IQAC stands for Internal Quality Assurance Cell. It's a quality assurance mechanism in higher education institutions, particularly in India, mandated by bodies like the University Grants Commission (UGC). Here are some key points about IQAC:
Functions: IQAC typically functions to channelize the efforts and measures of an institution towards academic excellence. This involves:
- Development and application of quality benchmarks/parameters for various academic and administrative activities.
- Facilitating the creation of a learner-centric environment conducive to quality education and faculty development.
- Arrangement for feedback responses from students, parents, and other stakeholders on quality-related institutional processes.
- Dissemination of information on various quality parameters to all stakeholders. Composition: The composition of IQAC varies by institution but generally includes the heads of important academic and administrative units, faculty members, and a few external experts.
Activities: IQAC is involved in a range of activities such as:
- Development and application of quality benchmarks/parameters for various academic and administrative activities.
- Facilitating the creation of a learner-centric environment conducive to quality education and faculty development.
- Arrangement for feedback responses from students, parents, and other stakeholders on quality-related institutional processes.
- Organizing seminars, workshops on quality-related themes and promotion of quality circles.
- Documentation of the various programmes/activities leading to quality improvement.
Reporting:IQAC prepares periodic reports on the functioning of the institution, quality improvement activities, and feedback from stakeholders. These reports are submitted to higher authorities for review and necessary actions.