SELF-STUDY REPORT (NAAC Accreditation - 2016) Part I Profile & Criteria-wise Inputs Submitted to National Assessment & Accreditation Council (NAAC) BENGALURU MAHARSHI DAYANAND SARASWATI UNIVERSITY Ajmer 305 009 Rajasthan www.mdsuajmer.ac.in CONTENTS PREFACE 1 VISION AND MISSION 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5 PROFILE OF THE UNIVERSITY 19 CRITERIA-WISE INPUTS 30 CRITERION I: CURRICULAR ASPECTS 31 CRITERION II: TEACHING-LEARNING AND EVALUATION 57 CRITERION III: RESEARCH, CONSULTANCY AND EXTENSION 79 CRITERION IV: INFRASTRUCTURE AND LEARNING RESOURCES 111 CRITERION V: STUDENT SUPPORT AND PROGRESSION 123 CRITERION VI: GOVERNANCE, LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT 148 CRITERION VII: INNOVATIONS AND BEST PRACTICES 172 ANNEXURES 190 I: LIBRARY MAP 191 II: NAMES OF BUILDINGS 192 III: AUDIT REPORT 198 IV: UGC LETTER REGARDING CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION 199 V: ACADEMIC PROGRAMS OFFERED 200 VI: COPY OF ACCREDITATION CERTIFICATE AND PEER TEAM REPORT 201 VI: NAAC ACCREDITATED AFFILIATED COLLEGES/INSTITUTES 219 Page | 1 PREFACE Established in 1987 by the Rajasthan State Legislature, Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University, erstwhile University of Ajmer, is one of the largest universities in the state of Rajasthan catering more than 2.62 lakh students. Since its inception there has been a consistent growth of the University in terms of student enrolment and academic courses pertaining to graduate, post graduate and doctoral programs being offered at the campus and by its affiliated colleges. During the last 28 years, the University has faced several challenges and thereby achieved excellence in diverse fields. It is committed to impart holistic education that secures a balance between the technological developments shaping the current global education, employment scenario and value content with focus on national heritage and culture. The University has developed itself into a clean and green campus built of Jodhpur stone that expresses its concern for both environment and heritage. To its credit, Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University displays many points of its successful journey since its establishment. An eco-friendly campus with beautiful landscaping gives a real ambience of academic environment. The University has developed excellent infrastructure in terms of academic and administrative buildings, laboratories, class rooms, auditoria, residential blocks and hostels for boys and girls. In addition to wide range of academic programs in its affiliated colleges, the University offers courses of high job potentials both from traditional and professional nature. Redesigned curricula of all programs meet the needs of society and industry. The Centre for Entrepreneurship and Small Business management established by the Ministry of Small Scale Industries, Government of India is unique and the only one of its kind in the country. The library is automated with UGC INFLIBNET facility. Recently, the University has established three research centres in the name of Ambedkar, Prithviraj and Sindhu to augment research activity in respective areas of importance. The University has organized All India Inter-university games and sports in the past and hosted 30th West Zone Interuniversity Youth Festival 2014 with support of Association of Indian Universities (AIU) New Delhi. Out of concern for its neighbourhood community the University has taken up programs of NSS and a village-Muhami has been adopted for social and environmental awareness and various developmental activities. The amount of academic and development work performed by a small number of faculty is not only commendable but exemplary too. Continuous efforts, introspection and adoption of quality sustenance measures have allowed steady progress of the University towards fulfilment of its objectives. We strive to become a centre of excellence; however an uphill task lies ahead of us. So far our focus was on enhancement of the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for higher education that shows increasing trend to some extent. However, looking to the global trends in higher education and the growing number of institutions of higher education, quality and performance of any institute is indispensable and important parameter in setting benchmarks for achieving excellence. Accreditation of institute of higher education by NAAC would undoubtedly help us to put our efforts and actions in right direction for quality enhancement. In the past the University Page | 2 had voluntarily put its profile before NAAC that accredited it as B++ in 2004. Reaccreditation was long due but for certain issues that slowed down the desired pace of movement forward to take initiatives for achieving excellence in all dimensions of the functionality of the University. Sixth Convocation Ceremony of the University