Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC)

Higher education institutions should practise quality assurance to foster a culture of appreciating and promoting excellence. Therefore, quality assurance, in academic and administrative management is presently a fundamental aspect of any academic organization. In line with this, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Jammu (SKUAST-J) is on its path to develop a formal and efficient way of acquiescence, timely appraisal, monitoring and rating of its current programs to maintain the quality in sustainable manner. The activities related to quality assurance in SKUAST-Jammu include collection and analysis of academic and administrative data, which can further build faith of stakeholders and generate confidence in the performance of this institution. National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has proposed a set of indicators to establish Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) as central theme to strengthen the mentioned goals in a continuous manner. Similarly, the IQAC established in SKUAST-Jammu plays a crucial and significant role in maintaining quality standards in teaching, learning, research, extension, training and evaluation. IQAC, SKUAST-Jammu is working towards the realisation of goals of quality enhancement and sustenance.

Task

The prime task of the IQAC, SKUAST-Jammu is to develop a system for conscious, consistent and catalytic improvement in the overall performance of institutions. This cell channelizes all efforts and measures of the institution towards promoting holistic academic excellence. Internal Quality Assurance Cell, SKUAST-Jammu is endeavoured to create a mechanism to build and ensure a quality culture in the University. Every constituent faculties of SKUAST-Jammu, should pass through the standards set by IQAC, with appropriate structure and processes, and with enough flexibility to meet the diverse needs of the stakeholders. The IQAC, SKUAST-Jammu is meant for planning, guiding and monitoring Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Enhancement (QE) activities of the faculties. The IQAC, SKUAST-Jammu thus channelizes and schematises the efforts and measures of the University towards academic excellence. This cell is a facilitative and participative organ of the University to drive it forward while maintaining and enhancing the quality.

Objectives

• To foster internalisation of the quality culture permeating all aspect of SKUAST-Jammuand to build and advance a higher level of clarity and focus in University’s functioning towards the development, maintenance, and enhancement of quality.
• Creating and putting into practice a quality improvement strategy to consistently improve academic, research, extension, and administrative performance of SKUAST-Jammu.
• To make it easier for the University’s varied activities to be integrated and to institutionalise best practises.
• To provide a solid foundation for decision-making that incorporates all aspects of service quality in order to improve University’s performance.
• To serve as University’s change agent to promote better policy implementation and quality assurance for its stakeholders.

The functions of IQAC

• Creating and facilitating the usage of quality standards/benchmarks for different academic and administrative initiatives of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Jammu.
• Facilitating the development of a learner-centred environment that is supportive of high-quality education and the development of faculty to embrace the necessary knowledge and technology for interactive teaching and learning processes.
• Creating arrangement for feedback responses from students, parents and other stakeholders of SKUAST-Jammu on quality-related processes.
• Dissemination of information on various quality parameters of higher education.
• Organization of institutional workshops and seminars on related themes and promotion of quality circles.
• Documentation of the various programmes/activities of SKUAST-Jammu, leading to quality improvement.
• Preparation of the Annual Quality Assurance Report of SKUAST-Jammu based on the quality parameters / assessment criteria developed by the relevant quality assurance body in the prescribed format.

IQAC Team Members

• Chairperson:
• Head of the Institute – Dr. B.N. Tripathi, Vice-Chancellor
• Administrative Officers:
• Director, Research
• Director, Education
• Director, Extension
• Director, Planning and Monitoring
• Registrar
• Director, Institute of Bio-Technology
• Joint Registrar (Academics)
• Teachers to Represent All Levels
• Dr. Sanjay Guleria, Professor, Div. of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Science.
• Dr. Vikas Sharma, Prof. & Head, Division of Soil Science &Agril. Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture.
• Dr. Anish Yadav, Prof. & Head, Division of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry.
• Dr. Shalini Sharma, Assoc. Prof., Division of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry.
• Dr. R.K. Srivastava, Prof. & Head, Division of Soil and Water Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering.
• Dr. Amit Jasrotia, Prof. Division of Fruit Science, Faculty of Horticulture and Forestry.
• Dr. Puneet Choudhary, Prof. & Head, KVK Jammu.
• One Member from the Management (To be Nominated by Vice-Chancellor):
• Director, Agriculture Production and Farmer Welfare Department, Jammu, U.T. of J&K.
• One Nominee Each from the Local Society/Trust, Students, and Alumni:
• Sh. Kulbhushan Khajuria, President, Jammu Kashmir Agri-entrepreneurship Development Association (JKAEDA).
• Sh. K.K. Sidha, Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museum, J&K.
• Miss Megha Abrol, Ph.D. student, Division of Plant Pathology, FoA.
• Mr. Saksham Gupta, UG student, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & A.H.
• One Nominee Each from Employer/Industrialists/Stakeholders:
• Sh. Tilak Raj, Director & Head, Bureau of Indian Standards, J&K.
• Sh. Basant Saini, Progressive Farmer & Member Kissan Board, Arnia, Jammu.
• Sh. G.S. Rana, Head Market Development and Capability, Crop Science Division, Bayer India, Chandigarh.
• Assistant Coordinator of the IQAC:
• Dr. Anil Bhat, Associate Director Research, Directorate of Research.
• Coordinator/Director of the IQAC:
• Dr. P.K. Rai