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TRANSCRIPT
University of Calcutta
Annual Quality Assuarance Report
21.
2008-09
Submitted to the NAAC
AQAR 2008-09 Page 2
PART -A
The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of the University of Calcutta was re-
constituted by the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor on 30.06.06 as per the Revised Guidelines
issued by the NAAC. The IQAC comprises the following members:
� Prof. Suranjan Das, Vice-Chancellor (Chairperson)
� Prof. Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs
� Prof. Tapan Kumar Mukherjee, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Business Affairs and
Finance
� Registrar
� Controller of Examinations
� University Librarian
� Inspector of Colleges
� Dean, Faculty Council for P.G. Studies in Science
� Dean, Faculty Council for P.G. Studies in Engineering and Technology
� Dean, Faculty Council for P.G. Studies in Arts
� Dean, Faculty Council for P.G. Studies in Law
� Dean, Faculty Council for P.G. Studies in Commerce, Social Welfare and Business
Management
� Dean, Faculty Council for P.G. Studies in Education, Journalism and Mass
Communication, and Library and Information Science
� Dean, Faculty Council for P.G. Studies in Agriculture & Veterinary Science
� Dean, Faculty Council for P.G. Studies in Fine Arts, Music, and Home Science
� Prof. Asish Kumar Roy, Member, Syndicate
� Prof. Shyamapada Pal
� Dr. Biplab Chakrabarti, Member, Syndicate
� Prof. Arunava Basumajumdar, Dept. of Chemical Technology (on lien)
� Prof. Sudipti Banerjea, Dept. of Commerce (Co-ordinator)
� Sri Sujit Kumar Barua, Acting Development and Planning Officer (Deputy Co-
ordinator & Secretary)
AQAR 2008-09 Page 3
The following areas were identified for quality improvement by the IQAC:
� Renewed focus on academic collaborations, both at the national and
international levels
� Training and development of the administrative manpower
� Enhanced computerization and networking throughout the University
� Continuation of the University library system modernization
� Continuation of the faculty development exercise
Outcome achieved
� The initiatives taken by some PG departments, well-supported by the University
authorities, have led to quite a good number of collaborations with leading
academic/ research institutions in India and abroad. In this connection, the
following collaborations are worth mentioning:
1. Proposal of M/s. OM Healthnet Telemedicine Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata, for
undertaking a project for establishment of Institute of Biomedical Science &
Technology by upgrading the Goenka Hospital and Diagnostic Research Centre
2. MOU with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics for promotion of research and
training in Astronomical Instrumentation
3. MOU with the Ambassador of Spain to India for Implementation of Support for
a Spanish Lecturer/Assistant
4. A UGC Network Resource Centre in the Radiophysics & Electronics Department
5. Rabindranath Tagore Centre for Human Development in collaboration with the
Institute of Development Studies
6. MOU with some other Universities and some Italian Universities
7. Collaboration with the ICICI Bank to develop Industry-Academic Partnership
has been accepted.
8. Proposal of the University of Cambridge, International Examinations, requesting
to be member of its Higher Education Advisory Council for India
9. MOU with the Globsyn Technologies Ltd., Kolkata, for offering PG Diploma in
Applied Economics & Information Management through CUIIPP for the purpose
of training young professionals
10. M. Tech./ Ph.D.(Tech.) Programmes in Astronomical Instrumentation under the
Applied Optics & Photonics Department in collaboration with the Indian
Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore
11. Research collaboration with the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of
Medical Sciences, Patna, for undertaking Ph.D. programmes under the
University
12. MOU with the University of Haute Alsace, Mulhouse, France, for collaborative
schemes
AQAR 2008-09 Page 4
� The Administrative Staff College has started conducting varied types of
programmes for the administrative staff (i.e., officers and non-teaching
employees) of the University. Apart from developing computer-related skills,
communication skills, accounting skills, analytical skills and knowledge about
the regulatory framework of the University, increasing emphasis is there on
personality development, stress management, time management etc.
� All the administrative departments are fully equipped with required number of
computers. The Accounts Department and the Cash Department have been
computerized specially for recording of transactions and maintaining financial
records. Registration of around 1,00,000 students is done every year with the
help of a software, developed by the University. The University is in the process
of developing a data bank with the support of appropriate programmes. A
common server-based system is now working in the Examination Department
for the UG examinations in a LINUX environment. The process of digitization
of the old Tabulation Registers of marks of different examinations (starting
from the year 1860) initiated to facilitate proper record keeping and speedy
despatch of verification reports is nearing completion.
Centralized and departmental computing and internet facilities, digital library, e-
resources, etc., positively contribute to the students’ learning experience. All the
Engineering and Technology and Science Departments and many Social
Science and some Humanities Departments have good number of computers
and printers in air-conditioned computer laboratories/rooms. In most of the
cases, those are connected through LAN and internet facilities are available in
all the campuses/departments. Apart from the standard softwares, some
specific/tailor-made softwares are in use in different departments.
� Internet bandwidth has been increased from 4 mbps to 16 mbps. To facilitate the
access to on-line and internet service provided by the University, a space has
been separated out in all the campuses, apart from in the Central Library, so that
the students, research scholars and teachers can access e-books and e-journals.
The University Library has completed the digitisation of the certain rare
documents.
The process of computerisation of all the departmental and campus libraries of
the University has been initiated. All the departmental libraries are provided
with a computer each. The University Library has set up a Digital Repository
on the first floor of the Central Library. Digitised documents are preserved
there. Bibliographical records of books of all campuses are now available in the
University Website. Work for setting up of a Braille Library, in collaboration
with the National Association for the Blind, in the second floor of the Central
Library for visually-challenged students is in the completion stage. The Central
Library is paying special attention to procurement and building up of career
literature for the students appearing in the various competitive examinations like
IAS, WBCS, NET, SET, CAT, GMAT, UPSC, SSC, etc. The University
AQAR 2008-09 Page 5
provides access to 4,000 foreign e-journals to the users in all campuses under
the UGC-INFONET programme.
