the Ballygaunge Science College Campus. Work for setting up of a Braille Library, in collaboration with the National Association for the Blind, in the second floor of the Central Library for visuallychallenged students is in the completion stage. Apart from lifts, some ramps have been built (or being built) in all the buildings in all the campuses for differently-abled students. The University Press at the Hazra Road Campus, the Chhatra Bhawan at the College Street Campus and the Goenka Hospital Diagnostic Research Centre have undergone thorough renovation and modernization.

27. Technology upgradation All the Engineering and Technology and Science Departments and many Social Science and some Humanities Departments have started extensive use of modern teaching aids like OHP, Laptop, LCD Projector, Document Reflector, etc., for classroom instruction. Laboratory facilities, centralized and departmental computing and internet facilities, photocopying and abstracting facility, digital library, e-journals, etc., positively contribute to the students’ learning experience. Library users can search books and other documents in OPAC and can avail of the facility of automated library circulation. The software the library is using for automation

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purpose is SOUL (Software for University Libraries) which is prepared by the INFLIBNET Centre. The University Library, in collaboration with the UGCINFLIBNET, has organized several users’ awareness programmes on e-journals for the benefit of the users. The University has been identified by the INFLIBNET-UGC for access to Chemical Abstracts and Biological Abstracts under the UGC-INFONET programme through the ‘Sci-Finder-Scholar’. ‘Sci-Finder-Scholar’ is offered by the Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) – a division of the American Chemical Society. ‘Sci-Finder-Scholar’ is the world’s most comprehensive collection of published scientific research. It covers all disciplines such as Chemistry, Biotechnology, Chemical/Biochemical Engineering, Medical Sciences, Physics, Environment, etc. Under the TEQIP, the University Library has procured: o The full Springer Online Journal Archive of 800 titles and Springer e-books collections of more than 10000 e-books from the copyright year 1999-2008 o IEL Online Level II (full package of IEEE and IEE Journals) o Science Direct Journals and SCOPUS The work relating to digitization of the title and table of contents of all Ph.D. theses and medical dissertations (21000 approx.) has been completed. Now users from across the globe can access the same through the University website. Barcoding of books of the Central Library has been completed. Barcoding of books of the Central Library has made the University one among the few institutions in the Country to achieve this feat. Not only will it expedite circulation of the books for the users but tracking the books will be easier. IP-based access to e-books and e-journals is provided for which user demand is growing. At present the facilities available are as follows: Computers: Central Library – 105 Alipore Campus Library – 41 Ballygunge Campus Library – 67 Rajabazar Campus Library – 62 Hazra Road Campus Library – 21 Viharilal College of Home & Social Science Campus Library – 5 B.T. Road Campus Library – 6 Internet: 1) Under the UGC-INFONET : 2 Mbps leased line 2) The University, from its own fund, has developed well-integrated internet connections for all its campuses. At present there is VPN Connectivity through MAN (Metro Area Network) with 16 Mbps. Reprographic facilities:

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Libraries in all the campuses are equipped with reprographic facilities with at least 2 photocopiers for each campus catering to the needs of the students. The Central Library itself has 5 photocopiers.

28. Computer and internet access and training to teachers and students All the Engineering and Technology and Science Departments and many Social Science and some Humanities Departments have good number of computers and printers in airconditioned computer laboratories/rooms. In most of the cases those are connected through LAN and internet facilities are available in all the campuses/departments. Apart from the standard softwares, some specific/tailor-made softwares are in use in different departments. The Central Library has developed a new computer facility for teachers and other sections of the University community. 50 computers, equipped with latest programmes, are available for accessing e-journals, e-books, mathematical works and graphics. Newlyarrived books and journals, soon after being catalogued, are uploaded to OPAC as well as to Web OPAC. The campus libraries also have computer facilities. The University provides financial support for purchase of computer-aided packages for individual departments and the Central Library and the campus libraries. The response to item no. 27 may also be referred to in this connection. For the students of the Engineering and Technology and Science Departments, use of computers is a must, as it is an essential part of their respective syllabi. The students having inadequacy in computer knowledge are given special attention. The students of the other streams also cannot think without computers as they have to use computers to keep pace with the recent trends. Since the UGC-Academic Staff College began its journey on 8th October 1990, with full financial assistance from the UGC, it has persistently engaged itself in organizing, monitoring and evaluating, on a regular basis, OPs, RCs, seminars and workshops and publishing books with the objective of helping the teachers of the University and colleges discharge their professional commitments more effectively. Apart from these activities, seminars/ workshops are also organized for academic administrators (viz., college principals and University officers). Eminent educationists and reputed personalities from different walks of life are invited as resource persons. Over the years, the UGCAcademic Staff College has been building up infrastructural facilities in order to cater to the needs of the participants of the programmes organized.