For the Second Cycle of Accreditation by NAAC in 2016, the Self Study Report (SSR) is ready. The committee constituted for the preparation of this SSR has put up hard work in compiling, analyzing and summarizing the information collected from teaching departments and from various administrative sections of the University. Ii is my pleasure to submit the SSR to the NAAC, Bengaluru for assessment and accreditation and eagerly look forward to welcome Peer Team in the University. Prof. Kailash Sodani Vice Chancellor Page | 3 VISION & MISSION MAHARSHI DAYANAND SARASWATI UNIVERSITY AJMER Page | 4 Vision The Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University aspires for an enlightened India by imparting holistic education. To achieve this pristine goal it envisions: • Breaking the shackles of the present teaching system, where different departments virtually serve as separate compartments without any cross flow of information and thus making students learn science and technology and simultaneously be able to dig deeper in the mental realms of existence to earn themselves a more or less stress free term of life on this planet. Similarly an exposure of science to students of other subjects will make them more pragmatic and analytical in approach to the life and its problems. • Imparting diversity, specialty and specialization of subjects as per the requirements of today’s technology driven enterprises as we understand that the civilizations move on the wheels of technology. • Fulfilling entire learning requirements of the society- our symbiotic partner, by making intensive and visible efforts to sensitize the society through students towards the issues of social discontent and injustice and work for a peaceful, dynamic and forward moving society. • Reducing social marginalization by generating self esteem and sense of participation amongst the downtrodden. • Bringing together, India as well as its Diaspora by fulfilling their cultural and religious needs to make them emotionally one entity. • Creating new opportunities for the youth by imparting them the knowledge of the language, culture, believes, religion and rituals of neighbouring countries and the countries with Indian Diaspora. This in turn will enhance business opportunities and exchange of ideas and create socio-cultural bonhomie for a progressive and peaceful humanity. MISSION To contribute to the super ordinate goal of nation building through realization of civilizational roles and civilizational goals in a global setting by creating and managing knowledge for social evolution, by inculcating values among youth and creating a climate of innovation and learning addressed to all segments of society. OBJECTIVES To accomplish its vision, the University has set following objectives: . Imparting education in various branches of learning . For the advancement of learning, undertake research in various branches of learning. Undertake extension education programs . Train college teachers to up-date their knowledge (Reinvigorate the teachers and teaching) . Organize specially designed orientation programs in teaching methodologies and pedagogy . Undertake updating and modernizing curricula and examination system, and . Take up such other work or activity or project as the University may deem proper to undertake in order to achieve its objectives Page | 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY MAHARSHI DAYANAND SARASWATI UNIVERSITY AJMER Page | 6 The Chancellor The Governor of Rajasthan, His Excellency Shri Kalyan Singh is the Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University, Ajmer, Rajasthan The Vice Chancellor The Vice Chancellor of the University is appointed by the Chancellor in consultation with the Government of Rajasthan from a panel recommended by the Selection Committee. The Selection committee comprises of Chairman (nominated by the Chancellor), three members each nominated by the Board of Management of the University, State Government and the University Grants Commission. Presently Prof. Kailash Sodani, an eminent academician is the Vice Chancellor of the University. He also held additional charge of the Vice Chancellor of Jai Narayan Vyas University, Jodhpur for 3 months. Location of the University Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University is nestled in the lap of Central Aravalli range and displays a panoramic view blended with beautiful landscape and architecture. The ambience of campus gives a sense of learning environment and thoughts for creativity. The campus is spanning 310 hectare of land area and 5.9 hectare built area on the National Highway (NH-8 Jaipur- Ajmer) at a distance of 7 kms from Ajmer Interstate Bus Stand. The campus has beautiful modern buildings blocks for academic and administrative functions along with residential and hostel buildings. The University Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University