Under the TEQIP, the University Library has procured:
a. The full Springer Online Journal Archives of 800 Journals titles and
Springer E-Books collections of more than 10000 E-Books from the
copyright year 1999 to 2008
b. IEL Online Level II (Full package of IEEE and IEE Journals)
c. Science Direct Journals and SCOPUS
Library users can search books and other documents in OPAC and can avail of
the facility of automated library circulation. The software the library is using for
automation purpose is SOUL (Software for University Libraries) which is
prepared by the INFLIBNET Centre.
The University has been identified by the INFLIBNET-UGC for access to
Chemical Abstracts and Biological Abstracts under the UGC-INFONET
programme through the ‘Sci-Finder-Scholar’.
The work relating to digitization of the title and table of contents of all Ph.D.
theses and medical dissertations (21000 approx.) has been completed. Now
users from across the globe can access the same through the University website.
Barcoding of books of the Central Library has been completed.
IP-based access to e-books and e-journals is provided for which user demand is
growing. The University, from its own fund, has developed well-integrated
internet connections for all its campuses.
� Apart from participation in the faculty development programmes conducted by
the UGC-Academic Staff College on a regular basis and need-based training
programmes organized by some PG departments from time to time, quite a good
number of faculty members in different departments have been provided with
different types of assistance (like research grants, seed money for research,
fellowships, travel grants, study leave, leave on deputation, etc.) with a view to
helping them participate in prestigious and useful national/ international
conferences/ seminars/ workshops, get advanced-level training and do doctoral/
post-doctoral research in leading academic/ research institutions in India and
abroad under different schemes/ arrangements. Under the UPE scheme, the
faculty members are encouraged to undertake multi-disciplinary/ inter-
departmental/ inter-institutional research projects, the proposals for which are
reviewed by the subject experts from all over the country.
AQAR 2008-09 Page 6
PART-B
1.Activities reflecting the goals and objectives of the
institution
Goals and objectives of the institution have continued to get reflected through
upgradation of many of its existing curricula and syllabi and introduction of some new
academic programmes, both in the traditional and emerging areas, including some
interdisciplinary ones. It is needless to mention that the institution is gradually
strengthening its research activities in all its disciplines. Some more new PG courses and
research centres have come up as a result of sustained academic efforts over the years.
In spite of imperatives, the fact remains that even normal expansion and ability to
respond to the fast-emerging socio-economic needs continues to be a major challenge
before the institution given its long past, size and the varied nature of its activities. The
University teaching community’s active contribution to the process of maintaining and
helping grow the UG academic sector continues through involvement of teachers in
varied capacities.
The University’s services to the community, through different regular activities, only
reflects its deep-rooted social commitment. Apart from regular and commendable
activities of the NSS Cell, a number of socially-relevant programmes (viz., blood
donation/medical check up camps, programmes focusing on national integration,
secularism, democracy, peace, scientific temper, social awareness, literacy, eradication of
prejudices, small family norms, flood/drought relief, problems of poor/destitute
women/children, problems of socially-backward and/or economically-weaker sections of
people, etc.), are organised on a regular basis or from time to time, ensuring involvement
of all the components of the University.
2. New academic programmes initiated (UG and PG) a. P.G. Diploma Course in “G.I.S. and Remote Sensing” under the Geography
Department,Surendranath College for Women (affiliated to C.U.)
b. P.G. Certificate course in “Social Research Methodology” under the Department of
Anthropology
AQAR 2008-09 Page 7
3. Innovations in curricular design and transaction
� Computer-aided instructions and programmed teaching in all the Engineering &
Technology departments, many Science departments and some Social Science
departments and a few Humanities departments
� Introduction of semester system at different levels in many Science departments and
some Social Science departments
� Continuation of the process of modernization of curricula/syllabi practically in all the
major courses/disciplines and, in such process, the curricula/syllabi of leading
academic/ research institutions in India and abroad are very much considered.
� In all the Engineering and Technology, most Science, many Social Science and a few
Humanities courses, the students are provided with the opportunity to acquire more
computer skills.
� Teachers in all the academic departments have been found to actively contribute in
the development and/or upgradation of curricula/syllabi.
� Faculty members in the concerned subjects are in regular touch with the employment
world and share their relevant experience in terms of re-designing/ upgrading the
course contents with a view to making the students really employable.
4. Inter-disciplinary programmes started a. P.G. Diploma Course in “G.I.S. and Remote Sensing” under the Geography
Department,Surendranath College for Women (affiliated to C.U.)
b. P.G. Certificate course in “Social Research Methodology” under the Department of
Anthropology
5. Examination reforms implemented
The system of receiving individual application forms for re-examination in respect of the
UG examinations has been discontinued and has been risplaced by a comprehensive
format to be sent by the college concerned. This practice has made the process of
submission of application student-friendly and has also quickened the process of re-
examination.
The examinations in the practical papers of the honours subjects of the final part of the
UG examinations are now held before the examination in the theoretical papers. This is a
major contribution towards reduction in the number of days required for publication of
the results.
AQAR 2008-09 Page 8
The generation of the notifications regarding holding of the examinations and filling in of
the application forms have also been connected to a newly-created database of fees
applicable for the different PG examinations. This has made the notifications more
exhaustive and comprehensive.
Efforts are there to build up a comprehensive and dynamic website exclusively for the
Examination Department.