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29. Financial aid to students Apart from the special grants/ scholarships socially-backward students may receive from the government, free/ half-free studentships are there for the economically-disadvantaged students belonging to this category. Different types of financial assistance are provided to the students from the economically-weaker sections of the society. Free/ half-free studentships are there. Also different types of scholarships are provided by the government (including state government scholarships from other states and national Need-cum-Merit scholarship awarded by the central government) for the economically-weaker students. In addition, there are 144 types of endowment scholarships, research fellowships, overseas fellowships, cash & book prizes and other awards, based on need and merit, from which more than 1000 students benefit in a year. Needy students are also provided with financial support, out of the N.C. Chatterjee Birth Centenary Students’ Welfare fund, for continuing their study as well as for undergoing costly medical treatment while pursuing their PG courses. The past and present students of the Library and Information Science Department have been engaged for cataloguing and classification work under the ‘earn while you learn programme’.

30. Activities and support from the Alumni Association Many of the PG departments have Alumni Association which, however, differ in terms of their activities and performance. Alumni Associations of some of the departments like Applied physics, Radiophysics and Electronics, Chemistry, Economics, and Commerce have found to be quite active, particularly in terms of holding seminars, awarding meritorious students, bringing out bulletins, organising re-unions, etc.

31. Activities and support from the Parent-teacher association There is no such association in the University till now.

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32. Health services Facilities for medical and health care are offered by the Board of Health of the University. Such facilities include health and medical examinations, diagnostic procedures, laboratory investigation, chest radiography, etc., free of cost. On a limited basis, free hospitalisation is also possible. The Board of Health takes care of the healthrelated problems of the students of the University and its affiliated colleges. To avail themselves of these medical and health-care services, students are required to produce their respective identity cards or fee-books at the time of attending the Health Clinics or the Special Clinics. The Board of Health has set up a clinic (i.e., Goenka Hospital Diagnostic Research Centre [University Health Services]) very near to the College Street Campus of the University with a view to rendering all kinds of medical assistance to the students and staff members of the University. At present, the facilities mentioned below are available at the Goenka Hospital Diagnostic Research Centre for them and also for the general people at a very nominal charge. In the Out Patient Department (OPD), there are Consultation Clinics for General Medicine, Neurology, Otolaryngology (ENT), Dermatology (Skin), Ophthalmology (Eye), Gynaecology, Dentistry, Cardiology, Paediatrics, Surgery, Psychiatry, and Radiology. In General Medicine, doctors are available for consultation on all the University working days at Chhatra Bhawan (1st Floor), College Street Campus. There are Investigation Clinics for Ultrasonography, Echo-Cardiography, X-Ray (General & Dental), ECG, Pathological Tests, Semen Analysis, Skin Smear for AFB, Mantoux Test, Dermato-Surgery, Sputum for AFB, Beta HCG for Urine, and EEG. Students of all the affiliated colleges under the University (both UG and PG) and University PG students are not required to pay the following: i) OPD Registration Charge, and ii) Charge for X-Ray (P.A. view) of Chest. Apart from the Goenka Hospital Diagnostic Research Centre, there are four peripheral students’ health clinics to cater to the health-care needs of the students at the following centres: • Chhatra Bhawan (College Street Campus) • Bangabasi College • University College of Science and Technology (Rajabazar Campus) • University College of Science (Ballygunge Campus)

