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University of Calcutta

Annual Quality Assuarance Report

21.

2008-09

Submitted to the NAAC

AQAR 2008-09

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

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

� 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

� 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

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

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



• 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• 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

• 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



• 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

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)

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