6. Candidates qualified: NET/ SLET/ GATE etc.
NET –
June 2008
� JRF and Lectureship – 33
� Only Lectureship- 175
December 2008
� JRF and Lectureship –21
� Only Lectureship- 150
SLET (2008-09) – 281
GATE (2008-09) -- 17
7. Initiative towards faculty development programme
4 OPs, 15 RCs and 1 Principals’ Workshop have been conducted during the year. Apart
from organizing OPs, RCs and other in-service training programmes, and national/
international conferences/ seminars/ workshops, a good number of faculty members in
different departments are given the opportunity (by way of research grants, seed money
for research, fellowships, travel grants, study leave, leave on deputation, etc.) to
participate in prestigious national/ international conferences/ seminars/ workshops, get
advanced-level training and do doctoral/ post-doctoral research in leading academic/
research institutions in India and abroad under different schemes/ arrangements funded
by a number of national/ international agencies. In the departmental budgets, there are
sums allotted for research, seminars, and departmental journals, apart from the funds
available from the ‘unassigned grants’.
8. Total numbers of seminars /workshops conducted
14
AQAR 2008-09 Page 9
9. Research projects
a) Newly implemented— 36
b) Completed— 20
10. Patents generated, if any
BIOCHEMISTRY - 02
BIOTECHNOLOGY - 2 (European)
BOTANY - 1(filed)
PHYSIOLOGY - 03
PSYCHOLOGY - Development of software for experiments on attention and memory
for practicals in Experimental Psychology (Mr. S. Mukherjee)
AGRICULTURAL
CHEMISTRY & SOIL
SCIENCE
- Bio-products in collaboration with Kamarpukur Ram Krishna
Mission have been formulated and are awaiting their refinement
and release soon.
1. Room freshner
2. Soap
3. Floor cleaner
4. Mosquito repellent
5. Botanicals
GENETICS & PLANT
BREEDING
- Varieties (in the trial) : 3 and
NCBI (USA) registration of genes : 1
APPLIED OPTICS &
PHOTONICS
- • Prof. L.N.Hazra has applied for two patents on “design of
Zoom lens” and “Lens Design Software”.
• Prof. Ajay Ghosh, jointly with the scientists of CMERI, has
applied for a patent for “Laser-based Alignment System for
TWT”.
• Prof. A.K.Datta has developed and reported an “Optical
Computing System”.
RADIOPHYSICS &
ELECTRONICS
- 02
CHEMICAL
ENGINEERING
- 01
AQAR 2008-09 Page 10
11. New collaborative research programmes
1-Apr-08 A Committee has been constituted to look into the proposal of M/s. OM
Healthnet Telemedicine Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata, for undertaking a project for
establishment of Institute of Biomedical Science & Technology by
upgrading the Goenka Hospital and Diagnostic Research Centre.
1-Apr-08 MOU has been signed with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics for
promotion of research and training in Astronomical Instrumentation
29-Apr-08 MOU with the Ambassador of Spain to India for Implementation of
Support for a Spanish Lecturer/Assistant.
17-Jun-08 A UGC Network Resource Centre has been opened in the Radiophysics &
Electronics Department.
17-Jun-08 Rabindranath Tagore Centre for Human Development has been established
in collaboration with the Institute of Development Studies.
29-Jul-08 MOU has signed with some other Universities and some Italian
Universities
29-Jul-08 Proposal for collaboration with the ICICI Bank to develop Industry-
Academic Partnership has been accepted.
29-Jul-08 Proposal of the University of Cambridge, International Examinations,
requesting to be member of its Higher Education Advisory Council for
India has been accepted.
12-Aug-08 MOU has been signed with the Globsyn Technologies Ltd., Kolkata, for
offering PG Diploma in Applied Economics & Information Management
through CUIIPP for the purpose of training young professionals.
12-Aug-08 Syllabus and Regulations for the proposed M. Tech./ Ph.D.(Tech.)
Programmes in Astronomical Instrumentation under the Applied Optics &
Photonics Department in collaboration with the Indian Institute of
Astrophysics, Bangalore, have been accepted.
12-Aug-08 A sub-committee has been formed to consider the proposal of the Director,
Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, for
undertaking Ph.D. programmes under the University.
4-Nov-08 MOU has been signed with the University of Haute Alsace, Mulhouse,
France, for collaborative schemes.
AQAR 2008-09 Page 11
12.Research grants received from various agencies
Funding Agency Grants Received (Rs.) CSIR (EMR –I) 1,14,06,705
CSIR (EMR-II) 42,93,543
ICHR 5,65,200
ICAR 14,79,000
ICSSR 30,000
INSA/ ICPR 2,69,639
DAE 19,99,221
DST 4,56,07,630
DBT 1,43,38,715
Government of India 3,05,36,943
West Bengal Government 72,07,049
MISC 69,71,807
ICMR 12,31,496
UGC 51,28,89,125
13. Details of research scholars
More than 550 research scholars (funded by UGC, DST, DBT, DAE, CSIR, ICMR,
AICTE, ICSSR, ICHR, Endowments, Government of West Bengal, Archaeological
Survey of India, Ministry of Commerce, NCERT, NTRF, ISRO, DRDO, etc.) are there in
the PG departments taken together.
14. Citation index of faculty members and impact factor
Please refer to the RAR/ Part-I/Institutional Data/ Volume-2/Profile of the Departments/
Serial No. 25.
AQAR 2008-09 Page 12
15. Honors , awards to the Faculty
i. Prof. S. Jha, Department of Botany, has been elected Fellow of the National
Academy of Science (F.N.A.Sc.), 2008.
ii. Prof. B. De, Department of Botany, has been awarded the 2008 Endeavour
Executive Award by the Australian Government.
iii. Prof. S. Bera, Department of Botany, has been nominated as Fellow, Indian Fern
Society, Patiala, 2008.
iv. Dr. Sibnath Deb, Department of Applied Psychology, has received the Executive
Counciloir Award 2008 awarded by the ISPCAN – a global professional
Organization based in the USA.
v. Dr. K. Bhattacharyya, Department of Applied Optics and Photonics, has received
a Research Award from the Mitutoyo Association for Science and Technology,
Japan.