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33. Performance in the sport activities Conducted various Inter-Collegiate Championships a. Football (Men) b. Kho-Kho (Women) c. Badminton (Men) d. Badminton (Women) e. Table Tennis (Women) f. Rowing (Men) g. Kho-kho (Men) h. Athletics (Men) i. Swimming (Men) j. Table Tennis (Men) k. Chess (Men & Women) l. Kabaddi (Women) m. Cricket (Men) n. Athletics (Women) o. Swimming (Women) p. Volleyball (Men) q. Kabaddi (Men)

Men

and

Women

Tournaments/

Sports Achievements in various Inter-University Tournaments Zone-wise Inter-University achievements i. Badminton (Men)

Champion

ii. Cricket (Men)

Champion

iii. Tennis (Men)

Champion

iv. Table Tennis (Women)

Champion

v. Table Tennis (Men)

Runner Up

vi. Football (Men)

Runner Up

vii. Badminton (Women)

Runner Up

viii. Basketball (Men)

Runner Up

ix. Chess (Men & Women)

Champion

x. Kho-kho

Runner Up

xi. Volleyball (Women)

Runner Up

All-India Inter-University achievements

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xii. Water Polo (Men)

Champion

xiii. Rowing (Men & Women)

Runner Up

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xiv. Table Tennis (Women)

Runner Up

xv. Chess (Men & Women)

Runner Up

xvi. Lawn Tennis (Men)

Runner Up

xvii. Gymnastics (Men & Women) 4th Position Other Sports achievements 1. 6 players have been selected in the East Zone Combined University team for the Vizzy Trophy Cricket (Men) Tournament 2008-09. 2. Sri Sourav Chakraborty has been selected as the best footballer for the year 200708 and has been awarded the Gostha Paul Medal. 3. The University Cricket (Men) has become Champion in the Ajoy Ghosh Memorial Trophy Tournament 2008-09. 4. 12 players have been selected as the members of the West Bengal Combined University Cricket Team out of 18 players in the P.Sen Trophy Tournament 200809. 5. 8 colleges affiliated to the University have been selected to participate in the Inter-District Inter-Collegiate Cricket Tournament organized by Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).

34. Incentives to outstanding sportspersons In the Convocation every year, Gostha Paul Medal is awarded to an outstanding sportsperson. Sri Sourav Chakraborty has been selected as the best footballer for the year 2006-07 and has been awarded the Gostha Paul Medal.

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35. Student achievement and awards Sl. Prize No. 1. Dakshini Bhattacharyya Memorial Prize 2. Late Rashbehari Banerjee Memorial Cash Prize 3. Santi Kumar Roy Cash Prize

4.

J.P. Neyogi Book Prize

Candidate

Subject

Value

Priyanka Ganguly

Mathematics

Rs.5,000

Prama Pal

Bengali

Rs.5,000

Pure Mathematics

Rs.250 each

a. Monalisa Parvin b. Bidisha Sarkar c. Abhijit Sarkar d. Subhanita Bhadra Memorial a. Avik Dasgupta b. Siddhartha Nath c. Antara Dhar d. Ananya Sinha

Rs.1,000 each

36.Activities of the Guidance and Counselling unit Placement and related counselling services are offered to the students by the Appointments & Information Board and Students’ Advisory Bureau, and University Employment Information & Guidance Bureau (UEIGB). There is also a Placement Cell of the University which organizes Industry-Institute Interaction Programmes each year in association with the Calcutta University Industry Institute Partnership Programme (CUIIPP) Cell for the purpose of providing the students with industrial exposure. A large number of corporate executives and professionals are invited every year to meet the students and interact with them regarding the essential requirements of the job market. The Placement Cell is headed by a Professor-in-Charge. The Secretary, UCSTA, looks after the administrative affairs relating to placement and maintains communication with the actual and potential employers and arranges for campus recruitments for the students throughout the year. Mention can be made about the legal counselling service provided by the Gender Justice Cell, functioning under the Law Department, to women (including the students) who seek assistance. The WSRC also plays a very constructive role in this connection as and when necessary. The WSRC has been organising 10-day and 21-day certificate courses on ‘Legal and Psychological Counselling for Women in Distress’ since 2003. Moreover, at the time of admission, guidance is provided by the concerned academic departments, to the extent possible, to the students who are in need of it.

