UNIVERSITY OF NORTH BENGAL
2021-2022
2020-2021
2019-2020
2018-2019
2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014
2012-2013
[email protected] Address Office of the IQAC, North Bengal University, District - Darjeeling, West Bengal, India, Pin: 734013
The Office of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of University of North Bengal was established on 10th July 2003. The Cell has sixteen members with the Vice-Chancellor as the Chairperson and the Director-member Secretary as the Coordinator of IQAC. One of the important functions of IQAC is to develop realistic and attainable quality bench marks for each of the academic and administrative activities. One of the most critical functioning of IQAC is to keep the institution abreast of and abuzz with quality sustenance activities on a wide gamut of pertinent issues through workshops / seminars / demonstrations / case studies / group discussions / panel discussions / role-plays / symposia. Multi disciplinary and multi-institutional actives like this will expose the students and teachers to new frontiers of knowledge thereby strengthening the moral fibre of the institution leading to holistic development.
• To ensure continuous improvement in the entire operations of the University and • To ensure stakeholders connected with higher Education, namely parents, teachers, staff, would be employers, funding agencies and society in general, of its own quality and probity.
a) Development and application of quality benchmarks parameters for various academic and administrative activities of the institution; b) 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; c) Collection and analysis of feedback from all stakeholders on quality-related institutional processes; d) Dissemination of information on various quality parameters to all stakeholders; e) Organization of inter and intra institutional workshops, seminars on quality related themes and promotion of quality circles; f) Documentation of the various programmes/activities leading to quality improvement; g) Acting as a nodal agency of the Institution for coordinating quality-related activities, including adoption and dissemination of best practices; h) Development and maintenance of institutional database through MIS for the purpose of maintaining /enhancing the institutional quality; i) Periodical conduct of Academic and Administrative Audit and its follow-up j) Preparation and submission of the Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR) as per guidelines and parameters of NAAC.
Dr. Ranjita Chakraborty
University of North Bengal
Title of the practice: Agro-business Support
The context that required the initiation of the practice: The University, though not an agricultural university, was acutely aware of the fact that the main land use pattern of the surrounding region is agricultural. Moreover the cropping pattern is largely rice and tea plantation. There existed a large opportunity to grow fruits and flowers and augment earning of the agriculturists. The cultivators are unaware of facts and skillsets necessary for higher and diversified agricultural productivity. Moreover the cultivators need proper training and certification for developing agro based projects and access financial and other administrative support for entrepreneurship. Hence the University started the Centre for Floriculture and Agro-business Management (CFABM) and Department of tea Science.
Objectives of the practice:
The Practice: The Department of Tea Science started with collaboration of Tea industry and in course of time it started PG programme, MSc in Tea Science. It helps tea growers by offering services like soil testing and improved agro-practices. CFABM demonstrates to growers cultivation of new crops, organic agricultural practices through onsite training and on farm training.
Obstacles faced if any and strategies adopted to overcome them:CFABM was introduced in September, 2006. At the end of five years the project grant was no longer available but it was continued with some revolving funds. The University however decided to continue the project by merging it with the department of Biotechnology in 2013-14. The existence of CFABM thus saved it started functioning in a better way
Impact of the practice: The Tea entrepreneurs get the service of soil testing in increasing number and the Department of Tea Science gets revenue. The following figures show the success of the endeavour:
At present the practice of CFABM is successful in popularising cultivation of Strawberry and Dragon Fruit among Nepal, Bhutan and Assam, in addition to North Bengal. Every month 2-3 trials are organised on farm of the growers. CFABM is now going to declare two villages in GTA area as Organic villages. It also earns about Rs. 50,000 revenue per year.
Resources required: The Department of Tea Science requires more sophisticated t equipment and CFABM needs dedicated budgetary allocation for training programmes and support from PKVY, RKVY, DDUGRY etc
About the Institution:
Title of the practice: Institutional Felicitation of Retiring Employees
The context that required the initiation of the practice: The initial practice was one of extending farewell to retiring employees from respective departments and offices. This was neither regular nor did it cover all places of duty and residence that are associated with a given staff throughout his or her tenure. Moreover on retirement it was necessary to provide the financial receivables like P.F and gratuity which were often delayed. Hence it was felt that on the day of the retirement the HEI should provide all dues and in a manner which befits long service rendered to the institution and that can be arranged only centrally by the Administration.
The Practice: The practice was introduced in September, 2018. On a particular day the retiring employees are invited in the university’s Conference Hall through circular requesting everybody to assemble for a function wherein the concerned employees are offered flower, clothes, sweets, benefits of leave encashment and gratuity.
Obstacles faced if any and strategies adopted to overcome them:Initially only employees of concerned sections used to be present and attendance was not satisfactory. The highest level of Authority then briefed all employees about the uniqueness of this practice and as a result the participation from all sections were ensured.
Impact of the practice: So far 10 such events as described below have been organised.
Resources required: The University is planning for introduction of HRMS so that more effective organisation of this practice can be ensured.