SELF STUDY REPORT Submitted to NAAC for Assessment and Accreditation NANDA NATH SAIKIA COLLEGE (Affiliated to Dibrugarh University, Assam) (UGC Recognized 2(f) and 12(b) Institute) TITABAR- 785630, JORHAT, ASSAM NOVEMBER, 2014 CONTENTS Page A. Preface 2 B. Executive Summary 3-12 C. Profile of the Institution 13-18 D. Criterianwise Analytical Report I. Curricular Aspects 19-30 II. Teaching, Learning & Evaluation 31-55 III. Research, Consultancy & Extension 56-104 IV. Infrastructure and Learning Resources 105-128 V. Student Support and Progression 129-141 VI. Governance, Leadership and 142-160 Management VII. Innovative and Best Practices 161-169 E. Evaluative Report of the Departments 170-272 F. Declaration by the Head of the Institution 273 NANDA NATH SAIKIA COLLEGE Page 1 PREFACE It is a matter of immense pleasure for me that Nanda Nath Saikia College is submitting the Self Study Report to the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bangalore for accreditation and assessment of the college in compliance of our Letter of Intent (LoI). The college, located in the vast and mostly rural locality of Titabar, has reached the present status as a result of innumerable sacrifices and efforts of all the past and present members of the college family. It strives to deliver its committed goals with devotion to the students in particular and the greater society, in general. This Self Study Report is a sincere analysis and study of our strengths and weaknesses prepared for assessment by NAAC. I humbly acknowledge and appreciate the honest efforts of the entire Nanda Nath Saikia College family in the completion of this Self Study Report over the last a few months. I remain highly optimistic to receive encouraging communication from NAAC regarding the Self Study Report as well as Assessment and Accreditation consequent to Peer Team Visit for physical verification of our college very soon. Dr. Litool Baruah Principal Nanda Nath Saikia College, Titabar NANDA NATH SAIKIA COLLEGE Page 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Nanda Nath Saikia College, Titabar volunteers for the second cycle of assessment and accreditation by NAAC. The college has prepared its SSR as per the guidelines laid down by NAAC covering all the aspects embodied within NAAC guidelines for preparation of the Self Study Report. The college came into existence in the year 1959 as a result of the honest and collected efforts of the people of Titabar. It has now established itself as a leading institute of higher education catering to the educational aspirations of the students from all sections of the society. The college is affiliated to Dibrugarh University and offers education in both Arts and Science streams. It is committed to the educational upliftment of the people of this vast Titabar locality that is mostly rural and backward as well as remote from the modern facilities of the big towns and cities. The following pages present the chapterwise summary of this SSR 2014. Chapter I Curricular Aspects Nanda Nath Saikia College has a vision to offer quality education to the students. It operates with a mission to offer an environment in which students can discover, examine and transmit knowledge and wisdom. The college has several objectives aimed at the overall development of the students and the greater society as well. The college offers undergraduate course of Dibrugarh University in both the Arts and Science streams and for effective delivery of the curriculum of Dibrugarh University it designs and plans all its academic activities in a meticulous manner. To this end the college offers all possible assistance to the teaching departments of the college and pays attention to the demands of the faculty and the departments. The Academic Vice-Principals have been entrusted with the responsibility to look after the effective and timely implementation and delivery of the academic programmes of the college. It also offers remedial classes funded by UGC to the students of ST, SC, OBC and other economically weaker sections of the society. The construction of the two digital class rooms and the enlarged library of the college are purely aimed at offering infrastructure equipped with modern facilities for the benefit of the students so that they can gain the most from the institution that will in turn help them secure jobs in the competitive job market of present times. The college adopts an all inclusive attitude keeping itself away from all discriminatory practices based on NANDA NATH SAIKIA COLLEGE Page 3 sex, class, creed, caste, culture and religion. It has been quite eager to integrate the important issues of climate change, environmental education, Human Rights, ICT etc. into curriculum and has initiated several steps in this direction. The feedback received from the students and other stakeholders of the college are carefully analysed and necessary steps are intitated to fullfil their logical and feasible demands and suggestions. Chapter II Teaching, Learning & Evaluation The college has a transparent admission process. Advertisements are published in newspapers for wider publicity