Eminent Teacher Award
Name Subject
Sri Premamoy Ghosh Applied Chemistry
Sri Jugal Kishore Mukherjee Physics
Sri Jawharlal Sen History
Sri Sunil Thakur Medical Science
Sri Bireswar Banerjee Geography
Smt. Jyoti Das Pure Mathematics
16. Internal resources generated
1. Tuition Fees - Rs. 3,24,00,000
2. Examination Fees - Rs. 8,73,00,900
3. Registration and Migration Fees - Rs. 1,45,00,000
4. Non-collegiate Fees - Rs. 50,00,000
5. NCPG Preliminary Test Fees - Rs. 12,25,000
6. Transfer from Endowment Fund - Rs 15,97,900
7. Miscellaneous - Rs. 2,93,50,800
8. Sale proceeds - Rs. 2,04,80,000
Total - Rs. 19,18,54,600
AQAR 2008-09 Page 13
17. Details of departments getting SAP,
COSIST(ASSIST)/ DST.FIST, etc. assistance/
recognition See Annexure 1
18.Community Services
The NSS Cell of the University has been functioning since introduction of the NSS by the
Government of India in the University in the year 1969 and now it has 121 units out of
which 27 units in the colleges in the North 24 Parganas District has been transferred from
the University to the West Bengal State University, Barasat, North 24 Parganas, because
those colleges have been permitted by the NSS Wing of the Higher Education
Department, Government of West Bengal, to open NSS units in their colleges.
Almost of all the colleges, having NSS units, have been playing active role by guiding
the NSS volunteers, who are the students of their colleges, to serve the greater society by
adopting about 121 different slums and villages under the territorial jurisdiction of the
university.
Some outreach programmes have been organized under the TEQIP. Service-to-
community programmes, tribal development programmes, and staff development
programmes are also the major components of the TEQIP. About 250 programmes have
been organized for creating the awareness and also for transferring the technology with
the participation of the faculty members and the students.
It is worthwhile to mention here that, based on the MOU signed with the Modern
Academy of Continuing Education [MACE], Kolkata (established by the Modern High
School for Girls’ Trust) in May 2006 with a view to offering a Comprehensive Training
Course for Primary and Secondary School Teachers, the goal being development of
intensive, technology-based and futuristic teacher-education programme, the University
is continuing to extend its functions and services to the general public under the name
Community Outreach Programme through the reputed institutions engaged in imparting
education other than those offered by the University and its affiliated colleges. Already,
three batches of trainee teachers have received certificate since August 2006 and a large
number of trainee teachers have been subsequently employed by reputed schools.
19. Teachers and Officers newly recruited Teacher- 49
Officer - 5
AQAR 2008-09 Page 14
20. Teaching –Non teaching staff ratio
1:3.6
21. Improvements in the library service During the period under review
� Internet bandwidth has been increased from 4 mbps to 16 mbps. To facilitate the
access to on-line and internet service provided by the University, a space has been
separated out in all the campuses, apart from in the Central Library, so that the students,
research scholars and teachers can access e-books and e-journals.
� The University Library has completed the digitisation of the following rare documents:
� Tagore Law Lectures
� Hundred Years of the University
� Minutes of the Syndicate
� The University Calendar
� The Calcutta Review
� Annual Reports of the University
� Paintings and Architecture
� University Commission Reports
� Financial Estimates
� Miscellaneous Reports
� University Regulations
� University Acts
� Important Lectures
� Convocation Addresses
� The process of computerization of all the departmental and campus libraries of the
University has been initiated. All the departmental libraries are provided with a computer
each. The past and present students of the Library and Information Science Department
have been engaged for cataloguing and classification work under the ‘earn while you
learn programme’.
�A Seminar Complex with modern facilities has been in regular use on the 4th
floor of
the Central Library Building. The Seminar Hall is adorned with all the facilities that any
Seminar Hall of today’s international standard can boast of. It has aptly been named after
two ladies, Chandramukhi Basu and Kadambini Ganguly, who are the vanguards of
higher education for women in India, the first two lady graduates of the University, nay
the country.
� A permanent exhibition regarding the history of the University has been set up on
the ground floor of the Central Library.
AQAR 2008-09 Page 15
� The University Library has set up a Digital Repository on the first floor of the Central
Library. Digitized documents are preserved there.
� Bibliographical records of books of all campuses are now available in the University
Website.
� A New Arrival Section for display of new books has been set up in the first floor of
the Central Library.
� Work for setting up of a Braille Library, in collaboration with the National
Association for the Blind, in the second floor of the Central Library for visually-
challenged students is in the completion stage.
� The Central Library is paying special attention to procurement and building up of
career literature for the students appearing in the various competitive examinations like
IAS, WBCS, NET, SET, CAT, GMAT, UPSC, SSC, etc.
� It has been observed that there is a significant increase in the number of users in the
libraries of the University. 1200 users (approx.) are using the Central Library regularly.
The Central Library frequently holds exhibitions on various subjects and such
programmes have been appreciated by the academic community in and outside the
University.
22. New books/ journals subscribed and their value
During the period under review 30,285 books have been added to the stacks. The Library
subscribed to 264 titles of periodicals including 99 foreign journals. In addition, the
University provides access to 4,000 foreign e-journals to the users in all campuses under
the UGC-INFONET programme. Under the TEQUIP, the University Library has
procured:
a. The full Springer Online Journal Archives of 800 Journals titles and Springer E-
Books collections of more than 10000 E-Books from the copyright year 1999 to
2008
b. IEL Online Level II (Full package of IEEE and IEE Journals)
c. Science Direct Journals and SCOPUS
Expenditure on New books and Journals: Rs. 2,23,60,136
AQAR 2008-09 Page 16
23. Courses in which student assessment of teachers is
introduced and the action taken on student feedback
Student assessment of teachers has been introduced in all the Engineering & Technology
departments, most of the Science departments and in some Social Science & Humanities
departments.
