A state level one day workshop on ‘Challenges in Revised NAAC Assessment and Accreditation Framework’ has been organised by Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Arya Vidyapeeth College, Guwahati-16, Assam with academic collaboration from National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) on 26th June, 2021. The workshop was held on Google Meet platform. The participants of the workshop was members of IQAC of different colleges of Assam. There were 72 participants out of which 25 participants were from colleges situated outside Kamrup (metro) district. 10 participants were from different colleges within the Kamrup (metro) district and the rest was in house participants.
The workshop started at 9.30 a.m. with a ‘Saraswati Vandana’ by Mr. Kamal Prasad Gautam, Assistant Professor, Department of Sanskrit, Arya Vidyapeeth College. The welcome address for the workshop was given by Dr. Pradip Kumar Bhattacharyya, Principal, Arya Vidyapeeth College. And The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Pranab Jyoti Das, President, Governing Body. The programme was anchored by Co- ordinator, organizing committee Dr. Anupama Devi who also explained the objectives of the workshop.
The key note address was delivered by Prof. (Dr.) Amiya Kumar Rath, Advisor, NAAC, Bengaluru. Prof. Rath has highlighted the ways for effectively accepting the challenges in revised assessment and accreditation process by higher educational institutions (HEIs). The detail analysis of the components of assessment in terms of seven criteria, attributes and metrices, both quantitative and qualitative with explanations regarding their weightages. The keynote address provide the insights of initiatives to excel in academic and physical infrastructure by universities and colleges. The key note address session was conducted by Dr. Jyotirupa Sarma, Joint Co-ordinator, Organising Committee.
The resource person of the first academic session of the workshop is Prof. Debendra Ch. Baruah, Director, IQAC, Tezpur University, Assam. He spoke on ‘Strategy to ensure true reflection of quality in NAAC accreditation’. Prof. Barua’s speech emphasises on the responsibilities of various stakeholders of higher educational institutions in performing multi dimensional processes for quality assurance. The quality assurance in the various steps in the accreditation process has been clearly explained by the resource person. This session was conducted by Dr. Anupama Devi, Co-ordinator of the organising committee who gave a brief introduction about the speaker also.
The resource person for the second academic session is Dr. Ruchi Tripathi, Assistant Advisor, NAAC, Bengaluru. Her deliberation is on the topic ‘Quality Assurance, NAAC RAF Metrices-DVV & SOP’ which is very much relevant and important in terms of revised NAAC assessment and accreditation framework for HEIs. Dr. Tripathy has made a detail analysis of revised parameters for quality assurance and evaluation. The systematic and structured presentation clearly explains Revised Assessment Framework (RAF) as redefined by NAAC following changing needs of self-evaluation, best practices and benchmarking in higher education in recent years. The detailed explanation about Data Validation and Verification (DVV) processes, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and the challenging metrics in the entire assessment and accreditation process for HEIs by Dr. Tripathy benefitted all the participants of the workshop. The second session of the workshop was conducted by Dr. Shrutidhara Kashyap, Member, Organising Committee.
The post-lunch session started at 2.00 p.m. and was conducted by Dr. Ditee Moni Barua, Member, Organising Committee. In this session, Prof. (Dr.) Bhaben Tanti spoke on the topic ‘Role of IQAC in the quality assurance and maintenance’. The various activities of IQAC such as periodic assessments and audits, stimulating academic and administrative mechanisms, promoting accountability and collaboration, workout for policies and processes, bench marking with ethics and values, technological solutions, in any HEI are discussed in detail by the resource person.
Each session was followed by interaction between the participants and the resource person.
At the outset of the valedictory session, Dr. Manab Deka, Co-ordinator, IQAC, Arya Vidyapeeth College delivered a brief speech highlighting the importance of organising the workshop. He too expressed his contentment on systematic arrangement of the sessions by the organisers and gratitude to the resource persons and participants for making the workshop a successful one. A few participants of the workshop also expressed their opinions regarding the workshop. A feedback form was also given in Google format to the participants. The workshop ended with the vote of thanks from Dr. Ditee Moni Barua.