of the admission notice of the institution. The merit list for admission into First semester classes are displayed well ahead of the date of admission. The university and government guidelines for reservation of seats are strictly followed by us. While the general admission is based on merit basis, the admission into the different major courses is done on the basis of merit, selection test, viva-voce or a combination of all these criteria. The departments monitor the profile of the students and assess their academic performance which has contributed towards improvement of the academic standards of the institution. An analysis of the students’ profile reflects the inclusion of all the sections of the society in keeping with the national commitment to diversity and inclusion. The differently abled students are also offered maximum facilities for their ease and convenience as per Dibrugarh University rules. The needs of the students are assessed before commencement of academic programmes and required texts and reference books are procured accordingly. The college authority sensitises the teachers and staff regarding the sensitive issues like gender inclusion and equal treatment without any iota of discrimination. In the same way the students are also advised to keep themselves away from any discriminatory behaviour. The advanced students are encouraged to crave for more knowledge and excellent results by teachers by way of offering advanced learning materials and arranging educational visits to advanced study centres for them. The college also takes care of the students at the risk of drop out by offering all possible assistance for their academic improvement. The teaching, learning and evaluation schedules of the college are planned and monitored by the Academic Planning and Monitoring Board of the college. The Board prepares the daily class routine, Academic Calender, Prospectus etc. The allotment of teaching units and departmental activities are planned by the NANDA NATH SAIKIA COLLEGE Page 4 Heads of the departments. The programmes of all internal evaluation processes are chalked out by the Academic Vice-Principals of the college and the teaching departments carry out the internal assessment of the students in each of the semesters. The IQAC of the college plays a key role in the internal academic quality maintanence of the institution. It offers suggestions to the Principal on vital issues related to internal quality of the institute. As a result of the active role of the IQAC and the need analysis of the scenario of present day higher education the teaching learning process has been made more students centric. The smart class rooms, enlarged library, ICT facilities and subscription to INFLIBNET are all aimed at making learning in the insitute a student centric practice. The faculty members always look to develop critical thinking and scientific temperament among the students and initiate some programmes also to that end. The earlier practice of one way lecture method no longer remains the only way of educating the students in the college. Seminar presentations, interactions and group discussion are also done on regular basis to make them learn more so that they can proceed for higher studies with confidence. There have been some difficulties in running the courses due to the vacant posts of lectures due to retirement of senior regular teachers. The college keeping in view the interests of the students hire part time faculty to complete the courses. Chapter III Research, Consultancy & Extension In recent years the college has given much importance on research. The ongoing research projects in the college bears testimony to enhanced emphasis on research in the college. Besides two major research projects, several minor research projects are also going on at present. Though we donot have recognized research centre at present, a few faculty members are recognized research supervisors for Ph.D. and M.Phil programmes of different universities in the country. The Research Committee of the college has been playing a vital role in the promotion of research in the college. It examines the different research proposals submitted by the teachers and on satisfaction, as per UGC guidelines, recommends the proposals to the concern higher authorities. The college has provided space for construction of laboratories to carry out research work. It has also aimed to create a scientific temper among the students by organizing seminars, workshops, special lecture programmes etc. At present, almost fifty percent of the incumbent faculty members are engaged in research project funded by UGC or other external funding agencies. NANDA NATH SAIKIA COLLEGE Page 5 In the last four years, six teachers have been awarded with Ph.D. degree on successful completion of their Ph.D. research and one teacher has submitted Ph.D. thesis while nine others are pursuing Ph.D. research in different universities. To create an atmosphere conducive to research the different departments of the college have invited some reputed resource persons to the college to deliver expert lecture on various topics.