The Khariar College (Autonomous) in Nuapada district faced a second cycle of accreditation process by the National Assessment Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bangalore, with a three-member NAAC team conducting a three-day-long inspection of the college from April 8 to 10. The team headed by Prof Kl Kamal, former Vice-Chancellor of Rajasthan University, and comprising two other experts - Dr D Nasy of Kerala University and Dr RK Pande, Principal of Basti College, UP - visited the college to know about the issue of quality assurance.
“It was neither an inspection nor an inquiry to find fault nor to address any grievance; it was a friendly visit to help the institution in the field of quality assurance,” Prof Kamal told the media. “The Khariar College had volunteered for a second cycle of accreditation a year ago through a letter of intention and subsequently through submission of a self study report in June 2014 to the NAAC,” said Dr Fanindam Deo, who was the principal of the college at the time of the first round of accreditation. “The NAAC team will also assess the growth and achievement of the college over the five years from 2009 to 2014,” added Dr Deo.
The NAAC team expressed its happiness over the availability of infrastructures like building, hostel, etc., and other facilities like availability of stipend, offering of Honours and NCC elective courses. They also praised the effort of the college for getting autonomous status in a semi-urban backward area.
While interacting with the teachers about the issue of quality assurance, the team advised them to be engaged in research work which would improve the quality of their teaching. The team also advised them to participate in national level seminars to increase their outlook. While interacting with the alumni of the college, the team sought their suggestions, and the latter made a case for opening of Post-Graduation courses and status of a Cluster University to the college.
On the last day of the visit, the team members, addressing a gathering of teachers, students, mediapersons and managing committee members, held that quality enhancement and quality sustenance are the two basic things required for quality assurance. “NAAC shows you the mirror from time to time; however, to have a good face, you have to keep your face clean. There have to be continuous efforts on the part of all stakeholders, the management, teachers and students,” said Dr Pande. The team handed over a copy of its report to college Principal Anjali Padhi.