24. Unit cost of education
Rs. 91,091.88
25. Computerization of administration and the process of
admissions and examination results, issue of
certificates
� All the administrative departments are fully equipped with required number of
computers.
� The Accounts Department and the Cash Department have been computerized
specially for recording of transactions and maintaining financial records.
� Registration of around 1,00,000 students is done every year with the help of a
software, developed by the University.
� The University is in the process of developing a data bank with the support of
appropriate programmes.
� A common server-based system is now working in the Examination
Department for the UG examinations in a LINUX environment.
� The process of digitization of the old Tabulation Registers of marks of
different examinations (starting from the year 1860) initiated to facilitate
proper record keeping and speedy despatch of verification reports is nearing
completion.
AQAR 2008-09 Page 17
26. Increase in the Infrastructural facilities
• Construction of a new Technology Campus is going on in full swing in Salt Lake
upon 4.2 acres of land and a phase of construction has been completed. Civil work
for erection of a new building for Nanotechnology at the Technology Campus has
been undertaken.
• Construction of the new floors has been completed in the Centenary Building
(College Street Campus) for academic and administrative purposes.
• A well-furnished Seminar Hall (Chandramukhi-Kadambini Hall) in the Central
Library Building (4th
floor) is now in regular use.
• Seminar halls in the Centre for Social Sciences and Humanities (Alipore
Campus), Dr. B.C. Guha Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology,
Botany/ Zoology/ Biochemistry/ Statistics Departments (Ballygunge Science
College Campus), Radiophysics and Electronics Department (Rajabazar Science
College Campus), etc., with state-of-the-art facilities, have been built.
• Construction of a new Administrative Staff College has been completed.
• A new transformer has been installed at the Ballygaunge Science College
Campus.
• Work for setting up of a Braille Library, in collaboration with the National
Association for the Blind, in the second floor of the Central Library for visually-
challenged students is in the completion stage.
• Apart from lifts, some ramps have been built (or being built) in all the buildings in
all the campuses for differently-abled students.
• The University Press at the Hazra Road Campus, the Chhatra Bhawan at the
College Street Campus and the Goenka Hospital Diagnostic Research Centre have
undergone thorough renovation and modernization.
27. Technology upgradation
All the Engineering and Technology and Science Departments and many Social Science
and some Humanities Departments have started extensive use of modern teaching aids
like OHP, Laptop, LCD Projector, Document Reflector, etc., for classroom instruction.
Laboratory facilities, centralized and departmental computing and internet facilities,
photocopying and abstracting facility, digital library, e-journals, etc., positively
contribute to the students’ learning experience.
Library users can search books and other documents in OPAC and can avail of the
facility of automated library circulation. The software the library is using for automation
AQAR 2008-09 Page 18
purpose is SOUL (Software for University Libraries) which is prepared by the
INFLIBNET Centre. The University Library, in collaboration with the UGC-
INFLIBNET, has organized several users’ awareness programmes on e-journals for the
benefit of the users.
The University has been identified by the INFLIBNET-UGC for access to Chemical
Abstracts and Biological Abstracts under the UGC-INFONET programme through the
‘Sci-Finder-Scholar’. ‘Sci-Finder-Scholar’ is offered by the Chemical Abstract Service
(CAS) – a division of the American Chemical Society. ‘Sci-Finder-Scholar’ is the
world’s most comprehensive collection of published scientific research. It covers all
disciplines such as Chemistry, Biotechnology, Chemical/Biochemical Engineering,
Medical Sciences, Physics, Environment, etc.
Under the TEQIP, the University Library has procured:
o The full Springer Online Journal Archive of 800 titles and Springer e-books
collections of more than 10000 e-books from the copyright year 1999-2008
o IEL Online Level II (full package of IEEE and IEE Journals)
o Science Direct Journals and SCOPUS
The work relating to digitization of the title and table of contents of all Ph.D. theses and
medical dissertations (21000 approx.) has been completed. Now users from across the
globe can access the same through the University website.
Barcoding of books of the Central Library has been completed. Barcoding of books of
the Central Library has made the University one among the few institutions in the
Country to achieve this feat. Not only will it expedite circulation of the books for the
users but tracking the books will be easier.
IP-based access to e-books and e-journals is provided for which user demand is growing.
At present the facilities available are as follows:
Computers:
Central Library – 105
Alipore Campus Library – 41
Ballygunge Campus Library – 67
Rajabazar Campus Library – 62
Hazra Road Campus Library – 21
Viharilal College of Home & Social Science Campus Library – 5
B.T. Road Campus Library – 6
Internet:
1) Under the UGC-INFONET : 2 Mbps leased line
2) The University, from its own fund, has developed well-integrated internet connections
for all its campuses. At present there is VPN Connectivity through MAN (Metro Area
Network) with 16 Mbps.
Reprographic facilities:
AQAR 2008-09 Page 19
Libraries in all the campuses are equipped with reprographic facilities with at least 2
photocopiers for each campus catering to the needs of the students. The Central Library
itself has 5 photocopiers.
28. Computer and internet access and training to teachers
and students
All the Engineering and Technology and Science Departments and many Social Science
and some Humanities Departments have good number of computers and printers in air-
conditioned computer laboratories/rooms. In most of the cases those are connected
through LAN and internet facilities are available in all the campuses/departments. Apart
from the standard softwares, some specific/tailor-made softwares are in use in different
departments.
