One IQAC that truly impressed me was the IQAC at CVRU Khandwa. It is mentored by the VC himself who has had significant exposure to quality in his various assignments in India and abroad. The hallmark of this IQAC team is that it knows what level of quality standard each academic enabler and its metric should have and what best possible KPI is achievable given the SWOC of each academic, research and admin unit.
I also come in contact with a large number of poorly conceived and organised IQACs in India, led by equally unprofessional minds who don’t see quality beyond NAAC, NBA and NIRF numbers. These IQAC teams are not quality but bunch of ‘data people’. They jump with joy by seeing and building ‘numbers’. They care little for the quality in the numbers. Isn’t it so unfortunate?
For example, a good Dir IQAC would not just set a KPI to be met by a given Department in FSR but also lay down the skill-sets required by each faculty, based on the critical need of a program and then assure through audit whether set qualification are met and the rigour of selection of each faculty as laid down in regulations followed. A good IQAC doesn’t seek just the number of annual PhDs churned out by the institute ; instead audits/validates whether the desired rigour of PhD degree was implemented by the concerned departments. It doesn’t seek how many research papers were written; instead assures that ethical means were followed and quality was maintained for every publication in higher impact journals. It doesn’t let someone take credit for number of placements; instead sets standards of quality placements. It doesn’t let institute get away by dilution of examination system; instead ensures that due rigour is adhered to. The list is endless. You will ask, “where do we get such people” ? I say, you have to inculcate quality in each one of you.
-Prof JR Sharma-Mentor to HEIs