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37. Placement services provided to students The Placement Cell of the University organizes Industry-Institute Interaction Programmes in association with the CUIIPP Cell with a view to providing the students with industrial exposure and placement services. A good number of students in different departments, viz., the Engineering & Technology, Science, and some Social Science Departments, get placement in reputed organizations in different parts of the country. Notable among such organizations are mentioned below. 1) Tata Consultancy Services 2) Cognizant Technology Solution India Pvt. Ltd. 3) Tata Elaxis Ltd. 4) Wipro Technologies 5) Sasken Communications Technology Ltd. 6) Syntrel India Ltd. 7) Dabur India Ltd. 8) Wacker Silicones 9) Reliance Telecom Ltd. 10) GKB Rx Lens Pvt. Ltd. 11) Indian Army 12) Aluminus Software Ltd. 13) Satyam Computer Service Ltd. 14) VXL Technologies Ltd. 15) Sarang Infotech & Software Ltd. 16) The West Bengal Power Development Corp. Ltd. 17) Syngene International Pvt. Ltd. 18) Tega Industries Ltd. 19) Nelco Ltd. 20) Tata Refecat 21) Burger Paints 22) Jubliant Organisation Ltd. 23) Accentury India 24) Haldia Petrochemicals 25) Essar Oil Ltd. 26) Asian Paints (India) Ltd. 27) Machino-Baseball India Ltd. 28) Inspira Software 29) Alstom Ltd. 30) Crompton Greaves Ltd. 31) Metalogic System Pvt. Ltd. 32) Research Engineering Ltd. 33) Webfil Ltd. 34) Usha Commercial Ltd. 35) Skeytech Solution Pvt. Ltd. 36) Hindustan Lever Research Centre 37) Glaxo Smith Kline Pharmaceutical Ltd. 38) Hutchison’s Telecom East Ltd. 39) H & R Johnson (India) Ltd. 40) Orrissa Cement Ltd. 41) Somany Pilkington Ltd. 42) Orient Abrasives Ltd. 43) International Ferrite (I) Ltd. 44) Central Glass & Ceramic Research Institute 45) Bharat Refractories Ltd. 46) Matrix Infosystems 47) Chembioteck 48) Indian Aluminium Company Ltd. 49) ABP Pvt. Ltd. 50) SIEMENS Ltd. 51) Forbs Marshall 52) IBM, 53) Tata Motors, etc. The above list of employers is indicative but not exhaustive. It can only be said that the concerned persons in the University are working very hard for making the placement function more effective. The University’s performance in terms of placement/ industrial exposure of its students has improved substantially over the years.

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38. Development programme for Non-teaching staff The Administrative Staff College has started conducting varied types of programmes for the non-teaching component of the University. Apart from developing computer-related skills, communication skills, accounting skills, analytical skills and knowledge about the regulatory framework of the University, increasing emphasis is there on personality development, stress management, time management etc. For the non-teaching staff, below the level of the Junior Assistants, there are training programmes focused on campus discipline, security and cleanliness, filing system, communication skills etc.

39. Healthy practices of the institution The best practices in different functional areas and at different levels, as identified by the University authorities from time to time, have been discussed and praised in the academic and administrative bodies and by the associations of different components of the University with a view to encouraging inculcation of such practices. Efforts have been made through self/peer assessments, periodical/special reviews, internal audits, etc., to increase accountability in all functional areas and at all levels. Need-based, tailor-made training programmes have been organised, particularly for the officers and the nonteaching employees. Certain need-based changes have been made in the regulations. Certain centralized and certain decentralized support services for the components of the university have been introduced. Democratic functioning of the academic and administrative bodies is always ensured. Grievance handling mechanism has been made more effective and decentralised. Some of the very positive developments which will go a long way in helping the University internalizing the best practices are establishing the IQAC, forming the Complaints Committee to prevent sexual harassment, strengthening the BCW Cell, and gradually introducing some sort of students’ feedback system, helping them respond on, inter alia, course contents, infrastructure and support services, evaluation system, placement activities, campus life and the overall institutional arrangement. That apart, there are a number of worth-mentioning initiatives, which have been mentioned below: •