The Central Library has developed a new computer facility for teachers and other
sections of the University community. 50 computers, equipped with latest programmes,
are available for accessing e-journals, e-books, mathematical works and graphics. Newly-
arrived books and journals, soon after being catalogued, are uploaded to OPAC as well as
to Web OPAC. The campus libraries also have computer facilities. The University
provides financial support for purchase of computer-aided packages for individual
departments and the Central Library and the campus libraries.
The response to item no. 27 may also be referred to in this connection.
For the students of the Engineering and Technology and Science Departments, use of
computers is a must, as it is an essential part of their respective syllabi. The students
having inadequacy in computer knowledge are given special attention. The students of
the other streams also cannot think without computers as they have to use computers to
keep pace with the recent trends.
Since the UGC-Academic Staff College began its journey on 8th
October 1990, with full
financial assistance from the UGC, it has persistently engaged itself in organizing,
monitoring and evaluating, on a regular basis, OPs, RCs, seminars and workshops and
publishing books with the objective of helping the teachers of the University and colleges
discharge their professional commitments more effectively. Apart from these activities,
seminars/ workshops are also organized for academic administrators (viz., college
principals and University officers). Eminent educationists and reputed personalities from
different walks of life are invited as resource persons. Over the years, the UGC-
Academic Staff College has been building up infrastructural facilities in order to cater to
the needs of the participants of the programmes organized.
AQAR 2008-09 Page 20
29. Financial aid to students
Apart from the special grants/ scholarships socially-backward students may receive from
the government, free/ half-free studentships are there for the economically-disadvantaged
students belonging to this category.
Different types of financial assistance are provided to the students from the
economically-weaker sections of the society. Free/ half-free studentships are there. Also
different types of scholarships are provided by the government (including state
government scholarships from other states and national Need-cum-Merit scholarship
awarded by the central government) for the economically-weaker students.
In addition, there are 144 types of endowment scholarships, research fellowships,
overseas fellowships, cash & book prizes and other awards, based on need and merit,
from which more than 1000 students benefit in a year. Needy students are also provided
with financial support, out of the N.C. Chatterjee Birth Centenary Students’ Welfare
fund, for continuing their study as well as for undergoing costly medical treatment while
pursuing their PG courses. The past and present students of the Library and Information
Science Department have been engaged for cataloguing and classification work under the
‘earn while you learn programme’.
30. Activities and support from the Alumni Association
Many of the PG departments have Alumni Association which, however, differ in terms of
their activities and performance. Alumni Associations of some of the departments like
Applied physics, Radiophysics and Electronics, Chemistry, Economics, and Commerce
have found to be quite active, particularly in terms of holding seminars, awarding
meritorious students, bringing out bulletins, organising re-unions, etc.
31. Activities and support from the Parent-teacher
association
There is no such association in the University till now.
AQAR 2008-09 Page 21
32. Health services Facilities for medical and health care are offered by the Board of Health of the
University. Such facilities include health and medical examinations, diagnostic
procedures, laboratory investigation, chest radiography, etc., free of cost. On a limited
basis, free hospitalisation is also possible. The Board of Health takes care of the health-
related problems of the students of the University and its affiliated colleges. To avail
themselves of these medical and health-care services, students are required to produce
their respective identity cards or fee-books at the time of attending the Health Clinics or
the Special Clinics.
The Board of Health has set up a clinic (i.e., Goenka Hospital Diagnostic Research
Centre [University Health Services]) very near to the College Street Campus of the
University with a view to rendering all kinds of medical assistance to the students and
staff members of the University.
At present, the facilities mentioned below are available at the Goenka Hospital
Diagnostic Research Centre for them and also for the general people at a very nominal
charge.
In the Out Patient Department (OPD), there are Consultation Clinics for General
Medicine, Neurology, Otolaryngology (ENT), Dermatology (Skin), Ophthalmology
(Eye), Gynaecology, Dentistry, Cardiology, Paediatrics, Surgery, Psychiatry, and
Radiology.
In General Medicine, doctors are available for consultation on all the University working
days at Chhatra Bhawan (1st Floor), College Street Campus.
There are Investigation Clinics for Ultrasonography, Echo-Cardiography, X-Ray
(General & Dental), ECG, Pathological Tests, Semen Analysis, Skin Smear for AFB,
Mantoux Test, Dermato-Surgery, Sputum for AFB, Beta HCG for Urine, and EEG.
Students of all the affiliated colleges under the University (both UG and PG) and
University PG students are not required to pay the following:
i) OPD Registration Charge, and ii) Charge for X-Ray (P.A. view) of Chest.
Apart from the Goenka Hospital Diagnostic Research Centre, there are four peripheral
students’ health clinics to cater to the health-care needs of the students at the following
centres:
• Chhatra Bhawan (College Street Campus) • Bangabasi College • University College of
Science and Technology (Rajabazar Campus) • University College of Science
(Ballygunge Campus)
AQAR 2008-09 Page 22
33. Performance in the sport activities
Conducted various Inter-Collegiate Men and Women Tournaments/
Championships
a. Football (Men)
b. Kho-Kho (Women)
c. Badminton (Men)
d. Badminton (Women)
e. Table Tennis (Women)
f. Rowing (Men)
g. Kho-kho (Men)
h. Athletics (Men)
i. Swimming (Men)
j. Table Tennis (Men)
k. Chess (Men & Women)
l. Kabaddi (Women)
m. Cricket (Men)
n. Athletics (Women)
o. Swimming (Women)
p. Volleyball (Men)
q. Kabaddi (Men)
Sports Achievements in various Inter-University Tournaments
Zone-wise Inter-University achievements
i. Badminton (Men) Champion
ii. Cricket (Men) Champion
iii. Tennis (Men) Champion
iv. Table Tennis (Women) Champion
v. Table Tennis (Men) Runner Up
vi. Football (Men) Runner Up
vii. Badminton (Women) Runner Up
viii. Basketball (Men) Runner Up
ix. Chess (Men & Women) Champion
x. Kho-kho Runner Up
xi. Volleyball (Women) Runner Up
All-India Inter-University achievements
xii. Water Polo (Men) Champion
xiii. Rowing (Men & Women) Runner Up
AQAR 2008-09 Page 23
xiv. Table Tennis (Women) Runner Up
xv. Chess (Men & Women) Runner Up
xvi. Lawn Tennis (Men) Runner Up
xvii. Gymnastics (Men & Women) 4th
Position
Other Sports achievements
1. 6 players have been selected in the East Zone Combined University team for the
Vizzy Trophy Cricket (Men) Tournament 2008-09.
2. Sri Sourav Chakraborty has been selected as the best footballer for the year 2007-
08 and has been awarded the Gostha Paul Medal.
3. The University Cricket (Men) has become Champion in the Ajoy Ghosh
Memorial Trophy Tournament 2008-09.
4. 12 players have been selected as the members of the West Bengal Combined
University Cricket Team out of 18 players in the P.Sen Trophy Tournament 2008-
09.
5. 8 colleges affiliated to the University have been selected to participate in the
Inter-District Inter-Collegiate Cricket Tournament organized by Cricket
Association of Bengal (CAB).
34. Incentives to outstanding sportspersons
In the Convocation every year, Gostha Paul Medal is awarded to an outstanding
sportsperson. Sri Sourav Chakraborty has been selected as the best footballer for the year
2006-07 and has been awarded the Gostha Paul Medal.
AQAR 2008-09 Page 24
35. Student achievement and awards Sl.
No.
Prize
Candidate Subject Value
1. Dakshini Bhattacharyya
Memorial Prize
Priyanka Ganguly Mathematics Rs.5,000
2. Late Rashbehari Banerjee
Memorial Cash Prize
Prama Pal Bengali Rs.5,000
3. Santi Kumar Roy Cash
Prize
a. Monalisa Parvin
b. Bidisha Sarkar
c. Abhijit Sarkar
d. Subhanita Bhadra
Pure
Mathematics
Rs.250
each
4. J.P. Neyogi Memorial
Book Prize
a. Avik Dasgupta
b. Siddhartha Nath
c. Antara Dhar
d. Ananya Sinha
Rs.1,000
each
36.Activities of the Guidance and Counselling unit Placement and related counselling services are offered to the students by the
Appointments & Information Board and Students’ Advisory Bureau, and University
Employment Information & Guidance Bureau (UEIGB).
There is also a Placement Cell of the University which organizes Industry-Institute
Interaction Programmes each year in association with the Calcutta University Industry
Institute Partnership Programme (CUIIPP) Cell for the purpose of providing the students
with industrial exposure. A large number of corporate executives and professionals are
invited every year to meet the students and interact with them regarding the essential
requirements of the job market. The Placement Cell is headed by a Professor-in-Charge.
The Secretary, UCSTA, looks after the administrative affairs relating to placement and
maintains communication with the actual and potential employers and arranges for
campus recruitments for the students throughout the year.
Mention can be made about the legal counselling service provided by the Gender Justice
Cell, functioning under the Law Department, to women (including the students) who seek
assistance. The WSRC also plays a very constructive role in this connection as and when
necessary. The WSRC has been organising 10-day and 21-day certificate courses on
‘Legal and Psychological Counselling for Women in Distress’ since 2003.
Moreover, at the time of admission, guidance is provided by the concerned academic
departments, to the extent possible, to the students who are in need of it.
AQAR 2008-09 Page 25
37. Placement services provided to students
The Placement Cell of the University organizes Industry-Institute Interaction
Programmes in association with the CUIIPP Cell with a view to providing the students
with industrial exposure and placement services.
A good number of students in different departments, viz., the Engineering & Technology,
Science, and some Social Science Departments, get placement in reputed organizations in
different parts of the country. Notable among such organizations are mentioned below.
1) Tata Consultancy Services 2) Cognizant Technology Solution India Pvt. Ltd. 3) Tata
Elaxis Ltd. 4) Wipro Technologies 5) Sasken Communications Technology Ltd. 6)
Syntrel India Ltd. 7) Dabur India Ltd. 8) Wacker Silicones 9) Reliance Telecom Ltd. 10)
GKB Rx Lens Pvt. Ltd. 11) Indian Army 12) Aluminus Software Ltd. 13) Satyam
Computer Service Ltd. 14) VXL Technologies Ltd. 15) Sarang Infotech & Software Ltd.
16) The West Bengal Power Development Corp. Ltd. 17) Syngene International Pvt. Ltd.
18) Tega Industries Ltd. 19) Nelco Ltd. 20) Tata Refecat 21) Burger Paints 22) Jubliant
Organisation Ltd. 23) Accentury India 24) Haldia Petrochemicals 25) Essar Oil Ltd. 26)
Asian Paints (India) Ltd. 27) Machino-Baseball India Ltd. 28) Inspira Software 29)
Alstom Ltd. 30) Crompton Greaves Ltd. 31) Metalogic System Pvt. Ltd. 32) Research
Engineering Ltd. 33) Webfil Ltd. 34) Usha Commercial Ltd. 35) Skeytech Solution Pvt.
Ltd. 36) Hindustan Lever Research Centre 37) Glaxo Smith Kline Pharmaceutical Ltd.
38) Hutchison’s Telecom East Ltd. 39) H & R Johnson (India) Ltd. 40) Orrissa Cement
Ltd. 41) Somany Pilkington Ltd. 42) Orient Abrasives Ltd. 43) International Ferrite (I)
Ltd. 44) Central Glass & Ceramic Research Institute 45) Bharat Refractories Ltd. 46)
Matrix Infosystems 47) Chembioteck 48) Indian Aluminium Company Ltd. 49) ABP Pvt.