Different types of awards and prizes (including those instituted by government, other external bodies/agencies, etc.) for academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular performance

•

Effective implementation of a number of financial support schemes for the sociallydisadvantaged and the economically-weaker students, including book bank facilities in some departments

•

International exchange programmes for the students in some disciplines

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•

Travel grants for pursuing academic activities both within the country and abroad

•

Enhancing placement of students in various departments through sustained efforts

•

Strengthening the budgetary and infrastructural support for social, cultural, recreational and sports activities

•

Enhancing support for varied types of extension/ community service activities, particularly relating to the NSS units

•

Initiating certain specific measures for the socially-disadvantaged and differentlyabled students

•

Creating separate space in the libraries of all campuses of the University with a view to enabling the students to use e-journals and other e-resources from their respective campuses and surf the internet

•

Students’ representation in the Teachers’-Students’ Committees of the academic departments, Senate and Syndicate has been found to be quite effective. Elected class representatives and the Students’ Union as a whole have been found to play a significant role in sustaining and improving the academic ambience. The students, individually and collectively, come out with constructive criticisms particularly vis-àvis teaching performance, regularity of classes, timely publication of results, library services, hostel and canteen facilities and opportunities for sports and cultural/ recreational programmes.

•

Seats in the academic courses and hostels are reserved for the socially-backward students following the government rules. Apart from the special grants/ scholarships those students may receive from the government, free studentships are there for the economically-disadvantaged students belonging to this category. The University is running UGC-sponsored programmes for certain categories of students (including students belonging to the ST and Minority categories) for preparation for NET and Remedial Coaching in different disciplines and different competitive examinations (under the Entry-in-Services programme). Different types of financial assistance are provided to the students from the economically-weaker sections of the society. Free/ half-free studentships are there. Also different types of scholarships are provided by the government (including the state government scholarships from the other states and the national Need-cum-Merit scholarship awarded by the Central Government) for the economically-weaker students. That apart, endowment scholarships, research fellowships, overseas fellowships, cash & book prizes and other awards, based on need and merit of students are there. Needy students are provided with financial support, out of the N. C. Chatterjee Birth Centenary Students’ Welfare Fund, for continuing their study as well as for undergoing costly medical treatment while pursuing their PG courses. The past and present students of the Library and Information Science Department have been engaged for cataloguing and classification work under the ‘earn while you learn programme’.

•

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•

Seats in the academic courses and hostels are reserved for the differently-abled students following the rules. Apart from lifts, some ramps have been built and some more are in the process of being built in all the buildings in all the campuses for the benefit of the differently-abled students.

•

Work for setting up of a Braille Library, in collaboration with the National Association for the Blind, in the second floor of the Central Library for visuallychallenged students is in the completion stage.

•

The Administrative Staff College has started conducting varied types of programmes for the non-teaching component of the University.

40. Linkages developed with National/ International academic/ research bodies Please refer to the response to the item no. 11.

41. Any other relevant information the institution wishes to add Apart from continuing serious efforts to improve upon the academic performance in varied disciplines, which have obviously helped the University to maintain and strengthen its position at the national and international levels, there are definite signs of improvement in various support systems, viz., library, examination, accounts and physical infrastructure.

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PART-C The quality-enhancement initiatives will mainly focus on the following areas:     

Academic collaborations, both at the national and international levels Computerisation and networking throughout the University Augmentation of the students’ support services Quality awareness programmes Awareness and training on quality circles

Name and signature of the Co-ordinator, IQAC

(PROF. SUDIPTI BANERJEA)

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Name and Signature of the Chairperson, IQAC

(PROF. SURANJAN DAS)

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