Ltd. 50) SIEMENS Ltd. 51) Forbs Marshall 52) IBM, 53) Tata Motors, etc.
The above list of employers is indicative but not exhaustive. It can only be said that the
concerned persons in the University are working very hard for making the placement
function more effective. The University’s performance in terms of placement/ industrial
exposure of its students has improved substantially over the years.
AQAR 2008-09 Page 26
38. Development programme for Non-teaching staff
The Administrative Staff College has started conducting varied types of programmes for
the non-teaching component of the University. Apart from developing computer-related
skills, communication skills, accounting skills, analytical skills and knowledge about the
regulatory framework of the University, increasing emphasis is there on personality
development, stress management, time management etc. For the non-teaching staff,
below the level of the Junior Assistants, there are training programmes focused on
campus discipline, security and cleanliness, filing system, communication skills etc.
39. Healthy practices of the institution
The best practices in different functional areas and at different levels, as identified by the
University authorities from time to time, have been discussed and praised in the academic
and administrative bodies and by the associations of different components of the
University with a view to encouraging inculcation of such practices. Efforts have been
made through self/peer assessments, periodical/special reviews, internal audits, etc., to
increase accountability in all functional areas and at all levels. Need-based, tailor-made
training programmes have been organised, particularly for the officers and the non-
teaching employees. Certain need-based changes have been made in the regulations.
Certain centralized and certain decentralized support services for the components of the
university have been introduced. Democratic functioning of the academic and
administrative bodies is always ensured. Grievance handling mechanism has been made
more effective and decentralised. Some of the very positive developments which will go
a long way in helping the University internalizing the best practices are establishing the
IQAC, forming the Complaints Committee to prevent sexual harassment, strengthening
the BCW Cell, and gradually introducing some sort of students’ feedback system, helping
them respond on, inter alia, course contents, infrastructure and support services,
evaluation system, placement activities, campus life and the overall institutional
arrangement.
That apart, there are a number of worth-mentioning initiatives, which have been
mentioned below:
• Different types of awards and prizes (including those instituted by government, other
external bodies/agencies, etc.) for academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular
performance
• Effective implementation of a number of financial support schemes for the socially-
disadvantaged and the economically-weaker students, including book bank facilities
in some departments
• International exchange programmes for the students in some disciplines
AQAR 2008-09 Page 27
• Travel grants for pursuing academic activities both within the country and abroad
• Enhancing placement of students in various departments through sustained efforts
• Strengthening the budgetary and infrastructural support for social, cultural,
recreational and sports activities
• Enhancing support for varied types of extension/ community service activities,
particularly relating to the NSS units
• Initiating certain specific measures for the socially-disadvantaged and differently-
abled students
• Creating separate space in the libraries of all campuses of the University with a view
to enabling the students to use e-journals and other e-resources from their respective
campuses and surf the internet
• Students’ representation in the Teachers’-Students’ Committees of the academic
departments, Senate and Syndicate has been found to be quite effective. Elected class
representatives and the Students’ Union as a whole have been found to play a
significant role in sustaining and improving the academic ambience. The students,
individually and collectively, come out with constructive criticisms particularly vis-à-
vis teaching performance, regularity of classes, timely publication of results, library
services, hostel and canteen facilities and opportunities for sports and cultural/
recreational programmes.
• Seats in the academic courses and hostels are reserved for the socially-backward
students following the government rules. Apart from the special grants/ scholarships
those students may receive from the government, free studentships are there for the
economically-disadvantaged students belonging to this category. The University is
running UGC-sponsored programmes for certain categories of students (including
students belonging to the ST and Minority categories) for preparation for NET and
Remedial Coaching in different disciplines and different competitive examinations
(under the Entry-in-Services programme).
• Different types of financial assistance are provided to the students from the
economically-weaker sections of the society. Free/ half-free studentships are there.
Also different types of scholarships are provided by the government (including the
state government scholarships from the other states and the national Need-cum-Merit
scholarship awarded by the Central Government) for the economically-weaker
students. That apart, endowment scholarships, research fellowships, overseas
fellowships, cash & book prizes and other awards, based on need and merit of
students are there. Needy students are provided with financial support, out of the N.
C. Chatterjee Birth Centenary Students’ Welfare Fund, for continuing their study as
well as for undergoing costly medical treatment while pursuing their PG courses. The
past and present students of the Library and Information Science Department have
been engaged for cataloguing and classification work under the ‘earn while you learn
programme’.
AQAR 2008-09 Page 28
• Seats in the academic courses and hostels are reserved for the differently-abled
students following the rules. Apart from lifts, some ramps have been built and some
more are in the process of being built in all the buildings in all the campuses for the
benefit of the differently-abled students.
• Work for setting up of a Braille Library, in collaboration with the National
Association for the Blind, in the second floor of the Central Library for visually-
challenged students is in the completion stage.
• The Administrative Staff College has started conducting varied types of programmes
for the non-teaching component of the University.
40. Linkages developed with National/ International
academic/ research bodies Please refer to the response to the item no. 11.
41. Any other relevant information the institution wishes
to add
Apart from continuing serious efforts to improve upon the academic performance in
varied disciplines, which have obviously helped the University to maintain and
strengthen its position at the national and international levels, there are definite signs of
improvement in various support systems, viz., library, examination, accounts and
physical infrastructure.
AQAR 2008-09 Page 29
PART-C
The quality-enhancement initiatives will mainly focus on the following areas:
� Academic collaborations, both at the national and international levels
� Computerisation and networking throughout the University
� Augmentation of the students’ support services
� Quality awareness programmes
� Awareness and training on quality circles
Name and signature of the Co-ordinator, IQAC Name and Signature of the Chairperson, IQAC
(PROF. SUDIPTI BANERJEA) (PROF. SURANJAN DAS)